Overview
Location: Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, St. Paul, MN
This is not a residential program; participants must secure housing preferably near the crew location
Service Term: January/February- December, 2024
Position Summary:
AmeriCorps Veterans Corps Field Crews serve outdoors restoring habitat, managing natural resources, and responding to natural disasters or community needs. In addition to these tasks members will work with the Veterans Corps Manager to attend sessions on transitioning to civilian life and connecting to veteran services and resources. The Field Crew program prioritizes personal and professional growth while teaching hands-on conservation skills in the field. Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects. Members will be trained in a wide variety or skills and receive nationally recognized certifications and opportunities to network with professionals. Natural resources projects vary by region and crew location, but may include:
– Invasive species management
– Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
– Prescribed burning
– Trail construction & maintenance
– Tree planting
– Basic carpentry
– Wild land fire suppression
– Emergency response
Crew Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects.
Crew Leaders typically lead a crew of 4 or 5 AmeriCorps members, serving as the primary liaison between project hosts and program staff. The Crew Leader is responsible for the crew’s service and safety during each project.
Hours & Schedule:
Schedules can vary, depending on crew location. Crew members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, including a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (4 – 12 consecutive days) is often required for service projects. Some special assignments (including wildfire response and other emergency response assignments) may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time.
Benefits:
– Living Allowance: $2,400/month (member), $2,600/month (leader)
– Education Award: up to $6,895, if eligible and upon successful completion of program
– Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
– Health insurance
– Childcare assistance
– Training, certifications, networking
Qualifications:
- Honorably served in the US military
- Be 18-35 years old.
- Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity and community
- Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include: Long (10 hour) days of shoveling, digging and swinging heavy tools repetitively; Long (10 hour) days of chainsawing / brush sawing; Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds; Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain; Working in extremes of heat or cold
About Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa (CCMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee that engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in programs and initiatives that improve access to outdoor recreation, restore natural habitat, protect waterways, and respond to community needs and natural disasters. Our mission is to engage youth and young adults in meaningful service, leadership development, and environmental stewardship. Our vision is a world in which everyone has equitable access to nature, is equipped to succeed in career and life, and is empowered to make a difference in conserving natural resources. Learn more at conservationcorps.org.
