Seeking AmeriCorps members interested in park restoration efforts. The Park Conservation Crew is an entry level position that focuses on restoration activities primarily within West Lafayette’s parks system. This is an excellent opportunity for someone interested in growing leadership skills, conservation, engaging the community, and the outdoors. Learns and performs landscape maintenance to include planting, pruning, weeding, mulching, watering, and propagating, as well as other horticultural practices and general greenspace management.
Service Activities
Learns and performs conservation practices such as invasive plant removal, installing native plants, erosion mitigation, mulching on project sites, resource monitoring, sign installation, trail construction and maintenance.
Community Need Addressed
Our AmeriCorps program aims to further develop and conserve our public greenspaces through service experience. AmeriCorps members serve with the goal of improving public parks, land, and facilities and, thereby, improving health outcomes for our community.
Position Outcomes
Improving public parks, land, and facilities and, thereby, improving health outcomes for our community.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Participants will have the opportunity to build leadership potential through specific roles. Members can access free training, hands-on skill development, and experience working for a municipality.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, 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, Turn taking, 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, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, 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, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, 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, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment