Coconino Rural Environment Corps

Dustin Woodman
2625 N King St
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
928-522-7987

The Coconino Rural Environment Corps promotes stewardship by implementing a variety of conservation and service initiatives; encourages personal development through a combination of work experience, training and educational opportunities; and carries on the tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps with hard work, dedication and pride.

Vision:

Conservation leadership and the future of land stewardship are the responsibilies of today’s youth and young adults.

History:

CREC was founded in 1997 as a joint project of the USDA Forest Service and Coconino County. After two years, the program went through a transition and became the exclusive responsibility of Coconino County Community Services, where it resides today. The environmental conservation/land stewardship program serves youth, aged 16 to 18, and young adults, aged 18 to 25, who are interested in land management and conservation-related careers. Through direct, hands-on service, CREC corps members implement projects for virtually all of Arizona’s public land managers. All members receive extensive work skills training and conservation education in addition to the service learning that will directly benefit their future in land management. Their project work helps to protect rural communities throughout northern Arizona and across the state from the threat of wildfire; increases habitat for, and the populations of, a variety of wildlife species; and provides improved and less damaging recreational opportunities for Arizona’s citizens and visitors.

• Restoring wildlife habitat
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Forest restoration/wildfire fuels reduction
• Construction and maintenance of fences and other facilities
• Surveying and eradicating exotic plant species
• Conducting ecological testing and monitoring
• Surveying and monitoring using GPS technology
• Leading volunteers and Youth Conservation Corps crews
• Maintaining public parks, campgrounds and recreation areas
• Archeological/paleontological surveys and excavations
• Historical preservation
• Community service

Partners

• State of Arizona
• Game and Fish Department
• State Lands Department
• Arizona State Parks
• National Park Service
• Colorado Plateau Exotic Plant Management Team
• Flagstaff Area National Monuments
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Petrified Forest National Park
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area
• USDA Forest Service
• Kaibab National Forest
• Coconino National Forest
• Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
• Tonto National Forest
• Prescott National Forest
• Coronado National Forest
• Local Fire Departments
• Flagstaff Fire Department
• Highlands Fire Department
• Summit Fire Department
• Parks-Bellemont/Williams Fire Departments
• Bureau of Land Management
• Northern Arizona University
• Ecological Restoration Institute
• Centennial Forest
• City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation
• Greater Flagstaff Forest Partnership