“Getting on the grade in the snow is a very special experience. Nowhere else in California does it snow like it does here.”
– Naseem Al Mehairi, CCC Tahoe Corpsmember
Corpsmembers at the California Conservation Corps’ (CCC) Tahoe Center are gearing up for winter in one of California’s snowiest regions, where an average 18 feet of annual snowfall creates both challenges and opportunities for growth.
“Getting on the grade in the snow is a very special experience. Nowhere else in California does it snow like it does here,” said Naseem Al Mehairi who joined from Roseville. “We’re working with our chainsaws, we’re working with the hand tools, and we’re trudging through the snow. It’s a winter wonderland – not always a perfect wonderland, but we get through it and it builds strength and endurance.”
Even cooler is the wide variety of career and educational pathways young adults explore on location. CCC’s Tahoe Center provides hands-on training in forestry, trails, habitat restoration, resource conservation, culinary, emergency response, and wildland firefighting—skills that not only support immediate project needs but also help build California’s future environmental workforce.
“When I applied, I was nervous. I was at a direction in my life where I thought, I don’t know what I want to do,” said Eric Magana. “The classes I’ve taken so far have given more background…help push me where I want to go. As of right now, it’s getting my associate’s in environmental science.”
For 90 Corpsmembers, the CCC Tahoe Center offers the space to find a path to success and develop within a supportive community. CCC conservationists, career navigators, and fellow Corpsmembers are all on hand with resources and advice.
“Everyone’s like really community based, everyone knows each other. In Los Angeles, everything was fast paced. Here it’s more small-town, more friendly, more welcoming,” said Tiffany Delgado “My advice – bring a lot of bring a lot of thick socks that are good for the weather because you don’t want to be stuck inside.”
CCC remains committed to providing accessible training and service opportunities across California. With numerous centers spanning the state — from San Diego to Siskiyou and everywhere in between— Corpsmembers have a wide variety of locations to choose from, each with its own strengths and specialties.
Looking ahead, CCC is also excited to reopen the Greenwood Center in 2027. This center’s renovation and expansion will enhance service capacity, create new opportunities for young adults, and strengthen the CCC’s mission of empowering and developing young adults in California.
Learn more about CCC’s many locations by visiting ccc.ca.gov/locations.
