AmeriCorps Crew Member

Spend a summer in the Rockies with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy as a Conservation Corps Crew Member!

This immersive ten-week program provides members with community and career building opportunities in stunning landscapes in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. This is an AmeriCorps program for ages 18-30.

This is a residential program; participants will be housed in bunk houses, private residences, or tents throughout the season. Depending on crew location, crews may spend anywhere from 30% to 100% of their season living in tents. Please note certain activities such as food shopping, meal prep, eating meals, cleaning your bunk/tent/room, and evening activities do not count toward your term hours.

Crews work in the following locations

• Arapaho National Forest (Sulphur Ranger District)
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Roosevelt National Forest (Boulder and Canyon Lakes Ranger Districts)

Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC)crew members will work with four to eight of their peers and one or two crew leaders to complete conservation, wildfire restoration, vegetation management, or other related developed recreation projects throughout public lands in Northern Colorado. Projects can include, but are not limited to, trail maintenance and construction, vegetation management, wildfire restoration, habitat restoration, historic structure stabilization and restoration, and basic carpentry.  Projects are completed alongside the National Park Service and USDA Forest Service staff, along with interaction with several local nonprofits.

Additionally, crew members will participate in orientation and training activities, educational programs, shadowing opportunities, and career development workshops. These will include but are not limited to safety protocols, Leave No Trace principles, backcountry preparedness, natural and cultural history, resume workshops, USAJobs overview, and a review of AmeriCorps policies, expectations, and requirements. The Conservancy will additionally supply a food stipend ($10/person/day while serving) in the form of a credit card provided to crew leaders.

AmeriCorps Crew Members must be able to serve effectively on a team comprised of their peers, helping fellow members achieve personal and program success through the principles of teamwork and service-learning. Crew Members must be responsive to instructions and feedback delivered by the Crew Leader(s), Program Staff, and project hosts from land management agencies such as the NPS, USFS, and local nonprofits.

Qualifications:

• Positive attitude and interest in civic service
• Previous experience working in a group setting
• Strong desire to strengthen personal growth and leadership skills
• Effective communication skills
• Interest in conservation, historic preservation/developed recreation, or natural resource management
• Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service
• Proven flexibility and adaptability to changing work schedules
• Being mentally prepared to camp/serve for 11 weeks in varying weather conditions
• An ability to empathize with others and work through adversity
• Experience using hand tools is preferred

Requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen,US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident of the US
• Must pass the National Sex Offender Public Registry and applicable State and Federal background checks
• Must complete a physician’s review
• Must have a general First-Aid/CPR certification or the ability to obtain one before the start of the term.
• Must be between the ages of 18-30 (Up to 35 for veterans)
• Strong prioritization of safety for oneself and others. This includes but is not limited to knowing your physical limits to reduce strains and sprains, using caution when lifting and using team lifts when possible, being aware of your surroundings, and careful foot placement when walking on uneven ground.
• Demonstration and continued respect of RMC property including but not limited to RMC vehicles, equipment, etc.

Essential Service Functions: Ability to perform the *Essential Service Functions at least 40 hours per week

• Long (10-hour) days of shoveling, digging, carrying equipment, swinging heavy tools repetitively, as well as a myriad of other physical activities
• Heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds
• Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
• Carrying a 50lb backpack up to 10 miles
• Serving, eating, and camping outdoors in all weather conditions

*Adequately performing essential service functions is a requirement of this position. Reasonable accommodation is available upon request.

Position Responsibilities and Tasks:

Crew members must:

• Actively participate in all training, orientation, education, and career development programs
• Develop personal and professional goals, and create plans to achieve those goals
• Substantially contribute to all service projects
• Abide by safety protocols, including wearing all required PPE during project work
• Follow the direction and guidance of crew leaders,agency staff, and RMC Field Staff

Members are expected to serve a minimum of 300 hours and complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement. Due to the brevity of the position, no vacation, sick leave or personal time is granted. Each day of service, training, or education, members will take a required½ hour lunch that does not count towards term of service hours.

Role Clarification: This is an AmeriCorps member level position, NOT a staff member. While serving in this AmeriCorps volunteer position, AmeriCorps members need to abide by the restrictions below:

• AmeriCorps members may NOT sign/approve official documents such as AmeriCorps paperwork, member timecards, performance evaluations, disciplinary contracts, project contracts, or any similar documents.
• AmeriCorps members may NOT be directly involved in project acquisition or contracting.
• AmeriCorps members may NOT discipline other AmeriCorps members. While they may provide guidance, facilitate crew meetings, motivate, reward, and uphold safety policies on the service site, all policy violations and disciplinary action must be directed to and handled by Staff.