Are you interested in getting paid to gain experience and build community in conservation, habitat restoration, trail projects, and disaster relief with opportunities to camp across Arkansas?

Arkansas Conservation Corps (ARCC) participants engage in hands-on conservation projects on public lands, coastal regions, National Parks and recreational areas across the Central Southern United States. The Conservation Corps of American YouthWorks (AYW CC) experience builds leadership skills, connection with community, and prepares young people with skills needed to enter the workforce with a strong work ethic and sense of service!

Conservation and Disaster Response Teams: These crews are focused on conservation projects throughout Arkansas landscapes and beyond. Crew Leaders and Members complete habitat restoration and trail projects with a variety of partners, from the National Park Service to local County Parks. Though most of the season will consist of conservation projects, these crews remain on-call and able to deploy should a flood, fire, hurricane, or other disasters occur. ARCC is both a state and federal resource during disasters, and leaders receive training in spontaneous volunteer management, donations management, and the Incident Command System. Common partners include FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

This is a full-time seasonal term-based AmeriCorps position working outdoors that specifically focuses on gaining experience in disaster mitigation, habitat restoration, trail projects, and disaster relief. The Arkansas Conservation Corps is a Program of American YouthWorks.

APPLICATIONS DUE: ASAP! Priority due date is by July 26, 2024 before 11:59PM CST

COMPENSATION: $2,400-$2,720 per month + End-of-Service AmeriCorps Education Award

AMERICORPS TERM LENGTHS

CREW #1 (675 hours)

Crew Leader: 7/23/2024 – 11/22/2024 (FULL)

Crew Member:  7/29/2024 – 11/22/2024

CREW #2 (1200 hours)

Crew Leader: 8/12/2024 – 4/11/2025

Crew Member: 8/19/2024 – 4/11/2025

BENEFITS

• Monthly Living Allowance: to cover basic expenses during your service term. View more details here!
• Medical Health Insurance: Provided at no cost to participants by The Corps Network (TCN), eligible members can opt-in OR opt-out
• Personal and Professional Growth
• Technical and Fundamental skills training
• Support Services: Needs-based Support Services are offered for participants that need assistance with transportation, food, vital documents, bills, and other financial needs. Gear & Boot Assistance for qualified purchases.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: money for qualified student loans, higher education and training programs
• Student Loan Forbearance: For eligible student loans, temporarily postpone payments during your term of service.
• Opportunity to network and build connections with partnering agencies: Including US Forest Service, Texas Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, National Park Service, and more!
• Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Eligibility status for jobs on Federal Lands
• Industry-Recognized Certifications and Trainings: depend on crew type and availability, and are not guaranteed during a term of service. Some that are frequently offered are the American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, the S-212 Wildland Chainsaw Certification (typically only for Crew Leaders), and FEMA Certifications (for crews on disaster response teams).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Frequently required to walk and hike over long distances while carrying tools
• Ability to operate tools
• Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 35-50* pounds (*depending on crew type)
• Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
• Ability to work long days in adverse weather conditions
• Depending on crew type, ability to hitch, camp, and travel throughout the duration of an entire AmeriCorps term

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED
• Between the ages of 18-35; Ages 21+ for Crew Leaders
• US Citizenship or lawful permanent US Resident
• Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC)
• Additional experience and qualifications for Crew Leaders
  • Clean 3-year Driving Record 
  • 3-5 months of previous conservation experience (ex: chainsaws, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, trail work)
• View more qualifications on our website by clicking here!

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Effective in diverse community settings
• Able to work independently and with a crew while having a safety mindset
• Strong commitment to completing an entire term of service with a desire to serve the community and the environment
• Adaptability and flexibility with project tasks during service hours
• Desire to learn, grow and challenge yourself
• Additional Preferred Experience and Qualifications for Crew Leaders
  • Willingness to engage in hard conversations and mediate conflict
  • Desire to explore your leaderships style and develop leadership skills
  • Good problem solving and logistical skills
  • Lead/Teach skills/patience/collaborative leadership – something about that

American YouthWorks’ and AmeriCorps Non-Discrimination Policies

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information and military service.