Well, maybe I can shed some light...
I'm a program manager of a Youth Conservation Corps in CO. We have an AmeriCorps operating grant and run our older (18-24yr old) crews (service crews, conservation crews, weatherization crews, saw crews, etc.) under the AmeriCorps banner. AmeriCorps is a federal grants program that looks different all across the country- after school programs, various human services for low-income populations, etc. And just like the crews you'll be working with, environmental impact crews. These crews are most often run through a "conservation corps" program model. Here in CO, we have a youth corps association, with ten different youth corps serving different service regions in the state.
All the corps I know of (CO, UT, AZ, MT, WY...) are running their saw programs through S-212 (or equivalent) level training.
As far as hoods in the woods- you're right on the money with JobCorps... not to be confused with a conservation corps, or AmeriCorps. Leave stereotypes at the door, but there's a good chance that you'll come across your fair share of "green hippies"
But not the tree hugger type
I typically hire two crews a year- that means 16 young people in total. I hire 95+% local, but as is typical with an AmeriCorps program, you'll mostly have young people from all across the country the crew.
I try, each crew, to re-hire at lease two from the previous season. It helps to have some experience back on board. Unless the crew has been on previous saw projects before you get them, you will probably have a beginner crew- most of whom have never run a saw before, and if they have, probably not in any sort of production capacity.
I'm fortunate to have a full-time staff Crew Leader for our saw program who has been with us three years (we ran a saw crew 10 months last year). This will probably not be the case with you. From what I know of other CC's in the rocky mountain region, Crew Leaders will have experience under their belt though. They've either come up through the CC world on saw crews, or have run saws for the FS or BLM as seasonals. I know of very few that come from any sort of professional full-time falling background.
As was said, most AmeriCorps members are volunteers- there are some capacities that they are earning a regular hourly wage- often $10-$12/hr vs. the meager living stipend most AmeriCorps members earn.
My advice- Be open to working with opinionated, but still impressionable young people. A high number of corps members working on a saw crew want to pursue wildland firefighting. Getting the saw experience with a CC is a great way for them to get their foot in the door somewhere.
I don't know you- but if you're good- then teach them everything you can. What I like to see is a corps member who has learned how to sharpen a chain the right way, who has picked up basic saw maintenance, who has learned how to tune a carb, etc., etc.
Make the most of- because for most of them, it will be one of the most memorable experiences of their young-adult lives.
I've got former corps members running saws on fire crews for the USFS and the BLM. I've got a guy- didn't have a GED, out of prison... punk by any standard. Earned his GED while working for us and now is a bucket-cutter for a local tree company- one of the few that has the reputation and business to stay open year-round.
