Chico Center

female tosses material into burn pile

Chico Corpsmember Terra Kamm adds brush atop a burn pile as part of the Forestry Corps program near Big Chico Creek Ecological Preserve.

Visit Locations page for full list of centers with contact information

man smiling at camera

Lori Mathiesen
District Director
Chico, Redding, Siskiyou Centers

The CCC Chico Center is a non-residential facility where as many as 45 Corpsmembers commute to work daily.

The center currently has openings for Corpsmember positions and is accepting applications. No experience necessary. Benefits of enrolling at the CCC Chico Center include:

  • Earn a monthly stipend of $2,814
  • Opportunities for excess pay during fire season
  • Health insurance
  • State holidays and personal leave
  • Earn up to $8,000 in scholarships per year
  • Finish your high school diploma
  • Personal and career development
  • Learn skills that can lead to a career in natural resources

Corpsmembers typically work four, ten-hour days Monday through Thursday. Crews may also camp near remote work sites, called “spikes,” for up to eight straight days.

Chico Center Corpsmembers do a variety of natural resource work in and around Chico, Lake Oroville, and throughout Butte County. Corpsmembers often respond to emergencies to support wildland firefighting efforts. The center is part of the CCC Shasta Cascade District and often trains with Redding and Siskiyou Corpsmembers.

341 Huss Drive
Chico, CA 95928
530-894-0495

Life at the Center

exterior building of ccc chico center with cars in parking lot

The CCC Chico Center is home to a variety of opportunities for Corpsmembers living in Butte County. Watch the video above to see how Corpsmembers feel about their CCC Chico experience.

The CCC Chico Center is located off Huss Avenue, a short drive from the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds and Highway 99.

As a non-residential center, Corpsmembers commute to the center each day for work and then depart the center to head to their project sites. Corpsmembers return to the center each afternoon and will often attend CORE training courses after work hours. These courses include resume building, job searching, and interview training and typically require three hours of educational activities per week.

Corpsmembers also have the opportunity to earn their high school diploma through a partnership with John Muir Charter School. Corpsmembers without a diploma must work to earn one while enrolled. Community college opportunities may also be available for Corpsmembers to further their education and earn additional certifications.

After the CCC, Chico Corpsmembers regularly find employment with private forestry companies, CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, and local and county agencies.

Projects

man standing near forklift moving supplies

Chico Corpsmembers Jason Cleghorn, left, and Robert Vang load a food transport vehicle during emergency response work at a wildland firefighting base camp.

Forestry Corps: Corpsmembers are focused on improving California’s forestry health. The crew works to reduce the risk of wildfire by removing hazardous fire fuels, plant trees and seedlings, collect cones and seeds, fell hazard and dying trees, receive arborist training and certifications. The Chico Center Forestry Corps crew began work in February 2022. The center is working with Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, among other project sponsors and partners.

Public Service Conservation Work: Corpsmembers assist state and local agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, implement projects that have significant public benefits and uses. Work can include bridge construction, dog park construction, park and median landscaping, minor construction and finishing work. Training is often unique to each project.

Invasive Species Removal: Corpsmembers learn how to remove invasive species using chain saws, brush cutters, herbicides and in some cases, burning and replacing them with California species. Project partners include City of Chico, State Parks, CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, local non-profits and conservation districts, and others.

Trail Construction & Maintenance: Corpsmembers construct and maintain trails for City of Chico, State Parks, local conservancies, counties, cities, and other non-profits. Project work may include clearing brush from along hiking trails, rebuilding trail tread, installing riprap to reduce erosion, dry masonry, and other techniques. Specific training varies by project.

Education and Training

Chico Center Corpsmembers team up to lay a silt sock around a burned out vehicle on a street in Greenville, CA.

All Corpsmembers at the Chico Center complete Corpsmember Orientation, Motivation, Education, and Training (COMET) and are required to actively participate in furthering their education by taking core training courses and specialized courses offered at the center.

Specialized certifications and trainings offered at the Chico Center include:

 

  • First Aid & CPR
  • Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Certificate
  • CPR for the Professional Rescuer
  • Backcountry Trail Construction & Maintenance
  • Bobcat Equipment Safety & Operation
  • Caltrans’ Internship Programs
  • Chain Saw Training
  • Chipper Safety & Training
  • Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Certificate
  • Cross Cut Saw
  • Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 40-Hour Training
  • Herbicide Application and Safety
  • Power Tools Safety and Operation
  • Safety Stand Down
  • ServSafe Food Handler Certification
  • Trail Construction and Maintenance
  • Tree Climbing Safety