Overview
Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, seeks a botany apprentice to contribute to native plant materials development and restoration projects.
Location/Dates:
Multiple Locations with Multiple Start Date and End Dates. 14 week commitment is required. 450 hours.
Project Background and Objectives:
ACE members will join a coordinated seed collection effort to support ecological restoration goals. These are developmental positions in the botanical sciences and will work closely with vegetation staff and learn directly from other practitioners. ACE members will gain direct technical training in the botanical systematics and techniques for seed collection and curation. Project work will increase development of native plant materials for targeted restoration activities on public lands.
ACE Members will gain work and technical experience as well as have educational opportunities throughout the project duration. Work activities across units will center on native plant materials development, but specific project tasks will vary based on location. This work may include botanical surveys to locate target populations of management interest, seed evaluation and collection, and seed curation. This project supports the seed collection that is essential to vegetation by providing the necessary native plant materials to promote the restoration of native plant communities.
The Role of the Botany Specialist
The Botany Specialist will be responsible for maintaining knowledge of target seed species, techniques to maximize seed collection efficiency, Seeds of Success (SOS) protocol, native and invasive plant identification, and proper data collection practices. This individual will provide critical support by helping plan project activities, ensuring accurate seed identification and collection, and promoting adherence to SOS best practices.
Program Overview:
This placement is meant to facilitate professional development, promote exposure to land management agencies, and provide networking opportunities with professionals.
Position Overview/Duties:
Planning schedules with the Crew Leader
Scouting and implementing seed collection, managing project data
Ensuring the quality and accuracy of both seed and data collection efforts.
Travel to field sites and camp two-seven nights per week during seed collection trips.
Conduct fieldwork both indoors and outdoors under a wide range of weather conditions, including extreme temperatures and steep terrain
Office-based duties, such as project coordination and report writing, are sedentary and require the ability to concentrate for extended periods.
Schedule:
A typical schedule is eight, ten-hour days followed by six days off OR four ten-hour days with three days off.
Position Benefits
Living Allowance:
The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
About American Conservation Experience - EPIC
American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a conservation corps focused on teaching valuable job skills in conservation field work to members while actively working to conserve and rehabilitate our public lands. ACE offers positions through both our Crew and Epic programs, as well as provides many staff opportunities for those looking to build a career in conservation. ACE is based in Flagstaff, Arizona, but has regional crew bases in Sacramento, CA, Ridgecrest, CA, Hurricane, UT, Flagstaff, AZ, Corpus Christi, TX, and Asheville, NC. ACE's Epic program offers positions for members nationwide.
