OYCC
OYCC – Oregon Youth Conservation Corps
This program has been running for the past six summers. MTC Works has made this program possible with the partnership of Clatsop County Juvenile Department.
The crew works at various sites around our county. Some of the transferable skills that they will complete are:
Ø Teamwork and Communication Skills (Demonstrated responsibility, sociability, self-management, integrity, and honesty as a competent member of the team.)
Ø Workforce Development Skills (Being punctual, working a full day, follow the rules of the program and the direction of the supervisor.)
Ø Landscaping Skills (All aspects from planning to maintenance of lawn mowing, weed eating, tree planting, etc.)
Ø Mechanical Skills (Lawn mower, weed eater and other small equipment maintenance and repair.)
Ø Leadership & Safety Training (Each youth earned the responsibility to be a team safety leader or overall work-site leader. Each opportunity consisted of a 3-day stretch.)
“Red Hat” Safety Leader: This was the first responsibility for a leadership opportunity on the crew. The safety leader was to make sure that each member inspected their equipment before they used it. If someone was operating in an unsafe manner, the Leader was to speak with the crewmember, resolve the incident and inform the Supervisor.
“Yellow Hat” Team Leader: This was the crew leader for three days. They would meet with the crew supervisor to find out the work assignment for the day and then convey that to the crewmembers. If anything came up for the day they would handle the issue. At the end of this three-day responsibility, the “Yellow Hat” person would meet with each crewmember, and supervisor to discuss performance. They would then provide the individual with praise and constructive feedback; as appropriate.
This year the youth started every Monday and Friday morning with a class called “Beginning to Work It Out”. This class was very well received by the youth as well as the crew leader. The youth learned things such as:
~ Beginning to Gain Self Awareness
* Goal Setting * Power of Personal Beliefs * Unspoken Rules of the Workplace
~ Beginning to Manage Emotions
* Warning Signs * Stop and Think * Expressing your Feelings
~ Beginning to Solve Problems
* Problem & Goal * Information & Insight * Choices & Consequences
*Choose, Plan & Evaluate
~ Graduation
Over the past six summers the crews have completed 18,087 hours of community service and paid $37,335.04 back to the community in the form of restitution.
Equal Opportunity Program:
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.