American Conservation Experience - 900 Hour AmeriCorps Member w/ Chainsaw Training, Mountain West (Utah)
American Conservation Experience (ACE) is seeking Corpsmembers committed to working 24 weeks (900 hours) on outdoor conservation projects.
American Conservation Experience is a national non-profit conservation corps dedicated to providing career development and outdoor experiential learning opportunities to young adults interested in careers related to environmental conservation. The ACE AmeriCorps Member program engages and motivates participants seeking to broaden their horizons and expand professional knowledge in the field of conservation.
Location: Work projects will take place throughout the Mountain West. Common project sites include Zion, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon National Parks, Dixie, Fishlake, and Manti La Sal National Forests, and various other locations across Utah and the Mountain West region. Member housing is in Hurricane, UT.
Compensation and Benefits:
- Members receive a $280 bi-weekly living allowance
- 3 meals per day while on project (approximately 16 days/month)
- Free housing accommodation in Hurricane,UT and use of a tent throughout your term
- Transportation to and from worksites
- Upon successful completion of a full term, AmeriCorps Members receive an Education Award of $2,960.00 (for 900 hours/24 weeks)
- 900 hour Members are also eligible for preferential hiring status following their term of service. Corpsmember who have served a minimum of 640 hours on appropriate public land projects may qualify for Public Land Corps non-competitive hiring status.
Position Description:
Corpsmembers serve in professionally supervised teams as they explore future outdoor careers, 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 mentors within ACE, while gaining invaluable career perspectives working alongside staff from the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and many other stewards of our nation's public and tribal lands. ACE Members will become proficient in environmental stewardship practices, general worksite safety, Leave No Trace principles, brushcutter use, herbicide application, and resume building.
Members will participate in a Wilderness First Aid course and S-212 Chainsaw equivalence training course upon entry to the organization and will receive a National Sawyer Certification Card recognized by the U.S. Forest Service. Members will be exposed to industry professional guest speakers during off-days.
ACE projects typically include:
- Trail construction and maintenance
- Invasive species removal
- Habitation restoration
- Fence installation/repair
- Dry and wet stone masonry
- Forest management
- Fire fuels reduction
Schedule:
Corpsmembers typically work 10 hours per day for 8 consecutive days while camping in remote wilderness areas. Between work projects Corps Members will generally have 6 days off in Hurricane. However, applicants should expect the ACE project schedule to vary, including the possibility of participating in distant projects for 4 to 6 weeks at a time.
Responsibilities and Expectations:
Corpsmembers can expect to work long days, and must successfully adapt to various climates and working conditions. Proper safety procedures must be observed in all tasks, including the repair and use of hand and power tools used on projects.
All ACE Corps Members practice environmental ethics, and are expected to work in diverse team settings in taxing situations or circumstances. Members are expected to be flexible and complete all functions of the job, including tough physical labor and hiking several miles to remote locations under adverse weather conditions.
Qualifications:
- US Citizen or permanent resident
- Between the ages of 18 and 35
- Willing to represent ACE and AmeriCorps in a professional, responsible, and enthusiastic manner
- Have or be willing to obtain personal medical insurance for the duration of time with ACE
- ACE provides tents and camp kitchen equipment, but members will be required to bring all other camping items such as sturdy boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, and rain gear.
- ACE maintains a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drugs and underage drinking. Alcohol use is prohibited on ACE projects and on ACE property, and any evidence of drug use or violating ACE's alcohol policy will result in immediate release from the program. ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references.
Check out our website and social media pages for photos and feedback!
ACE Mountain West Recruitment Team:
Michael Pietak- mpietak@usaconservation.org (928)856-9422
Kasey Burchett- kburchett@usaconservation.org (435)414-4082