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Crew Member 2023

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 to learn skills in community building, environmental restoration, and reflective practice.  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.  

In addition to impactful service, corps members have the opportunity to grow professionally and personally through training, engaging with environmental agencies, collaborating with staff, providing feedback, and practicing structured reflection. Corps members learn valuable team building skills as they work on their communication skills, conflict resolution management, and leadership capacity. 

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: Crew 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/ mechanical) 25% 
  • Invasive plant control (herbicide)               20% 
  • Native plant installation (planting) 15% 
  • Stewardship/ Site maintenance 20% 
  • Trail construction/maintenance 20% 

Multiple camping trips. Camping trips provide corps members a chance to learn or practice camping skills as well as deepen team development. In 2022 most organized camping trips were done in a front country (non-wilderness) setting. Typical duration of these trips is 3-4 nights, with the potential for a 10- day trip as well. In 2022 the number of nights camping ranged from 25-40 nights, equivalent to roughly 1-2 weeks of camping per month. 


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 2023 corps year we plan to conduct these trainings online or in a socially distanced manner. The following range of topics introduces corps members to the field of restoration and develops 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 
  • Commitment to integrating social, racial, and economic justice lenses to our work 
  • Eligibility for AmeriCorps and ability to complete term of service 
  • Commitment to following CDC and EarthCorps’ COVID-19 policies  
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds (22.5 kg); Hike up to 8 miles (13 km) in steep terrain while carrying 40 pounds (18kg) of weight  

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience in the outdoors 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 a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding service that takes place outdoors in all weather conditions. Service regularly involves: 

  • Long days of repetitively swinging heavy tools, shoveling, digging, and pulling. 
  • Heavy lifting up to 50 lbs. and bending 
  • Physically demanding activities, eating, and camping outdoors in all weather conditions such as rain, heat, smoke, wind, and snow. 
  • Safely handling 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 may include 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 by an authorized COVID-19 vaccine before beginning their service.  


Corps Member Terms of Service

  • PERIOD OF SERVICE: January 25, 2023 – December 14, 2023 
  • RATE OF PAY: Living stipend of $2,278/mo (before taxes) 
  • 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 1,700 hours of service, including mandatory trainings 
  • Criminal history checks and 2 references will be reviewed to fulfill AmeriCorps requirements 

Benefits

  • AmeriCorps education award of $6,495 upon completion of 1,700 hours  
  • Days off, Holidays and sick time permissible as designated by EarthCorps 
  • Medical, Vision, 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

Priority consideration will be given to completed applications received by October 15, 2022.  

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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