Program Summary:
The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps we are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN).
RiversEdge West (REW) is a non-profit founded in 1999. RiversEdge West focuses on riparian (riverside) forest and floodplain health in the American West to address impacts from invasive riparian plants such as tamarisk and Russian olive, challenges associated with climate change and habitat fragmentation, and stressors that may result in diminished biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Riparian Restoration Strike Team was developed by REW and WCCC to conduct invasive vegetation treatments and perform site maintenance (follow-up treatments, revegetating with native plants) on riparian restoration sites located near Grand Junction, Colorado. The restoration sites are part of the Desert Rivers Collaborative, a local multi-stakeholder collaborative led by REW to cooperatively protect, restore, and maintain native river corridor habitat.
Position Summary:
The AmeriCorps Riparian Restoration Strike Team will serve with WCCC to implement initial and follow-up treatments of invasive plants using chainsaws, hand tools, and herbicide. Revegetating restorations sites with native plants through planting and seeding may also be required. The Strike Team will also map daily progress using tablets. Restoration sites are in the Grand Junction, Colorado, area.
This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of partners associated with the Desert Rivers Collaborative, a partnership that is focused on the restoration of riverside lands in the Grand Junction Area. Partners include federal and state land managers, Mesa County, and municipalities with differing needs.
WCCC does not provide accommodation off-hitch and Crew Leaders and members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time.
The Strike Team will assist in conservation projects while instilling interpersonal skills and leadership skills. The Crew leader will also be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e., Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies.
For the health and safety of our crews, staff and communities, projects may be postponed due to COVID-19. The information provided is an outline of how our program has typically been operating, however is subject to change. As this situation develops, and decisions are made, we will provide updates. We encourage you to continue with the application process and we will keep consistent and direct communication with all applicants.
Responsibilities:
• Leadership & Mentorship
o Implement skills training on service-site and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
o Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community.
o Must be willing to follow and enforce all WCCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent WCCC and REW.
• Project Management, Safety & Implementation
o Complete AmeriCorps orientation, chainsaw training (S212), and CPR/First Aid Training.
o Efficiently complete conservation projects and mapping on a variety of land ownership types in the Grand Junction Area.
o Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
o Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
o Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, and WCCC crew members, & WCCC/REW staff.
o Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Administration
o Responsible for all project related outcomes and deliverables.
Service Activities
Essential Functions:
• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen.
• Spend long days walking in riparian areas of sometimes dense vegetation.
• Required to operate a tablet operating GIS software.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally operate a chainsaw and apply herbicide through backpack or hand sprayers.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English.
Community Need Addressed
increased degradation of public lands
Position Outcomes
improve quality of public lands
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
CPR, First Aid
Skills you will gain
project management, conflict resolution
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, 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