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 6 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 corpsmembers for a 1000 hr. AmeriCorps term in 2012:
Start Date: September 15, 2012
End Date: April 15, 2013
A 1000 hour, 30 week commitment is required. Note that there will be no ACE
projects for three weeks during the Christmas and New Year Holiday so all
AmeriCorps members will be off then.
You are encouraged to consider volunteering with our non-AmeriCorps crews in
CA or AZ if you wish to serve earlier.
Internship Description: AmeriCorps Professional Development Interns will
spend 6 months training on complex trail construction, forestry, or
environmental restoration projects under the guidance of ACEs 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, dry stone masonry,
and chainsaw use. Professional Development Interns will also gain
leadership skills while helping to supervise, train, and generally support
ACE volunteers who are rotated into long term projects. Each Professional
Development Intern will also be required to coordinate one volunteer event,
recruiting a minimum of 10 members of the local Santa Cruz community to
participate in a volunteer day alongside ACE crews. All work is physically
demanding, occasionally requiring stints in the backcountry and/or extended
stays in the field.
Location: Interns will be based in Santa Cruz, 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 2 weeks to 2 months so interns will
experience a range of opportunities throughout their 6 month term.
Pay: Professional Development Interns are AmeriCorps members receiving a
living allowance of $6,500 for 1,000 hours of service, spread evenly over
the 30 week period. Upon successful completion of the program, interns also
receive an AmeriCorps education award of up to $2,362.50 to be used to pay
tuition or student loans. Food on project days and accommodations on off-
days are provided.
Qualifications: Professional Development Interns must have an established
interest in conservation issues and should take evident 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 ACEs mission. ACEs
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 5 - 6 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:
Internship is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders only.
Interns must have personal medical insurance for the duration of
their participation with ACE.
ACE will provide tents to all interns (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: 21 and over
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
devises, chainsaw training, GPS use, and CPR/First Aid. Interns 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. Interns will also receive Leave No Trace
Training.
Positions available immediately and open until filled. Please apply ASAP.
To Apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references
to Jim Laske at [email protected] with CA AmeriCorps Professional
Development Internship-ECOLOG referred in the subject heading of your
email.
Successful applicants will be asked to fill out an AmeriCorps specific
application as well.
