AmeriCorps Crew Member: Summer/Fall

Title: AmeriCorps Member- Summer/Fall Start Date 2023

Date: 2023 Summer/Fall Field Position (May/August Start Date) Exact Dates TBD. 

Reports to: Crew Leader, Field Supervisor

Weekly Stipend: $555-600/week, paid biweekly. AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program

Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and working in regional National Parks, National Forests, and Local Non-Profit Lands

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Southeast Conservation Corps: 
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. 

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days. 

SECC works with a variety of land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The project work is manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.   

Crews work in frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Workdays are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project work and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC works to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.    

SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Leaders are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The Crew Leader must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.  

Position Summary: 

The Southeast Conservation Corps Crew Member (CM) position is a fantastic opportunity to gain professional skills. You will help complete meaningful conservation related projects, work as a team to achieve goals, and make a difference in the work that you do!

 Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:  

• Expect to work long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Workdays will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.  
• SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.  
• Crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.   
• Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between SECC office and project sites.   

• While serving a term of National Service, SECC crews are expected to work in diverse team settings.  Respect for all members of the program, our partners, the public and the land they are visiting is expected.   
• SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner.  Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).   
• Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.  

Required Skills:  

 Minimum Qualifications:     

• Must be between ages 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a military veteran
• Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this  
• Must be cleared through an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, as well as state and federal Criminal History Checks  
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)  

Preferred Qualifications:  

• A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting  
• Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)  

Compensation:     
AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $555- $600 per week before taxes, dispersed biweekly. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.     

Participation and Expedition Behavior  

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences  
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.  
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.  
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.  
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements  

• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.  

   
Safety and Judgment  

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.  
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.  
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions  

• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.   
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.  
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.   

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate)  

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.   

• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.   

Substance Free: In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.    

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

To Apply: Complete the Application, upload cover letter and resume if available.   

Any questions can be addressed to:   

Jalen Holloway, Enrollment Specialist  

(423)322-4976  

jholloway@conservationlegacy.org