Field Assistant - Trail Maintenance
Number of Positions Available: 3
Location: Northern Minnesota – Superior & Chippewa National Forests (Locations TBD)
Term:
Superior National Forest (2) April 12 – September 17, 2010
Chippewa National Forest & North Country Trail (1) April 12 – November 30, 2010
Schedule: Full-time, Temporary
Benefits: Stipend $1975 per month; post-service AmeriCorps education award $2362.50 (if eligible)
The Conservation Corps provides hands-on environmental stewardship and service-learning opportunities to youth and young adults through natural resource management projects.
The Field Assistant is a full-time, temporary position. Around 85% of the Field Assistant’s time will be spent directly in the field coordinating and overseeing trail projects or providing training for crews. Significant travel and extended backcountry camping are required. Food and lodging (camping) is only provided while working on trail; this is not a residential position. This position reports to the Project Coordinator, who is responsible for the oversight of Field Assistants and Corpsmembers. Each Field Assistant will help manage 1 to 3 backcountry trail crews performing work in Superior or Chippewa National Forests or along the North Country Trail. Crews are composed of 1 Crew Leader and 4 Crew Members, aged 18-25, and work seasonally from June through September.
Primary Duties
• Assist with field coordination for young adult crews, ensuring that projects are accomplished in an efficient, safe, and consistent manner.
• Coordinate project logistics with Project Coordinator and facilitate crew preparedness to complete each project. Communicate project objectives to corpsmembers to achieve this goal.
• Assist in technical aspects of trail projects.
• Maintain equipment, conduct repairs, and inventory.
• Provide educational, technical, and safety training for corpsmembers.
• Help facilitate corpsmember development to ensure that corpsmembers achieve personal and program success through the principles of teamwork and service-learning.
• Assist with district safety program ensuring that corpsmembers are familiar with safety practices and precautions relating to work projects.
• Perform significant travel and overnight and weekend spike camp duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Ability to motivate and train crew members and crew leaders, ages 18-25. :
• Working knowledge of project management, specifically in trail building and maintenance.
• Experience with hand and power tools, chainsaw operations, construction and backcountry camping.
• Training coordination and facilitation experience.
• Ability to work well with minimal supervision, multi-task, and be flexible in responsibilities.
• Valid driver’s license / good driving record.
• A current Wilderness First Aid or equivalent certificate.
• Familiarity with AmeriCorps and local, state and federal natural resource agencies.
• Previous Corps or related experience required.
• Four-year degree in a related field is preferred.
• AmeriCorps eligibility preferred but not required. (Between age 18-25, eligible for Education Award)
Submit a cover letter, resume, AND application to:
Preferred Application Deadline: 3/19/2010
recruit@conservationcorps.org [1] (Email submission preferred).
Applications available at www.conservationcorps.org/apply [2]
OR mail to: Conservation Corps Minnesota
AmeriCorps Trail Crews
2715 Upper Afton Road #100
Maplewood, MN 55119