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Join Us / Life on a VYCC Crew

Housing & Food Overview

Life on a VYCC crew varies based on the program and position you serve in. See below for a description of food, housing and more.

A split image. On the left: Corps Members eating lunch on the back deck of the West Monitor Barn. On the right: a crew of four Corps Members sits around a fire pit at a backcountry campsite.

Food on VYCC Campus 

VYCC staff account for allergies and other dietary restrictions when providing meals on campus.

Food & Farm Leaders

For Food & Farm Leaders, limited lodging is available for the season. Leaders move into shared rooms in the farmhouse in the spring, have their own space in either a farmhouse room or yurt for the summer and move back to shared rooms in the farmhouse for late fall. The farmhouse provides bathrooms and a kitchen for those living on campus. This arrangement includes joining a rotation of occasional evening and weekend farm chores. If applying for a Food & Farm Leader position, we will ask you if you need lodging and do our best to get you a spot. Please note, we do not currently have enough lodging for all Food & Farm Leaders.  

Conservation Leaders – During training

Conservation Leaders stay on campus during training (the first 3 weeks) and camping crews have the option to stay on campus during time off. Conservation Members and Leaders use a camping area tucked into the woods, about a ten-minute walk from the West Monitor Barn. Sleep in your tent or share a lean-to. The camping area has a composting toilet, camp kitchen, potable water, fire pit, wi-fi and charging station, and a screened-in lean-to (the screen-to!) as a hangout spot. Showers, lockers, and laundry are available in the West Monitor Barn. 

During Conservation Leader training, meals are prepared and served in the West Monitor Barn. As Leaders become comfortable with the routines and spaces on campus, they begin to make their own meals. VYCC provides all the kitchen supplies and food needed to prepare healthy meals throughout training. 

Conservation Members & Leaders – Camping positions

VYCC arranges campsites for all Conservation camping crews. Depending on the project location, this can be a state park campground with amenities like bathrooms, or it can be a backcountry site. Backcountry camping means carrying all your gear to a site that is not near a parking lot and does not have bathrooms or running water. Crews usually move around as they complete different projects; and will be at each campsite for at least one week at a time. 

VYCC provides tents, all gear for an outdoor kitchen and makes sure there is potable water. Camping crews can stock up on bulk goods and spices using VYCC’s pantry; and use a food budget and funds from VYCC to shop for the rest. 

Camping crews work together to create a meal plan. Choose tried-and-true recipes from the VYCC cookbook, adapt favorites from home, and/or create new dishes. Typically, crews choose to have simple breakfasts and lunches, and cook dinner together. Members are expected to respect and accommodate each other’s dietary restrictions and preferences.  

For crews camping in the backcountry, VYCC will teach Members how to manage personal hygiene, food, and wildlife encounters. While this may sound intimidating, it is a rewarding experience and we encourage you to step outside your comfort zone!   

Camping crews always have a vehicle and a way to communicate with VYCC staff 24/7.  

Crews often head into a nearby town after the workday and/or on weekends to enjoy community events, take care of errands, and explore.    

In a typical week, one or two staff members will visit the crew in the field. They will bring mail and any supplies the crew needs.

Close-up of a Corps Member holding a bowl of freshly-picked raspberries and blueberries.
Close-up of a Corps Member holding a hearty plate of pasta and sauce, with a campfire in the background.

Food & Farm Members and Youth Conservation Members – Day positions

Corps Members in these positions do not live on campus. They work on service projects with their crew during the day and then return home in the evening. They come to work with a backpack that they keep with them for the day. Conservation Members bring their own lunch. Food & Farm Crews gather in the West Monitor Barn every day for a farm-fresh lunch.

For Members who do not already live in the area or do not have housing on campus, you will want to begin your housing search early! See below for some advice on ways to approach looking for housing. 

Strategies we recommend when looking for housing: 
  • Join the VYCC Facebook page linked here. You can use this page to connect with other VYCC Corps Members, to support one another in finding housing, find others to live with, and post any housing leads you might come across. 
  • Join local housing Facebook groups to share what you are looking for and check them early and often. Here are some local ones that are recommended: 
  • The University of Vermont is located in Burlington. During the summer, many UVM students opt to sublet their apartments, so keeping an eye for these rooms tends to be a good strategy.  
  • Join a local Front Porch Forum Listserv in the town you hope to live in. Front Porch Forum is Vermont’s online platform for neighbors to connect and share local news, events, and information. This is a good option especially if you are looking for housing outside of Burlington/Winooski. 
Questions to Consider When Looking for Housing 

Where do you want to be located? VYCC is located in Richmond, Vermont. Richmond is about 25 minutes south of Burlington and 30 minutes north of Montpelier. Some of our surrounding towns include Jericho, Williston, Hinesburg, Huntington, and Bolton. Our campus is about a 5-minute drive from I-89. Generally, there is the most amount of seasonal as well as long-term housing opportunities in Burlington. It can be challenging to find housing in towns closer to Richmond as there typically are fewer short-term options, but it is still worth looking into as opportunities always arise. 

What is your transportation like? Living in Burlington, there will likely be opportunities to carpool with others into the farm. We also offer a (summer only) shuttle to and from the farm each day for summer members in the Burlington area who don’t have alternative transportation. Living outside of Burlington without a car would be difficult, unless you live within biking distance of VYCC. Currently, the bus line that passes through Richmond is unreliable. 

What is your budget? The cost of renting in Vermont can range anywhere from $600/month to over a $1000/month per person, with the average being closer to the latter. The more roommates you live with, the cheaper your housing may be. When considering your budget, make sure to take into account your other expenses such as the cost of utilities, gas money, a food budget, parking, and more.  

Are you interested in camping/alternative housing options? Long-term camping can be difficult to make work in Vermont without paying for parking and tenting fees. Opportunities found on Hipcamp or Airbnb might be useful to look into for short-term housing. You may consider programs such as HomeShare. HomeShare is an online platform that pairs renters up with older folks in the community who are looking for companionship and/or service providing in exchange for cheap to no rent.  

Are you a Vermont College student? Many local colleges have summer housing opportunities available for students.  

What to Bring

VYCC provides:

  • All the tools and personal protective equipment that Members need for every work project: eye and hearing protection, gloves, and hard hats.
  • Short and long sleeve work shirts.
  • For camping crews: tents and shared group gear, including everything you need for your kitchen setup.

Members bring:

  • Layers for warmth and rain, backpack
  • For conservation crews: sturdy boots and work pants
  • For camping crews: sleeping gear (bags, pads, pillow)
  • You can find great, affordable used clothing and gear at thrift stores and through online retailers, like GearTrade.

All Members receive a complete packing list based on their crew. If you’re unable to secure certain items, VYCC will help you get what you need. Information on gear assistance is included in the packing list.

A variety of hand tools, such as rakes and hoes, sit carefully arranged in the grass. A utility trailer and sign reading, "Crew at Work" is visible in the background.

Parking

Personal vehicles can be parked at VYCC in Richmond.  

Mail

Members and Leaders can have mail and packages sent to 1949 East Main Street, Richmond VT 05477. Staff will deliver mail to camping crews. Do not make VYCC your registered or permanent address – this is a business address. If living on campus for the season, talk with your supervisor about how to set up an address.