Rock Creek Conservation Corps (rC3)
The Rock Creek Conservation Corps (RC3) program provides high school students with a 6-week paid summer job in the conservation field. Students gain hands-on field experience, learn about environmental restoration efforts, and develop teamwork and leadership skills. Students learn about forest health, water quality, and stormwater management, and apply what they learn by participating in invasive plant removals, litter cleanups, and other related activities. Upon completion of the program, students have a wealth of knowledge and skills that they take with them in their next steps and gain a deeper connection to their community and Rock Creek.
Since 2015, we have had over 197 students participate in the program. We have partnered with the following schools for student participation in the program: Albert Einstein High School and Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, MD, and Capital City Public Charter School, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and DC International School in Washington, DC.
Apply Now to Join the Summer 2026 RC3
Get ready for an exciting summer of environmental restoration with the Rock Creek Conservation Corps (RC3)! We’re now accepting applications for the Summer 2026 program, running from June 29 to August 7, 2026. This hands-on outdoor experience offers a chance to make a real impact on the environment, while gaining valuable skills and earning a stipend!
Eligibility:
Students ages 14 to 18
Students who enjoy working and learning outdoors with others
Students who can work 20 to 25 hours a week for the duration of the 6-week program
If you are a DC student, you must also apply to the DC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), as participation in the RC3 program is contingent upon your participation in the SYEP program.
We currently partner with the following schools. Applications from students who attend these schools will be prioritized. Albert Einstein High School and Wheaton High School in Montgomery County, MD, and Capital City Public Charter School, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, Theodore Roosevelt High School, and DC International School in Washington, DC.
No prior experience required! RC3 provides all necessary training and skills.
Program Details:
Dates: June 29 to August 7, 2026 (no work on July 3rd)
Time: Typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Location: Carter Barron and Fort Totten Park for the DC crew, and Glenmont Local Park for the Montgomery County Crew
Stipend: $2,000 (Note: Students will receive payment at regular intervals during the program period based on attendance and hours worked. DC students will be paid through DC SYEP and the Conservancy will provide a supplemental payment to equal the total stipend amount. MD students will receive the stipend through the Conservancy.)
As an RC3 member, you’ll work outdoors in Rock Creek and surrounding areas, helping to restore and protect this beautiful natural space. A majority of the program will take place outside, except when weather conditions are unsafe. Please note that participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the work sites each day.
For questions or inquiries, contact us at volunteer@rockcreekconservancy.org.
The 2025 RC3 Program at a Glance
Congratulations to the 2025 RC3 members! Over 6 weeks, the corps members supported the restoration of Rock Creek’s forests and communities by removing invasive plants and litter. Their work helps to keep our forests and communities healthy so that they can continue to provide a multitude of benefits including clean air and water, habitat for birds and other wildlife, and benefits to human health.
Collectively, the DC and Montgomery County corps members:
Removed 14,800 square feet of invasives
Removed 757.5 pounds of litter
Freed 139 trees from invasive vines
The DC corps members focused their work on the Conservancy’s Carter Barron and Fort Slocum mini-oases, where the Conservancy has been conducting long-term invasive management. The corps members removed several types of invasive plants such as porcelain berry, bush honeysuckle, and multiflora rose. In addition, the crew conducted several litter cleanups at the Carter Barron site as it is a popular area for picnics and parties.
The Montgomery County corps members focused their work at the Forum Condominium, where the Conservancy has been helping with the restoration of 10,000 square feet of land. The corps members removed invasive bush honeysuckle to make way for new plantings of native trees and shrubs.
View Other 2025 Photos: DC Crew, Montgomery County Crew, DC End of Season Celebration, MoCo End of Season Celebration.
RC3 alumni
The RC3 program currently has over 197 alumni. Alumni leave the program with hands-on conservation experience, professional skills, and a deeper connection to Rock Creek and their communities. Hear directly from RC3 alumni by watching the video below, featuring Carlos Campos and Carla Flores, as they reflect on their experiences in the program.
Alumni Voices
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“For me, RC3 was an unforgettable and impactful experience for my first job. I had never before felt so happy and proud of being part of a team… Even now, I find myself still reflecting on the things I learned during my time at RC3 and using them in daily life.”
- Gabrielle Rawson, Montgomery County RC3 Crew, 2021.
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“From plant identification to water quality monitoring, the skills I gained with RC3 would be great to use in related environmental fieldwork. I learned to appreciate Rock Creek more than as a serene slice of nature in the midst of a bustling city, but as a cultural, communal, and scientific environment where people can gather to enjoy the natural world.… [RC3] fosters ecological mindsets in those not already involved in environmentalism, inspiring them to work to protect nature in greater capacities later in life.”
- Conall Rubin-Thomas, DC RC3 Crew 2021
Alumni Spotlight
Learn more about the experience of individual RC3 alumni: Jelani White joined RC3 for four consecutive summers. His experience in the program helped spark his passion for the environment and empowered him to pursue higher education in environmental science.
Originally published in July 2019.
Follow Along with Us on Instagram
Each summer, the corps members document their time on our RC3 Instagram page. Check out these highlights!
Thanks to our partners who make rc3 possible!
This program was made possible in part with support from the National Park Foundation, Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
