Overview: The Western Colorado Conservation Corps offers opportunities for young adults to spend a season serving on meaningful conservation projects throughout Western Colorado. Projects may include a variety of trail construction/maintenance, fence construction/removal, invasive species removal, fire fuels reduction, habitat restoration and/or historic preservation work. AmeriCorps members have the opportunity to earn an education award, in addition to a bi-weekly stipend. (Restrictions apply).
Women’s Fire Crew Specifically:
This position will be based out of our Grand Junction office. This is not a 9-5 job, rather an experience where long hours and extended time away from your home base are to be expected. Serving as a Women’s Fire Crew Member at WCCC means having passion for service to others, for wild lands and wild places, for personal growth, or for any number of WCCC’s values. Crews will camp for most of their term, oftentimes in remote locations in varied terrain and in all weather conditions. Primary service types will include habitat restoration and fuels mitigation with the potential for fire response and prescribed burning – with a heavy emphasis in chainsaw use. Performs basic fire line activities such as line construction, lopping, and scattering of fuels using hand tools and holding, patrolling, monitoring.
The position also requires preparation time and post session clean up.
Service Activities
Essentials Position Functions:
Act as an assistant to the Crew Leader in:
• Mentoring and leading a crew of 7-9 youth, 18-28 years old, in day-to-day service activities on the project site and at camp.
• Giving guidance and responsibilities to Crew Members to facilitate their personal growth and development.
• Overseeing camp operations including camp set-up, camp hygiene, Leave No Trace principles, and all other camp elements involved with safety and risk management.
• Complete 10 hours of project work a day for 4-8 days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions, including inclement weather, for the duration of the term. (No prior experience required).
• Submitting written and digital reports on projects, and expenses on a weekly basis to field staff.
• Overseeing food budget, meal planning, and shopping list for group food.
• Coordinating projects and logistics on the ground with WCCC Staff, and project partners.
• Transporting crew safely in WCCC’s vans or other vehicles while towing a trailer.
• Perform duties expected of any corps member including service project completion, meal preparation, cleanup/setup, and other day-to-day duties.
• Leading service projects such as trail building and maintenance, wildlife habitat restoration, fence building and maintenance, and invasive species removal.
• Planning of recreational and educational activities, food and equipment preparation and maintenance, and program evaluation.
• Live, work, and serve closely with a diverse group of people.
• Must adhere to and enforce the rules and regulations of WCCC and AmeriCorps, which includes abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as other rules, regulations, and risk management protocol.
• Members must not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the AmeriCorps Member Service Agreement.
Community Need Addressed
depleting community recources and recreation
Position Outcomes
improve safety of public land
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
GED/High School Diploma
CPR, First Aid, s-212 chainsaw training
Skills you will gain
conflict resolution, timekeeping, project management
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