San Francisco Conservation Corps

Program Overview

To challenge and assist Corpsmembers to reach their highest level of educational achievement, whether it is getting their high school diploma or GED, enrolling in college, or significantly increasing academic grade levels.To provide Corpsmembers with the tools and skills to conduct a successful job search.To re-awaken in Corpsmembers a commitment to life-long learning.John Muir students at the SFCC develop a lifelong love of learning and new skills that carry over to their careers. Indeed, students are very passionate about what they study because it relates to their lives. For example, our project-based curriculum focuses on subjects such as gentrification, health and obesity in our neighborhoods, and how World War II affected San Francisco residents. In addition, students develop a close relationship with teachers which leads to individualized, rigorous instruction and a culture of high achievement.

Furthermore, teachers place a strong emphasis on effort and growth mindset, and as a result, students who used to fail all of their classes and give up easily are now resilient due to their new found academic confidence. Consequently, students demonstrate large gains in numeracy and literacy. Students are also pushed to develop critical thinking skills and to become informed members of the community by writing letters to elected officials or interviewing community members about social, environmental, and political issues. Finally, students not only earn a high school diploma, but also gain job readiness skills such as public speaking, driver's ed, and communication skills.

The San Francisco Conservation Corps (SFCC) offers young people opportunities to develop themselves, their academic abilities and increase their marketable job skills while also addressing community needs through service work. SFCC is an earn-while-you-learn program that provides hands-on job training in environmental conservation through landscape maintenance, basic carpentry, and recycling and waste management. Students also have the chance to obtain a high school diploma and explore career pathways matched with Corpsmembers' skills and interests. SFCC Corpsmembers are provided with extensive Life Skills development to support their success in our program and in their desired career pathway. Career exploration and career development are an integral part of the program and provide students with the skills and training needed to identify and obtain employment, advanced training or further their education in their chosen career pathway.

As part of their paid job-training, students also learn general safety; hand and power tool identification, safety, and use; and transferable skills such as attendance and punctuality, following instructions, and working as a team. SFCC offers a variety of industry-recognized credentials and has an intensive 6-week Pre-Apprentice Training Program which provides students direct access to careers in the building trades, including union apprenticeships and employment, solar panel installation and landscaping & gardening. Examples of industry certificates include CPR/1st Aid, Forklift Operator, Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (Industry Awareness, Blueprint Reading, Construction Math, Labor History), OSHA Safety Training (10 hr), Confined Space, Traffic Control, Hazardous Waste (40 hr), Solar Photovoltaic (40 hr or 80 hr), and Energy Efficiency/Weatherization (80 hr).

Cost Info