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Crew Member 2021 (October-December)

About EarthCorps

EarthCorps is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization with a mission of developing leaders to strengthen community and restore the health of our environment. EarthCorps' Corps Program is an intensive year-long training program that unites young adults (ages 18-25) from across the United States to learn skills in habitat restoration, community building, and leadership. EarthCorps program participants are part of a diverse group of emerging environmental leaders committed to teamwork, service, and personal growth.

Position Summary

The Corps Member position is a training-level, seasonal position with EarthCorps. As an AmeriCorps Member, corps members will work on outdoor environmental restoration projects throughout the Puget Sound Region. Their work directly improves the resiliency of our land by restoring habitat, improving water and air quality, reducing erosion, sequestering carbon and engaging the broader community to become stewards of our shared resource.

 

In addition to impactful service, corps members have the opportunity to grow professionally and personally through training, implementing environmental projects, feedback and reflection. Corps members learn valuable team building skills as they work on their communication, conflict management and leadership capacity.

Duties & Responsibilities

FIELD SERVICE (80% of program)

Corps Members work on a crew of 5-7 young adults performing hands-on environmental services. A Crew Leader guides the crew as they complete restoration projects at various sites, and in partnership with various land management agencies, throughout the Puget Sound region (in urban, suburban, and rural settings).

 

Project Implementation: Corps Members are responsible for the efficiency of accomplishing projects and the quality of the final product under supervision from project staff. Corps Members and staff are responsible for the safety of themselves, their fellow workers, and members of the public who may be involved with projects.

 

Corps Members will be expected to follow additional procedures relating to public health and the mitigation of the spread of COVID-19, while in the field and out. This includes the wearing of face coverings and necessary distancing between crew members in the field, among other crew protocol.

 

  • Field Service Projects (and estimates of their typical percentage of the program): Invasive plant removal (manual)            35%
  • Invasive plant control (herbicide)          12%
  • Native plant installation (planting)         15%
  • Restoration site maintenance                15%
  • Trail construction/maintenance             15%
  • Volunteer management                        8%

Multiple camping trips (typically in the summer months, most of them frontcountry, up to 10 days/trip)

 

 

TRAINING & WORKSHOPS (20% of program)

Corps members participate fully in retreats, workshops, and field trainings. These sessions provide skills and context for the restoration work that corps members complete. Topics rotate between field skills, leadership skills and community building skills. Workshops and retreats are lecture and discussion based. The range of topics are meant to give an introduction to topics in the field of restoration and develop interpersonal skills.

 

  • Habitat Restoration:Understanding of Best Management Practices of ecological restoration
  • Exposure, knowledge and skill in the restoration and conservation field
  • Exposure to PNW restoration industry and local environmental network
  • Modeling of effective pace, quality, and quantity to fit environmental industry standards
  • Community building:Creating a strong internal community
  • Working in a multi-cultural community
  • Exposure to local PNW community and issues
  • Leadership:Understanding of leadership theory and personal style
  • Leading a variety of community environmental restoration events
  • Leading in a diverse, multi-cultural setting

 

Required Qualifications

  • Ability and desire to work hard, outdoors and in all weather conditions
  • Commitment to cooperation and teamwork with peers
  • Eligibility for AmeriCorps and ability to complete term of service
  • Timely clearance of AmeriCorps-required criminal history checks
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds (22.5 kg); Hike up to 8 miles (13 km) while carrying 40 pounds of weight for up to 9 hours per day
  • Completed high school diploma/GED

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience in outdoor field work or physical labor
  • Commitment to community service and previous experience in volunteer service
  • Enthusiasm for environmental conservation, science, recreation, or other related fields
  • Capacity to learn and grow in a service-based training position
  • Between 18-26 years old

 

Environmental restoration is physically demanding service that takes place outdoors in all weather conditions. New members consistently underestimate the physical and mental requirements. Service regularly involves:Long days of repetitively swinging heavy tools, shoveling, and digging.

 

  • Heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. and bending,
  • Working, eating, and sometimes camping in the outdoors in all weather conditions
  • Walking on steep or uneven terrain up to 8 mi. (13 km) while carrying 40 lbs. (18 kg) of weight
  • Working in extremes of heat or cold

 

Please consider the nature of the work prior to applying and contact us if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Corps Member Terms of Service

·        PERIOD OF SERVICE: October 5– December 9, 2021

·        RATE OF PAY: Living stipend of $1,679/month (pre-tax)

·        TYPICAL HOURS OF SERVICE: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, alternating Mondays off,

occasional Saturdays required.

·        STATUS: Temporary - Enrolled in AmeriCorps through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). AmeriCorps members must abide by policies set by CNCS and complete 300 hours of service, including mandatory trainings

·        Overnight retreats and education sessions (when available) must be attended to fulfill program requirements

Benefits

  • AmeriCorps education award of $1,311.11 upon completion of term (at least 300 hours and all program activities)
  • Days off permissible as designated by EarthCorps
  • Holidays will be paid as designated by EarthCorps
  • Medical Insurance
  • Subsidized ORCA Pass for bus transportation
  • Education & Training
  • Boots, pants, t-shirt, rain gear and safety equipment provided

Deadlines and Start Dates

Priority consideration will be given to completed applications received by September 21, 2021.  


To ensure your materials are considered, please submit your completed application early as you are able. After this priority date, new applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. 


We encourage applicants from all racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities to apply, especially those from historically marginalized communities.

To Apply

Click the 'Apply Now' button below to begin your application. You will be asked to submit basic personal information, a current resume, and a cover letter answering the following question: Why do you want to serve at EarthCorps, in the Corps Program? What attracted you, and how will this term of service help you reach your goals?

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