American Conservation Experience: CA AmeriCorps Professional Development
Program
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps
based in Santa Cruz, CA, is currently hiring energetic, ambitious young
adults to participate as AmeriCorps members in a six month outdoor skills
training program preparing them for careers in resource management with ACE,
with other conservation corps, or with public agencies such as the National
Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, or the Bureau of Land
Management.
ACE is currently hiring corps members for an AmeriCorps term in 2013:
Start Date: March 10, 2013
End Date: September 9, 2013
A 1,000 hour, 26 week commitment is required. You are encouraged to
consider volunteering with our non-AmeriCorps crews in CA or AZ if you wish
to start earlier than March 10th.
Position Description: AmeriCorps Professional Development Interns will
spend 6 months training on complex trail construction, forestry, and
environmental restoration projects under the guidance of ACEs most highly
skilled staff members. The goal of the position is to accomplish
meaningful project work for a variety of agencies while becoming proficient
in advanced field techniques such as trail construction, ecological
restoration, dry stone masonry, and chainsaw use.
AmeriCorps Professional Development Members will also gain leadership skills
while helping to supervise, train, and generally support ACE volunteers who
are rotated into long term projects. Each Member is required to
coordinate one volunteer event, recruiting a minimum of ten members of the
Santa Cruz community or a local community near a project site to participate
in a volunteer day alongside ACE crews.
All work is physically demanding, occasionally requiring stints in the
backcountry and/or extended stays in the field. This position requires
hiking, backpacking, camping and cooking outdoors while at front country and
wilderness spike camps.
Location: Members will be based in Santa Cruz, CA. Projects will take
place at various locations throughout California. All participants must be
flexible and willing to be assigned to a variety of locations and for
multiple agencies, wherever community need is the highest. Project
assignments vary in length from two weeks to two months so Members will
experience a range of opportunities throughout their six month term.
Pay: AmeriCorps Professional Development Members receive a living allowance
of $6,400 (before tax) for 1,000 hours of service, spread evenly over the 26
week period. Upon successful completion of the program, Members receive an
AmeriCorps education award of up to $2,675 to be used to pay tuition or
student loans. Food and housing (tents or primitive facilities) on
project days are provided. ACE subsidizes housing for Members on days off
of projects.
Qualifications: Professional Development Members must have an established
interest in conservation issues and should take joy in tackling challenging
situations with a positive mindset. Applicants must be willing to undertake
arduous physical work in all types of weather and terrain, and to
participate as a team member dedicated to ACEs mission. ACEs
Professional Development Program is meant as a stepping stone to
environmental careers and as a gateway to potential advancement within ACE,
not only as an interesting and rewarding way to spend six months working in
beautiful locations. Drug users, including users of marijuana, should not
consider applying as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing and
absolutely abhors the presence of drug users in our program.
Other Requirements:
Internship is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders only.
Interns must have personal medical insurance for the duration of
their participation with ACE.
ACE will provide tents to all Members (upon request) but all other
camping items such as sturdy boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, and raingear
must be provided by successful applicants.
Due to fire hazard conditions in ACE, smoking is not permitted.
Age: 21 and over
Training: Trainings include technical project and outdoor skills such as
retaining wall construction, rock step construction, rock drilling,
splitting and shaping, setting up rigging systems, tread and switchback
construction, installing water bars, check dams and other erosion control
devices, chainsaw training, GPS use, and CPR/First Aid. Members will be
certified in Wilderness First Aid and will develop interpersonal and
leadership skills while serving as mentors to ACE volunteers and as support
for ACE and agency staff. Members will also receive Leave No Trace
Training.
Positions open until filled but are in high demand (usually filled by mid-
January). Apply now!
To Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references
to Jim Laske at [email protected] with CA AmeriCorps Professional
Development Program ECOLOG referred in the subject heading of your email.
Successful applicants will be asked to fill out an AmeriCorps specific
application as well.
Check out our website and our facebook page for more details about ACE
www.usaconservation.org
www.facebook.com/usaconservation
