Title: AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader – Boundary Marking Crew
Reports to: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator
Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN but will be camping and serving within various U.S. Forest Service locations across the Southeast Region.
Start/end date: 01/06/2025 - 05/02/2025
Status: This is a full-time, seasonal, 17-week- 675-hour AmeriCorps National Service position
Stipend: $550/week AmeriCorps living allowance, plus $100/week additional benefit ($650/week total, pre-tax, disbursed bi-weekly)
AmeriCorps Award: A $2,817.14 AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program
Other Benefits: Wilderness First Aid certification, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours) food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available
Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 2 Crew Members
Southeast Conservation Corps:
Engaging future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service.
Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans, to complete conservation service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC provides members with impactful opportunities through a unique set of programs that engage people in meaningful education and service to their communities and natural landscapes. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days.
SECC partners with various land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others. The projects are manual labor based and most projects require a hike into and out of the project site daily carrying tools and a day pack.
Crews will serve in frontcountry and backcountry locations in all types of weather conditions. Schedules may vary, but generally are 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days are 10-hour shifts with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project and location, other schedule variations may be implemented. While the staff at SECC strives to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.
SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch crews prepare all their own meals and participate as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions, conservation and/or corps related topics. The Crew Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites.
Position Summary:
The AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader (ACL) is responsible for facilitating a positive Crew Member experience. The ACL is a full partner in the crew’s leadership, helping to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term. This position requires open dialog with the Staff Crew Leader; helping them to manage projects, project partners communications, overall logistics, and crew assignments. Our program model fosters a supportive learning environment where participants can maximize their opportunities to grow and develop while gaining certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship. It also creates an intentional space for groups that are under-represented to step into conservation and natural resource management.
It means more than just showing up, it means setting an example of how to persevere with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It means facilitating a learning experience for Crew Members, both formally and informally. This position may require additional participation time outside of standard project and crew hours.
This position will be coached and mentored by an SECC Staff Crew Leader. ACLs are responsible for maintaining SECC’s high standards for technical projects and hands-on member growth, managing projects and implementing feedback among crew members. The ACL Position is a key development opportunity designed to identify and overcome challenges in leadership through a hands-on leadership role in conjunction with close mentorship from the Staff Crew Leader. Qualified candidates will identify growth plans and assist the Staff Crew Leader in administrative functions.
Service Project:
Southeast Conservation Corps and the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service will partner to host a roving boundary maintenance crew that covers the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, Daniel Boone National Forest, and the Ouachita National Forest.
Projects will vary based on the priorities and direction of SECC and Forests but will focus on:
The renewal/maintenance of US Forest Service exterior boundary lines to FS boundary line marking standards to verify oil and gas lease applications as well as mining and prospecting claims.
The maintenance of existing FS exterior boundary corners to FS standards to ensure accuracy of all mineral lease applications by Updating corner cards (manually and/or electronically)
Collecting field data related to leasing and maintenance activities (manually and/or electronically)
Other surveying and mapping land boundary activities as needed for verifying the accuracy of current and future leasing of minerals.
The projects are extremely arduous and require traversing very challenging terrain; will require a high level of physical fitness of participants. During inclement weather, and to provide a more enriching experience, shadowing other departments will be added as a beneficial experience for the crew.
Crew Life:
SECC Members with SECC serve on a crew model variation of 4-6 other Crew Members and 2 Crew Leaders who provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support for the success of all participants. Food is provided while in the field. Together, crew members collaborate to plan meals and complete all necessary chores (cooking, washing dishes, etc.). Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if known ahead of time. Many evenings include group discussions on conservation topics. When living on site, members will camp, travel, complete service projects, and eat as a crew. No drug or alcohol consumption is allowed during service-related travel at any time.
SECC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew Members will set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance through both self-evaluation and a review with their Crew Leader in the middle and at the end of their season. Evaluations will cover areas such as professionalism, responsibility and leadership, communication, engagement, productivity, safety, and equipment use. Crew Members will also be asked to evaluate their Crew Leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term.
Hitch Schedule:
This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule, but generally it will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. Applicants should be prepared to camp during hitches for the duration of the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary.
While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.
Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember:
Expect to spend long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Project days will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.
SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.
Crews prepare all their own meals while in-field and as a group complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.
Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between SECC office and project sites.
While participating in a term of National Service, SECC crews engage in a variety of team dynamics, emphasizing respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land they encounter.
SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner.
Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.