What 5 Weeks Off-Grid in the Sierra Teaches Teens—and Why It Matters
How do you inspire the next generation to love, protect, and restore our wild places? On this episode of the Sierra Rec Now podcast, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Jonathan and Adriana from the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, based in Taylorsville, California. For over 25 years, Sierra Institute has been a boots-on-the-ground force for healthy forests and resilient rural communities in the Northern Sierra and Southern Cascades.
We dive into their flagship P-CREW Youth Corps, a 5-week wilderness immersion program that brings together teens from across California to live, work, and learn in the backcountry—no phones, just forest. From trail work to wildfire education and cultural collaboration with local tribes, this is a hands-on look at how youth can be agents of change and stewardship.
We also explore the long-term impact of the Dixie Fire, the importance of community-based restoration, and how Sierra Institute is leading wildfire resilience efforts through innovative wood utilization and landscape-scale partnerships.
@sierrainstitute
🟢 Topics Covered:
Youth conservation in the Sierra Nevada
The role of the Feather River Watershed
P-CREW’s 10-year impact on teens
Wildfire education and forest health
Tribal partnerships and cultural restoration
How you can get involved (even with just a pair of gloves)
00:00 – Intro: Forests, Community, and Youth
01:36 – What is the Sierra Institute?
03:10 – Why the Feather River Watershed Matters
06:07 – Tribal Partnerships & Cultural Restoration
07:32 – Introducing P-CREW: Youth Wilderness Immersion
09:24 – Life-Changing Experiences for Teens
10:45 – What the Teens Learn in P-CREW
12:20 – Numbers & Structure of the Program
14:35 – Going Phone-Free in the Wilderness
16:04 – Rock Climbing & Breaking Barriers
18:54 – The Impact of the Dixie Fire
20:34 – Building Fire-Resistant Communities
23:21 – Educating Youth About Fire and Forest Health
25:24 – Managing Big Voices, Big Landscapes
27:59 – The SCALE Project & How to Get Involved
30:10 – Why Small Donations Make a Big Difference
32:41 – Lightning Round: Favorite Places & Gear
35:55 – How to Connect with Sierra Institute
36:17 – Closing: Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Blessed
🔗 Learn More or Donate:
SierraInstitute.us
💌 Subscribe for more Sierra adventure stories & trail-tested interviews.
#SierraNevada #YouthConservation #WildfireRecovery #ForestRestoration #FeatherRiver #DixieFire #SierraRecNow #P-CREW #RuralCommunities #OutdoorStewardship#ExploreSierraNevada
#Sierrabackpacking #HiddenSierraGems
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Our view continues from Upper Youngs Lake after a fantastic trip! Tom and I enjoy the **nature** and **mountains** as we **travel** through the **yosemite valley**. We reminisce on the stunning **discovery**.
Download our Free Digital Magazine and discover More Sierra: http://issues.sierrarecmagazine.com/bookcase/qawjj
Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3IPjZi6SaDl93sDFb5oFpX?si=eab2aa34a5344544
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sierra-rec-now/id1740191775
Facebook: @sierrarecmag
Instagram: @sierra_rec_magazine
X : RecSierra
TikTok: @sierrarec