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Details:
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American Conservation Experience: CA AmeriCorps Professional Development Program
Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Santa Cruz, CA, is currently hiring energetic, ambitious young adults to participate as AmeriCorps members in a three month outdoor skills training program preparing them for careers in resource management with ACE, with other conservation corps, or with public agencies such as the National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, or the Bureau of Land Management.
ACE is currently hiring corps members for an AmeriCorps summer term in 2013:
Start Date: May 19, 2013
End Date: August 24, 2013
A 500 hour, 14 week commitment is required. There will be opportunities available to continue with ACE after the 14 week period for the best crew members.
Position Description: AmeriCorps Professional Development Members will spend just over 3 months training on complex trail construction, forestry, and environmental restoration projects under the guidance of ACE’s most highly skilled staff members. The goal of the position is to accomplish meaningful project work for a variety of agencies while becoming proficient in advanced field techniques such as trail construction, ecological restoration, dry stone masonry, and chainsaw use.
AmeriCorps Professional Development Members will also gain leadership skills while helping to supervise, train, and generally support ACE Conservation Volunteers who are rotated into long term projects. Each Member is required to coordinate one volunteer event, recruiting a minimum of ten members of the Santa Cruz community or a local community near a project site to participate in a volunteer day alongside ACE members.
All work is physically demanding, often requiring stints in the backcountry and/or extended stays in the field. This position requires hiking, backpacking, camping and cooking outdoors while at front country and wilderness spike camps.
Location: Members will be based in Santa Cruz and/or Tahoe, CA. Projects will take place at various locations throughout California. All participants must be flexible and willing to be assigned to a variety of locations and for multiple agencies, wherever community need is the highest. Project assignments vary in length from one week to two months so Members will experience a range of opportunities during their three month term.
Pay: AmeriCorps Professional Development Members receive a living allowance of $3,200 (before tax) for 500 hours of service, spread evenly over the 14 week period. Upon successful completion of the program, Members receive an AmeriCorps education award of up to $1,468 to be used to pay tuition or student loans. Food and housing (tents or primitive facilities) on project days are provided. Members will pay $100/month for housing and ACE will provide housing on off days in Santa Cruz and/or Lake Tahoe.
Qualifications: Professional Development Members must have an established interest in conservation issues and should take joy in tackling challenging situations with a positive mindset. Applicants must be willing to undertake arduous physical work in all types of weather and terrain, and to participate as a team member dedicated to ACE’s mission. ACE’s Professional Development Program is meant as a stepping stone to environmental careers and as a gateway to potential advancement within ACE, not only as an interesting and rewarding way to spend three months working in beautiful locations. Drug users, including users of marijuana, should not consider applying as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing and absolutely abhors the presence of drug users in our program.
Other Requirements:
• Program is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders only.
• Members must have personal medical insurance for the duration of their participation with ACE.
• ACE will provide tents to all Members (upon request) but all other camping items such as sturdy boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, and raingear must be provided by successful applicants.
• Due to fire hazard conditions in ACE, smoking is not permitted.
Age: 18-25
Training: Trainings include technical project and outdoor skills such as retaining wall construction, rock step construction, rock drilling, splitting and shaping, setting up rigging systems, tread and switchback construction, installing water bars, check dams and other erosion control devices, chainsaw training, GPS use, and CPR/First Aid. Members will be certified in Wilderness First Aid and will develop interpersonal and leadership skills while serving as mentors to ACE volunteers and as support for ACE and agency staff. Members will also receive Leave No Trace Training.
Positions open until filled but are in high demand (usually filled by mid-March). Apply now!
To Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references to Jim Laske at jlaske@usaconservation.org with “CA AmeriCorps Professional Development Program –SER referred” in the subject heading of your email.
Successful applicants will be asked to fill out an AmeriCorps specific application as well.
Check out our website and our facebook page for more details about ACE
www.usaconservation.org
www.facebook.com/usaconservation
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