WNC Strong Youth Service Corps
The goal of WNCStrong Youth Service Corps is to support disaster recovery, foster socioemotional resilience of impacted youth, and rebuild resilient food and agricultural systems in the Western North Carolina areas most impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The Youth Service Corps is comprised of youth from 16 – 18 years old in Yancey, Mitchell, Madison, and Buncombe County counties. Corps members learn about food systems and careers in agriculture by providing essential labor to rebuild and restore critical food and farming infrastructure in their hometowns. WNCStrong Youth Service Corps members create more resilient and locally self-reliant agricultural sectors in the region’s hardest hit communities.
In addition to receiving a monthly stipend, Corps members also gain
- social connectivity,
- civic engagement,
- leadership skills, and
- agricultural career awareness
Program Components
- Internship – 10 hours/week for 30 weeks with a food and farming organization in their community
- Mentorship – supervision and guidance from local teachers and Corps staff
- Service days – assisting with disaster recovery & preparedness in their home county and the region
- Career readiness sessions – monthly skills- and knowledge-building workshops focused on environmental resilience, sustainable agriculture, leadership skills, and careers in agriculture
- Individual project – develop, conduct, and present on a community-driven resilience initiative
- Camp scholarship – the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to one of NC State’s three Science Summer Institutes (limited)
For more information, please contact Eric Klein at eaklein2@ncsu.edu
Teachers/Mentors
Youth participants are supported locally by a pair of teachers from their high school who serve as mentors to Corps members.
Service Corps Teachers/Mentors are identified by their
- demonstrated commitment to community service
- experience with agricultural or environmental education, and
- capacity to effectively mentor students.
Service Corps Teachers/Mentors receive a stipend for their approximately 9 month (March – November) commitment.
If you are a full-time teacher employed by a WNCStrong Youth Service Corps partnering school district and would like to apply to be a Service Corps Teacher/Mentor, please follow this link to the position application.
Become a WNCStrong Youth Service Corps member!
If you are:
- 16 – 18 years old as of April 1st, 2025
- a resident of Yancey, Mitchell, Madison, or Buncombe County
- currently enrolled at Mitchell, Madison, Mountain Heritage, or Owen High School
and
- have a demonstrated interest in community service
- want to work on storm recovery and resilience in your community
- are committed to your own learning and growing; and
- are willing and able to meet program requirements
then please follow this link and complete the application.
Applications are due Friday, March 21, 2025.
The WNCStrong Youth Service Corps is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and a generous contribution from the North Carolina Alliance for Health. The Center for Environmental Farming Systems is grateful to partner with the school districts of Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey Counties to make the Service Corps a reality.
