Offered as an advanced, long-term opportunity to earn significant practical and environmental work experience, AmeriCorps Professional Development Members will spend several months participating on complex trail construction, forestry, and environmental restoration projects under the guidance of ACE’s most highly skilled staff members. The goal of the position is to accomplish meaningful project work for a variety of agencies while being exposed to various field techniques such as trail construction and maintenance, ecological restoration, dry stone masonry, and Leave-No-Trace principles. As skills develop, it’s expected to remain on a project and cohesive crew long-term to advance ones skills, leading to less project variety in relation.
All work is physically demanding, often 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: Projects throughout the season 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. Projects awarded to ACE Pacific West region typically vary in length from one week to four months so members should expect varied opportunities during their multi-week term. Crew members’ project schedule is comprised of multiple short-term ‘hitches’, returning to the same project until completion, and/or to other projects in motion. Flexibility is necessary for locations during days-off, as you will spend days-off in potentially housing locations of Ridgecrest, CA or Sacramento, CA
Service Activities
AmeriCorps Members in the ACE Conservation Corps program will spend several months learning techniques of conservation and land management while training on complex trail construction, forestry, and environmental restoration projects under the guidance of ACE’s most highly skilled staff members. The goal of the position is to accomplish meaningful project work for a variety of public land management agencies while becoming proficient in advanced field techniques such as trail construction, invasive species removal, ecological restoration, and dry stone masonry.
All work is physically demanding, often 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.
Professional Development Members should 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 ACE’s mission. ACE’s 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 several weeks 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. ACE intends to be a positive influence and intends to create safe and healthy environments for our members. The culture of alcohol and tobacco use is also restricted from ACE property and not supported by our mission of professionalism and personal development.
Other Requirements:
• Program is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders only.
• Members must have personal medical insurance for the duration of their participation with ACE.
• To prove eligibility and citizenship, members must be able to provide ORIGINALS of the following documents: 1) Social Security card, 2) Passport –OR- Birth certificate, 3) Photo ID (passport, driver’s license, military license, or student ID)
• 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 the applicant.
• Due to fire hazard conditions in ACE, smoking is not permitted in many of the sensitive worksites. Smoking is not allowed on ACE property.
• This position is a “covered position” that may entail episodic (temporary) access to vulnerable populations such as youth and the elderly. Selection for the position is contingent upon a review of all Criminal History results.
Training: Trainings may include a variety of technical project and outdoor skills such as trail hand tool usage, universal trail building principles such as tread and switchback construction, installing water bars, check dams and other erosion control devices, and GPS use. If technical rock-work projects exist: retaining wall construction, rock step construction, rock drilling, splitting and shaping, setting up rigging systems may be included.
Community Need Addressed
trail building and improvements, ecological restoration, wildfire prevention, animal habitat restoration, invasive plant species removal, public access to local parks, career development, leadership training, resume building, gap year, skills training for careers in conservation, pubic land management and improvement, or jobs with ACE or other Corps.
Position Outcomes
Professional Development Members should 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 ACE’s mission. ACE’s 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 several weeks working in beautiful locations.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Housing, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Camping supplies provided, safety gear, transport to all projects, all meals on project days provided
Education Benefits
College Degree
Wilderness First Aid certification ( most often included with most 900 hour AmeriCorps commitments), Leave No Trace, and advanced tool usage (if instructor is available and project duties allow)
Skills you will gain
AmeriCorps Professional Development Members will also gain leadership skills while helping to supervise, train, and generally support current and incoming ACE volunteers and Corps members, who are rotated into new and ongoing long-term projects. All work is physically demanding, often 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.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment