Fall Orientation: August 14th
Start Date: August 14, 2023 End Date: February 23, 2024
Stipend: $475/wk + $200/wk housing stipend = $675/wk
Location: Tucson, AZ
Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award; Paid training; Food budget while on hitch; Employee Assistance Program
General Field Crews:
AZCC's Field Crew program engages motivated young adults, ages 18-30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout Arizona.
Crew Leader Development Program Crews:
This AZCC crew is focused on connecting young adults (ages 21-30) aspiring to develop leadership skills with conservation service work projects on public lands. The goal of the leadership development program is to provide participants with a variety of training focused on hard skills as well as leadership through peer leadership activities to prepare members for leadership roles within the conservation corps setting. Upon completion of the leadership development program, members are encouraged to apply to be assistant crew leaders, crew leaders or youth conservation corps mentors.
Program Summary
Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC):
Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Pinetop, and Tucson.
Field Crew Project Work:
AZCC AmeriCorps members serve a term of National Service in the State of Arizona and parts of the Southwest on professionally supervised crews as they explore a variety of opportunities for careers in the outdoors, learn practical field skills, and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation. Members are provided opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional staff within Conservation Legacy, while gaining career perspectives working alongside agency staff from the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or Municipal, State and Non-profit organizations that work on our nation's public and tribal lands. AZCC Crews will become proficient in environmental stewardship practices, general worksite safety, Leave No Trace principles and outdoor living skills. Most crews receive First Aid trainings.
Project work may vary due to seasonality and environmental safety concerns. Projects that crews typically work on may include, but are not limited to:
- Trail construction and maintenance
- Invasive species management, including pesticide application
- Habitat restoration
- Fence installation/repair
- Land Management Inventory and Mapping
- Fire fuels reduction
- National Disaster Relief
- Community service
- Recreation and facilities maintenance and construction
Schedule:
Generally, crews work a 9-day,10-hours/day ‘hitch’ schedule, while camping in front and backcountry settings. Typically, members will have 5 days off in the town of the home base office. Drive time to and from the work site from the home base office is typically included in the hitch schedule. Applicants should expect the project schedule and type of work to vary.
Workdays will start with a Job Hazard Analysis safety meeting followed by a 15-minute warm-up exercise and a 15-minute stretch. Days will include two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch.
Assistant Crew Leader Responsibilities
Assistant Crew Leaders (ACL) are responsible for facilitating a positive crew member experience by setting an example of enthusiasm throughout work and camp life. The ACL works in tandem with the Crew Leader to communicate directions, project specifications, and constructive criticism throughout the term of service. The ACL will expand their role, learn leadership strategies, assume management duties including filling-in for the Crew Leader in project relations or completing paperwork when needed.
Training
The term begins with an orientation and specific training will depend on project needs--crews have possible specialized opportunities for instruction in trail construction and maintenance, herbicide handling, crosscut or chainsaw use and safety. Informal training will continue throughout the term with on-the-ground skills training to include things like tool maintenance, plant identification and an overview of public land management agencies.
Expectations:
AZCC is a drug-free organization; alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited. AZCC is an independent, non-residential program. The crew member must supply his/her/their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. A suggested gear-list will be provided prior to starting the term of service. AZCC will provide the tools, personal protective gear, budget for crew meals and transportation to projects. Additionally, AZCC has pro-deals and some gear available to borrow.
Qualifications:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 25
- Prior AmeriCorps service and experience with backpacking, wilderness travel, camp management and outdoor leadership preferred.
- Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status.
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal criminal background check
- Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award
- Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of employment and the ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting
Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements:
Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to provide some accommodations, except that which alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position.
Participation and Expedition Behavior:
- Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
- Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training and National Service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
- Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues and organization staff.
- Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements
- Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times
Safety and Judgment:
- Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
- Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
- Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions
- Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
- Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
- If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.
Environmental Ethics:
- Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques
- Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate)
- Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
- Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.
Substance Free:
In accordance with a drug-free workplace, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.
