Skip to main content
View All Positions

Crew Member (June - December)

About EarthCorps

EarthCorps (EC) is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that believes people and nature can thrive together and seeks to build a global community of leaders through local environmental service.  Putting our mission into action looks like an intensive (six-month/year-long) training program that unites young adults (ages 18-26ish) from across the United States and around the world. EarthCorps is committed to becoming a more liberated and anti-racist organization. Through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion, EarthCorps is building a network of leaders who have the cultural competency and skills to build a new future, while restoring vital lands and waters and connecting people to nature. This work is ongoing and the organization is committed to being transparent with program participants about our work, as well as including their input to drive the direction of the organization towards a healthier, welcoming, and sustainable community for us all.  

Position Summary

Colonization, resource extraction, development, urbanization and agriculture activities have degraded air, water and soil quality, and destroyed natural habitats. Ecological restoration is one tool to address these impacts and care for our land. Crews at EarthCorps have an opportunity to directly improve 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. The EarthCorps program is an opportunity to gain hands on experience in environmental restoration. Crew Members will serve on crews of 5-7 members led by an EarthCorps crew leader. Crew members will make a difference on the land through on-the-ground restoration projects throughout Western Washington. 


This position is managed by an EarthCorps program manager and supervised by EarthCorps project managers, and is offered through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). As such, all applicants must meet the requirements to become an AmeriCorps member and abide by AmeriCorps policies.   

Duties & Responsibilities

PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES, RESPONSIBILITIES & INTENDED OUTCOMES:

FIELD SERVICE (80% of program)

Crews complete restoration projects in partnership with various land management agencies, throughout the Puget Sound region (in urban, suburban, and rural settings). Crews are introduced to a broad range of project sites, different techniques and approaches to ecological restoration. This broad exposure will provide participants with skills to implement best management practices in restoration, an appreciation of the challenges of restoration and an understanding of the field of environmental restoration work. To better understand the types of projects crews work on please review some project overviews: linked here.


Project Implementation: Corps Members are responsible for the efficiency of accomplishing projects and the quality of the final product under supervision from project staff. All 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.

 

What type of service will Crew Members perform?  

Field Service Projects (and estimates of their typical percentage of the program):

·       Initial invasive plant removal (manual)      40%

·       Invasive plant control (herbicide)              20%

·       Native plant installation (planting)            15%

·       Restoration site maintenance                    15%

·       Trail construction/maintenance                 5-10%


Multiple camping trips. Camping trips provide corps members a chance to learn or practice camping skills as well as deepen team development. In 2021 most organized camping trips were done in a frontcountry (non-wilderness) setting. Typical duration of these trips is 3-4 nights, with the potential for 10 day trips as well. In 2021 the number of nights camping ranged from 25-40. 

 

TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS (20% of the program)

EarthCorps is a service-learning program. This means in addition to learning from fieldwork, corps members will attend trainings that develop skills and context for restoration activities. Facilitators will use a combination of lectures, discussions, reflections, site tours and hands on assignments. For the 2022 corps year we plan to conduct these trainings online or in a socially distanced manner. The following range of topics introduce corps members to the field of restoration and develop interpersonal skills:

 

Habitat Restoration:

  • Ecology, Land Management, Restoration Theory and Skills
  • Pacific Northwest natural history and plant identification
  • Exposure to the restoration industry and local environmental network

Community building:

  • Environmental justice and anti-racism
  • Exposure to local community organizations and land acknowledgement workshops
  • Progressing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals within the corps and organization

Leadership:

  • Understanding of leadership theory and personal leadership style
  • Collaboration in a small team and community building across teams at EarthCorps

Required Qualifications

Successful applicants will demonstrate the following:

  • Ability and desire to work hard, outdoors and in all weather conditions
  • Commitment to cooperation and teamwork
  • 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), carrying 40 pounds of weight
  • Completed high school diploma/GED
  • Commitment to following CDC & EarthCorps' COVID-19 policies

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

 

Environmental restoration is physically demanding service that takes place outdoors in all weather conditions. Service regularly involves:

  • Long days of repetitively swinging heavy tools, shoveling, and digging.
  • Heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. and bending,
  • Physically demanding activities, working, eating, and sometimes camping in the outdoors in all weather conditions
  • Safely handing herbicides with proper training
  • Interacting and collaborating with others on a daily basis online and in-person

 

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


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. All Corps Members must be fully vaccinated with an authorized COVID-19 vaccine before beginning their service.


Corps Member Terms of Service

·        PERIOD OF SERVICE: June 6,2022 – December 8, 2022

·        RATE OF PAY: Living stipend of $2,080/month (before 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 1700 hours of service, including mandatory trainings

·        Criminal history check and 2 references will be reviewed to fulfill AmeriCorps requirements.

Benefits

  • AmeriCorps education award of $3,247.50 upon completion of 900 hours
  • Days off, holidays, and sick time permissible as designated by EarthCorps
  • Medical and Dental Insurance
  • Subsidized ORCA Pass for bus transportation
  • Education & Training
  • Boots, pants, t-shirt, rain gear and safety equipment provided

Deadlines and Start Dates

Please submit your completed application as soon as you are able. Applications will close on August 5th. 

 

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?

View All Positions