Heart of Oregon Corps

Our mission is simple. We inspire and empower positive change in the lives of young people through jobs, education, and stewardship.

Our vision is clear. We aim to improve economic and social vitality while increasing pathways out of poverty.

We have been a vital part of the Central Oregon community for 20 years. We were founded by three change-makers who sought to serve a growing number of youth experiencing significant barriers to success. We have continued to grow with the help of our funders, donors, and community volunteers that make our mission possible. Through all these years our purpose still remains the same: bring services to the young people who need them.

Founders Dennis, Dave, and Dan held a strong belief that young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds deserved a chance to earn their way to success. Dave worked with Deschutes County Juvenile Justice and saw countless youth offenders struggle with their circumstances. For a variety of reasons, many were lacking viable options and the support and encouragement to pursue them. Our founders set out to create such an option, thinking, "why not show young people they can be a force for good in their community instead of a destructive one?" Through a restorative justice approach, they established a community service-based program that evolved to include job skills training and continuing education. Read More

• About Us
  Heart of Oregon Corps provides vocational training and continuing education to opportunity youth ages 16-24. Through the WORK, EARN, LEARN model of our 6 programs, we strive to create pathways out of poverty for youth and encourage their self-sufficiency. In addition to teaching youth job skills, the projects they work on help to keep our community beautiful and healthy, while the wages they earn stimulate regional economic growth.
  
  Our programs include:
  AmeriCorps - Our AmeriCorps members serve their community while also improving their lives. Crews of 7-8 young people work mostly outdoors in natural resource conservation projects. They can learn to use a chainsaw, build a fence, and maintain hiking/biking trails. During their 3-month term, members earn certificates, learn natural resources job skills, and celebrate accomplishments. Following the successful completion of a 3-month term, members are eligible to enroll in a 9-month term. AmeriCorps members earn a living stipend and a Segal Education Award for college or industry certifications. Afterward, HOC supports our young adults to begin a career path, post-secondary education, or both. AmeriCorps crews serve out of both our Bend and Prineville offices. Please note - This is not a residential program.
  
  YouthBuild - YouthBuild members transform their lives and roles in society through earning their GED, high school diploma, or college credits, learning job skills, and serving their community through building affordable housing. Members in our program divide their time between classroom, field (construction sites), and leadership development. As stated by YouthBuild USA Co-Founder, John Bell, "YouthBuild seeks to join with others to help build a movement toward a more just society in which respect, love, responsibility, and cooperation are the dominant unifying values, and sufficient opportunities are available for all people in all communities to fulfill their own potential and contribute to the well-being of others." YouthBuild members attend school at our facility located just outside of Sisters, while construction projects may vary throughout the Central Oregon region. Please note - This is not a residential program.
  
  Stewardship - Working on our Stewardship crew at Heart of Oregon has plenty of perks, including great views while improving our lands through waste reduction and conservation projects. Members work on environmental projects throughout the year, such as recycling, litter patrol, fire free week, and fuels reduction projects. This important work not only improves the community, but teaches the members valuable job skills. This is a flexible, minimum wage position, which operates out of Bend. Please note - This is not a residential program.
  
  COYCC: Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps - COYCC, our seasonal summer program run in partnership with the United States Forest Service, hires young people (ages 16-18) from across Central Oregon for 7 weeks of natural resources conservation work. As corpsmembers, these young people will learn job skills, earn wages, and become the next generation of conservationists through projects that improve public lands and keep local communities safer from wildfire. They will forge close bonds with their crew members, learn the importance of teamwork, and complete the program with a lifelong sense of pride at what they have accomplished. The program employs over 90 Central Oregon teens each summer. This is not a residential program and is geared toward local youth.
  
  Camp LEAD - Leadership | Empowerment | Advocacy | Development - Camp LEAD is a week long, immersive leadership camp that employs and empowers youth with disabilities. Campers develop self-advocacy and social skills while gaining work experience and career exposure in the natural resources industry. This camp is made possible through our partnership with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) and Oregon State Parks, with support from the US Forest Service and Oregon Department of Education.
  
  Heart of Oregon Corps' Thrift Store - In our continued effort to address the most pressing needs in Central Oregon's communities, we have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to engage students with disabilities at our Thrift Store in Madras, OR. These students may earn credit in their Youth Transition Program for volunteering their time at our store. They learn retail and customer service skills along with countless other soft workplace skills, preparing them for future employment opportunities
• Our Impact
  Youth in our programs WORK on public lands conservation projects, reduce fire fuels, build affordable housing, and run a thrift store, gaining the skills and readiness they need to succeed; EARN money and scholarships for their hard work and build their financial independence; LEARN while gaining high school credits, preparing for the GED, or taking their first college class.