Title: AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader - Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew
Reports to: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator
Duty Station: Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Golden Pond, KY
(Ideally, members will live within one hour of duty station. Optional shared housing available during off time*)
Locations: Crew will be based out of Kentucky. Service projects will take place in Kentucky.
Season Dates: 01/06/2025 - 05/23/2025
Status: This is a full-time, seasonal, exempt, 20-week- 675-hour AmeriCorps National Service position
Stipend: $450/week AmeriCorps living allowance, plus $300/week additional benefit ($750/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, USFS chainsaw recognized certification, certifications related to wildland fire, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), $200 fire boot stipend, 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, 4 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 duty station and project sites.
Position Summary:
Research shows that members of marginalized groups – including women, LGBTQIA+ identifying people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) – tend to apply to jobs only if they meet every single requirement listed. Here at Southeast Conservation Corps, we want the best candidates for the job, and those candidates don’t always meet 100% of the requirements listed. If you are passionate about uniting, empowering, and celebrating diverse communities for all and breaking down barriers for equity, we encourage you to apply – especially if you’re a member of a structurally marginalized group. We look forward to your application.
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 (SECC), The Daniel Boone National Forest, and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area have partnered to host a Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew. This crew will engage in various natural resource management projects through fuels management, prescribed fire, and developed recreation service projects. The Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew provides an open and supportive space where members collaborate, learn from, and grow alongside one another as members gain leadership and technical skills, and engage in professional development opportunities through trainings and certifications related to fire and developed recreation management. As a crew, you will perform manual labor and complete conservation projects using various manual and power tools. You will be engaged in the program as a leader and will participate/ facilitate in environmental education and leadership development activities in addition to service projects. Risk management is of utmost importance, and all policies and procedures must be followed.
The term of service will include a variety of tasks aimed at improving and maintaining recreation sites and supporting forest management activities. The primary responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Developed Recreation:
Heavy Recreation Site Improvements
Restoration/Stabilization
Gravel Surfacing
Painting and Repairs
Data Collection
Trail Building/Maintenance
Prescribed Fire Activities:
Chainsaw use
Establishing prescribed fire containment lines
Providing holding and ignition resources for multiple prescribed burn units
Trail Building/Maintenance:
Members will earn the following training and certifications:
*Members my not exceed 20% of their total term hours as trainings
ICS-100 (Intro to Incident Command System)
IS-700 (Intro to the National Incident Management System)
S-130 (Firefighter Training)
S-190 (Into to Wildland Fire Behavior)
L-180 (Human Factors in Wildland Fire Service)
USFS chainsaw recognized certifications
Red Card via successful completion of the Moderate Pack Test
2-mile hike in 30 minutes with 25 pounds
Trail construction and Maintenance
Wilderness First Aid certification
Hitch Schedule:
This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule. For example, the schedule could be 9 days on - 5 days off, 4 days on - 3 days off, or 5 days on – 2 days off. The schedule will shift based on project and partner needs and will include group camping while on hitch. 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.
Optional Housing during Off-Hitch*
SECC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing when not in the field.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) has offered shared housing options for SECC crew members during their off-hitch time. This housing is optional and available at no cost from February 2025 – May 2025. Housing will be a shared 3 bedroom/1 bathroom trailer with utilities and washer & dryer included. Internet not included.
Members are required to follow the set housing regulations required by LBL to utilize this housing.
Prohibited Activities:
While charging time to the AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the Corporation, staff and members may not engage in activities listed in CFR §2520.65.
Serve Kentucky:
SECC's 2025 Kentucky Fire & Recreation Crew is an AmeriCorps program administered by Serve Kentucky and funded by AmeriCorps, the federal agency.
Position Reporting: Members are required to complete the following:
Midterm and Final Eval: Crew Leaders evaluate members' term of service. This is completed at the midway point of service and upon completion of service.
Exit Survey: Conservation Legacy will require an exit survey for each member to provide an overview of their entire term of service.
AmeriCorps Exit Survey: Completed by the member at the end of service per AmeriCorps compliance.
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.