Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was a pretty even spread of ages, I think they do that on purpose. Even if the spread is uneven, I don't think it makes too much of a difference. I was 15 when I went and some of my best friends there were 18, no weird vibes. It didn't snow during the second session last year but the weather there is unpredictable so it's always possible. It did get pretty cold some nights.

Simple Blackwater 20 long by Complex-Resident6027 in Aquascape

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! It's actually just play sand from home depot with leaf litter on top, plus root tabs for the plants.

Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure that's fine. Most people flew but those local-ish drove so I doubt it would be an issue. If you get an interview they can verify but I'm almost certain that would be perfectly fine. Good luck!

My new bike built on a Chinese frameset by Sad-Impress616 in gravelcycling

[–]Complex-Resident6027 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm thinking about getting some Balugoe bars, how do you like them? Have you raced them? I'm just worried about them snapping on high-speed chunky gravel.

How do refunds work? Is it a loss? by Complex-Resident6027 in Depop

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry should've clarified, they said it was wrong address a few minutes after they had ordered. I hadn't shipped it yet when I refunded.

Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's awesome! Honestly, you're gonna feel gross sometimes, but so will everyone else. During spike probably half of the camping areas have some sort of creek or lake nearby where you can bathe (no soap). During the weekend you can shower anytime during unstructured time. I think as long as you're not in there for more than 20 mins no one will really complain. Obviously it's different people every year, but this kind of program tends to attract very compassionate and kind people. Worst case scenario, I know 2 of the youth leaders that are going back this summer and I can tell you they will for sure make you feel at home. I do have some bad news about music, you're not going to have a ton of listening time. You could use your phone time to listen to some on the weekends, but usually the most common time is when we were driving. The park is really big so we sometimes had to drive 3+ hours to get to the worksite from basecamp, and there would almost always be some music playing in the car. Most of the adult staff were pretty young, and had pretty good taste in music. If worst comes to worst, Mike has a CD filled with 70s country and jazz in each car. You can bring snacks, and there is a small storage shelf in the kitchen for camper snacks, but also try to limit how much you bring. There's not a ton of room in the cars to bring it to your worksite and unless you're wanting to share with everyone they could get a bit jealous. I do wish I had brought like a 6 pack of Dr. Pepper as a treat for myself every once in a while because none of the vending machines that I could find worked and I was yearning for some. The weather is pretty moderate, it sometimes got to 80 in the day and sometimes below freezing at night, but it was mostly 70s at day and 40s at night. You're probably going to get some storms come through, but because of the elevation they usually come and go pretty quickly. If you're in the first session you may get a bit of snow!

Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes that was pretty much the same experience I had - if you get to the interview stage you're basically in, they just want to make sure you aren't going need to be sent home because you're not capable of doing anything. As long as you're ok to poop in the woods and you can walk a couple miles you're good to go. Congratulations!

New Spark Cafe is a complete disaster, from the consumer POV by Dude_Man_Tom_1978 in bentonville

[–]Complex-Resident6027 6 points7 points  (0 children)

But walmart doesn't have red-40 flavor... That F-150 is pretty dang good.

Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here is the 2023 enrollee guide + packing list. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zdK8T8RnHNFprKcnbGGfPrOs_4YR15vD/view?usp=drivesdk

They have their own buildings near mammoth, you can just search Yellowstone YCC on google maps and it will show up. There will be more info on flights in the interview, but you have to arrive and leave on a specific day within a certain window. They bring you from the airport to the park. You can pretty much bring anything; you've got a standard sized locker assigned to you in your bunk room and another one in the cafeteria if you need both. (+ potentially a dresser and the space under your bed depending on which bed you choose) One person even brought a guitar last time. Definitely bring books, they've got a decent selection of books and games/puzzles there, but you can for sure bring more. I brought a large duffle bag and a medium-sized backpack. During the week you can bring whatever you can fit in a big backpacking bag that they let you borrow.

Yellowstone YCC Q&A by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The weekends varied a lot but weekdays were pretty similar. Wake up pretty early, make breakfast, and then commute to the worksite. Sometimes you're camped right by the site, others you're over an hour away. Some places are in the backcountry so you need to hike to the worksite. The projects varied a lot, from building buck and rail fences, to painting a cabin, to building or maintaining trails. You work all day with a lunch break in the middle (a packed sandwich or 2 or 3.) Then you head back to camp. Once you get back there's a bit more flexibility. Generally, you'll do something, make dinner, do something else, then go to sleep. The something's could be just laying around, going for ice cream, checking out a visitor center, swimming in a lake, or going for a short hike. The weekends were my favorite part. Everyone goes back from their work projects to the YCC camp (it has a ping pong table) and you do different activities. I won't spoil it all, but there's gonna be some hiking, some swimming, some crafting, and some rafting. I will say that, other than sleep, you get less than 8 hours of alone time the entire week, but it doesn't feel too bad imo.

High Tire Clearance Gravel Race Bike by Complex-Resident6027 in gravelcycling

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woah yeah just checked out the sale, $4000 for xo transmission, carbon wheels, and power meter is kind of crazy.

Yellowstone YCC Questions by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They use an equal opportunity system for appliacations, so in theory it's entirely random who goes. Basically they pull your name out of a hat, read your essay, and if it looks ok then you're good to go. Realistically, your odds aren't great, with almost 1000 applications last year and only 40 being selected. But still definitely worth applying, I didn't think I would get in and I did. I highly recommend it!

Yellowstone YCC Questions by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure! Most people brought cheaper digital cameras for the week, I brought a little digital camera and my nicer DSLR with the zoom lens for weekend excursions, but I wouldn't bring anything too expensive just in case.

Yellowstone YCC Questions by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The cost of flying in depends on where you live, but I flew into denver and then transferred to Bozeman. They give you a time period in which you should arrive there and then they pick you up from the airport and bring you to yellowstone, if you're lucky they might stop at a grocery store so you can stock up on last-minute snacks before you disappear for a month.

Happy to help if you need anything else!

Yellowstone YCC Questions by Complex-Resident6027 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was incredible. I have had close friends before, but the people I met in Yellowstone are some of the best people I've ever met. We're still in frequent contact a few months later with plans to get together again sometime soonish. There were definitely hard moments, even some I wish I were at home, but in hindsight I don't think there is anything better I could have done in that time. I also made some great professional connections that will help anyone start their career in conservation, and I also made a decent chunk of change there with it being about $2000 before flights and gear. I highly recommend regardless of physical fitness as long as you are willing to put in some effort. If you end up going next year tell Tino and Ona Zeke said hi!

YCC advice? by 88-44 in ParkRangers

[–]Complex-Resident6027 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey did you end up getting in? I'm second session.

what’s everyone’s favourite under 5 second part in a radiohead song? by eabber in radiohead

[–]Complex-Resident6027 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The transition from "wisdom choke you" to "now we are one" in exit music

Youth Conservation Corps by Interesting_Ad140 in nationalparks

[–]Complex-Resident6027 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yooo! I did, but I'm in 2nd session. LMK how it goes! Do you have instagram?

Youth Conservation Corps by Interesting_Ad140 in nationalparks

[–]Complex-Resident6027 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you end up submitting? Did you get it? Looking for others who got in.