American Conservation Experience Hiring for Conservation Crew Member at Ridgecrest and Sacramento, California Full Time

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a non-profit conservation corps, is currently seeking energetic and ambitious participants to engage in national service as AmeriCorps members in a multi-week professional, outdoor skills-training opportunity. ACE Pacific West provides meaningful service on public lands throughout California and neighboring states by training and supervising AmeriCorps members a they conduct conservation field projects. Our mission is to introduce and prepare our AmeriCorps members for careers in resource management within the conservation corps industry or with public agencies such as California State Parks, US Forest Service, National Park Service, National Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, as well as many other local and non-profit land steward organizations. ACE Pacific West crews serve in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, on the Pacific Crest Trail, on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and in numerous other inspiring locations.

Upcoming START/END Date Enrollment Options:

09/16/22 – 12/21/22 (450 Hours)

09/16/22 – 03/29/23 (900 Hours)

10/14/22 – 02/01/23 (450 Hours)

10/14/22 – 04/26/2023 (900 Hours)

10/28/22 – 02/15/23 (450 Hours)

10/28/22 – 05/10/23 (900 Hours)

All term start dates and lengths include the option to extend service if desired.

Term of Service Description: AmeriCorps Members in our Crew program are expected to partake in resource conservation projects 40 hours each week of their term of service. Members can expect to learn field conservation techniques as they engage in field projects on public lands. Hands-on training is provided and may include concepts of trail construction, dry stone masonry, invasive plant removal, revegetation, fence construction, forest ecology and restoration techniques, safety training, Leave No Trace principles, and more. Under the guidance of ACE’s skilled Crew Leaders and Project Managers members may be exposed to a variety of partners and project types. The goal of ACE’s Crew program is to complete meaningful conservation projects on public lands while providing personal and professional growth opportunities for members interested in advancing their career in natural resource management, conservation, or a variety of other fields.

This service position will entail the following:

• Working 10 hours per day for 4-8 consecutive days on a crew comprised of 4-20 other service members in outdoor locations. 40 hours/week of project time expected regularly.
• 3-6 days off in between projects.
• Working and camping (including the potential to camp in the backcountry) in a variety of weather and conditions including extreme temperatures, high winds, intense sunshine, precipitation, and high elevations.
• Serving on environmental stewardship projects including (but not limited to): trail construction/maintenance, dry stone masonry, retaining wall and rock step construction, fence construction, invasive plant management, native plant revegetation, fuels reduction, fire mitigation, and habitat restoration.
• Hiking extended distances on potentially steep and rough terrain with a 40-pound backpack

Location(s):

• Projects are expected to be within a several hour driving radius of Ridgecrest, CA and/or Sacramento, CA where ACE Pacific West has base locations. Transportation to and from project sites is provided by ACE. Member project assignments are scheduled well in advance but are subject to change.
• Projects may take place at high elevation uplands and mountains, coastal areas, sand dunes, valleys, grasslands, and inland foothills where temperatures vary from very cold and rainy to very hot and dry. You can expect to experience a combination of conditions from frost or rain, high winds, to thick fog, to extremely dry conditions.
• Housing for off-days is located near our Ridgecrest, CA and/or Sacramento, CA headquarters. Transfer between housing locations and/or between base locations is possible due to project requirements.
• ACE housing is shared among all current crew members and Crew Leaders. Dorm-style accommodations include a bed, personal storage, shared bathrooms, WI-FI, full shared kitchen, and furnished living and dining rooms.

Benefits:

• Housing (dorm-style residential housing on off days, housing in tents, barracks, or cabins on project days) is included at no cost to the member.
• A bi-weekly living allowance of $400 before taxes. Bi-weekly living allowance will increase to $480 January 1, 2023.
• All transport to and from field projects is included.
• Upon completion of their terms of service, members earn a Segal Education Award. Those who serve a 450 hour term receive an award of $1,678.57. Those who serve a 900 hour AmeriCorps members receive an award of $3,172.50. More information regarding amount and eligibility, see the AmeriCorps website.
• Food is provided at no cost to members on all project days. Project campsites include all cooksets, stoves, and supplies for members to make their meals during project trips.
• Training is typically project dependent but can include trail construction and maintenance, Leave No Trace (LNT), restoration techniques, wilderness first aid (WFA), chainsaw training, power tool training, plant propagation, invasive species removal, fencing, masonry techniques and trail engineering, and safety training. Members should expect to be trained in all the tools and techniques needed to successfully complete their scheduled conservation projects.