Mobile’s GulfCorps program is like boot camp … but for the environment.
Mobile’s GulfCorps conservation program aims to restore coastal habitats along the Gulf Coast while creating jobs for local young adults and launching them into their careers. However, instead of marksmanship and drill training on Parris Island, the 10-to-12-month corps drops participants into natural habitats in their own backyards and equips them with hands-on experience and various certifications in chainsaw safety, trail maintenance, prescribed burns, plant identification and invasive species.
During the GulfCorps program, participants conduct outdoor conservation projects, gain field experience for their resumes, get professional development mentoring and receive interview training. Since its first season in 2018, the corps has employed more than 70 participants — the vast majority of those have quickly found career opportunities.
