Everglades Women in Conservation Crew Member

Summary:

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a nationwide non-profit Conservation Corps in Asheville (NC), in partnership with AmeriCorps.

ACE is seeking female-identifying Corps Members dedicated to serving 10 weeks (300 Hours) at Everglades National Park. The all female ACE crew would manage trails, invasive plants, and potentially help with historic restoration at Dry Tortugas National Park. Members will have the opportunity to work alongside park volunteers, biologists, and National Park Service staff.

The Everglades spans over 1.5 million acres across the southern tip of Florida and is a unique landscape that many threatened or endangered animals call home. With nine distinct ecosystems, 360 different bird species, 50 reptile species, and 39 native orchid species, Everglades National Park is diverse and lively! The park's many habitats means visitors can explore anything from the mangrove forests, to cypress domes, and into the hardwood hammocks and pineland. The park also provides many different ways for visitors to explore, such as boating, paddling, hiking or biking.

Additionally, members will be given the opportunity to hear from female NPS staff from female leaders in conservation to discuss and explore career opportunities, career paths, challenges, strategies, and successes they've experienced during their journey. Participants will gain hands-on experience, job skills, and readiness for successful employment with the National Park Service and other agencies and organizations.

Corps Members volunteer their energy and enthusiasm, working long hours in adverse weather conditions,

Start Date (orientation): 12/3/2024

First day in Field: 12/9/2024

All members will receive unpaid holiday leave from 12/20/24 to 1/7/25

Estimated End Date: 3/15/2025

Location: Everglades National Park, Florida

Schedule: Will vary from working 8 days on/ 6 days off or 5 days on/ 2 days off

Benefits: Members will receive a Living Allowance of $600/week, paid bi-weekly.

Corps Members eligible for an Education Award for an amount of $1,459.26 for a 300-hour position upon successful completion of service.

ACE provides Corps Members with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks on field project days; Corps Members are responsible for their own meals on off days. ACE members also qualify for food stamps during their terms of service.

Gear: ACE provides each member with their work shirts and any Personal Protection Equipment (PPE-helmet, safety glasses, gloves) and tent if needed. The member will provide their own work pants, rain gear, and boots. Upon acceptance to the program, Corps Members will receive a more extensive packing list

Travel: Transportation will be provided by ACE to and from the worksites; personal vehicles are not necessary throughout the member's term of service. ACE does not provide relocation assistance.

ACE provides members with a tent and camping facilities during work days and off time. The members will provide their own blankets/pillow/sleeping bag/towels.

AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage and federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Position Description:

Corps Members 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 afforded opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional mentors within ACE, and will gain invaluable career perspectives working alongside staff from the National Park Service and other stewards of our nation's public lands.

Field work and other duties might include but are not limited to:

• Trimming Vegetation
• Removing litter/debris from trails, shorelines, boundary lines, and remote island campsites
• Repairing and installing campground infrastructure: picnic tables, fire rings, etc.
• Performing shoreline preservation
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Invasive plant management through use of herbicides

Corps Members get experience working with or in conjunction with the following tools and equipment, depending on their level of training:

• Trail Maintenance: Pick mattocks, Pulaskis, shovels, single/double jacks, McLeods, rakes, hand saws, and loppers
• Power Tools and Gas Powered Equipment: Brush-cutters, drills, and grip-hoist if needed

Qualifications:

Applicants must be capable of performing physically demanding labor on environmental and conservation projects for 10 hours a day. Applicants should expect to hike extended distances on rough terrain carrying up to 40 lbs for daily tasks. Corps Members will work in a variety of weather conditions such as temperatures ranging up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, high winds, intense sunshine, and rain. Weather precautions will be taken for hot weather conditions (e.g. additional breaks).

Required:

• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
• Must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and up to 35 for Veterans
• Able and willing to work in a group
• Able and willing to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and capable of hiking moderate distances in somewhat rough terrain during inclement weather conditions
• Ability and willingness to undergo a Federal criminal background check

Preferred:

• Experience in hiking and navigation in steep terrain
• Strong desire to enter the conservation field as a natural resource professional
• Experience or interest in volunteering in local communities

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools or equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus may be required.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to [25] lbs., ability to move up to [60] pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

The member must be willing to represent ACE and AmeriCorps in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. ACE has a zero tolerance policy for illegal drugs and underage drinking. ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.

To Apply: Please submit a thoughtful resume, complete a motivational statement (instructions are provided when applying) OR upload a cover letter, and provide at least 2 references that are either professional or from a community leader (eg colleagues, teachers, counselors, religious leaders, career advisors). Navigate to our website, usaconservation dot org to view other listings, and use the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing to apply using ACE's online application portal.

NOTE: Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact Sydney Seng at sseng at usaconservation dot org or 828.490.1775

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.