Hitting the Ground Running

With the simple goal of putting shovels in people's hands, the CCC is the first New-Deal program out of the gate. Created during Roosevelt's first month in office, the CCC's first camp is in operation just two weeks later.

The plan is easy to replicate, and within two months there are 1,500 camps, housing a quarter million single young men. Most are aged 18-25, from homes that are already on local relief due to job loss or hardship.

Ex-military men are added as an afterthought. This follows a second round of World War One veterans camping out in Washington, demanding early payment of promised war benefits. War veterans can be any age, married or not.

Beyond simply planting trees, work ranges from flood control and erosion prevention, to stocking streams with fish and erecting fire lookouts. With a 2-year limit on service, the supply of recruits is continually refreshed.

CCC and jobs, 1930s

  Help for the Family
Sending a teen-age son off to a CCC camp is a godsend to working families that have lost income. The son gets valuable job training, and a great bonding experience with fellow camp-mates, with zero living expenses. The monthly pay is about one-quarter of a normal manufacturing wage, and most is sent straight home to support the family. Except at the very beginning, camps are segregated, so that Blacks and Whites won't mingle. Half the recruits are from rural areas, where segregation is still the norm.

CCC and parks, 1930s

  Out West
Many CCC recruits are sent to national parks out west, to establish mountain trails, check erosion and reforest areas burned or logged. In addition, the CCC creates 800 state parks on lakes or ponds, with rustic picnic tables, fire pits and outhouses.


CCC roads and power lines, 1930s

  On-the-job Training
The CCC is credited with building 100,000 miles of access roads and trails, along with 40,000 bridges, which help open up national forests in the West. It builds 3,500 fire lookout stations, and erects 45,000 buildings of all sorts, including many in parks.


CCC job training, 1930s

  Gaining Experience
CCC youths receive valuable training, usually on the job, but sometimes in facilities. Training is also provided by the National Youth Administration (NYA). This was a separate program, for high school and college youths who want to stay at home. Women make up half its enrollment.


CCC land conservation, 1930s

  Conservation Work
Most CCC youths work in the woods or on roads, but some are employed on farms, to control soil erosion.


CCC military-style camps, 1930s

  Army Flavor
One important side benefit of working under the CCC is exposure to other males of the same age. Group living conditions promote bonding, and many friendships started in CCC last for years. The military-style administration in most camps is also good preparation for life in the army, for those that will enlist during World War II, which is just a few years away.