American Conservation Experience: CA AmeriCorps Professional Development Internship
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 900 hr. AmeriCorps term in 2011:
Start Date: February 27, 2011
End Date: September 2, 2011
A 900 hour, 27 week commitment is required.
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 ACE’s 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 3 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 $6,250 for 900 hours of service, spread evenly over the 27 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 ACE’s mission. Preference will be given to former and graduating ACE volunteers, graduated members of other conservation corps, and those with a history of committed engagement in similar volunteer and outdoor activities. ACE’s 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.
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 Chris Baker at cbaker@usaconservation.org [1] with “CA AmeriCorps Professional Development Internship - SCA referred” in the subject heading of your email.
Successful applicants will be asked to fill out an AmeriCorps specific application as well.