Conservation Corps is Hiring a Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader Near Finland, MN
Position: Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader (AmeriCorps, ages 19 - 35) Location: This is a residential program; food and lodging will be provided during the service term. Based at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN; travel throughout region to complete projects.Service Term: 675-hour AmeriCorps position; 5/28 – 5/31 online training and 6/3 – 8/14 residentialBenefits:
Living Allowance: $2,300/month
Housing & Food Provided
Education Award: $2,817.14, if eligible and upon successful completion of program
Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
Health insurance
Childcare assistance
Training, certifications, networking
About Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa: Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, a nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee, engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in in meaningful service, leadership development, and environmental stewardship. Our vision is a world in which everyone has equitable access to nature, is equipped to succeed in career and life, and is empowered to make a difference in conserving natural resources. Our projects and programs embody our core values of safety, service, respect, equity, and community. In working toward our vision, we believe it is important to acknowledge that natural resources organizations, including Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa, have a legacy of supporting and benefiting from systems that have restricted access to public lands and careers for marginalized groups. To challenge this, we commit to using equity as a lens for the work we do and decisions we make, building a shared vision surrounding justice, equity, diversity, and Inclusion goals with our partnering organizations and communities and providing an equitable training environment and high-quality programming to all our participants.Position Summary: Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader will add value to the community, environment and youth participants through their dedicated service. The Crew Leader will motivate and supervise a crew of young people in a rigorous program focused on job skills training, environmental education, and conservation projects. The Crew Leader will be responsible for behavior management and fostering positive crew morale by through consistent teamwork. The member must ensure that they and the crew adhere to program goals and mission. The member will work alongside youth to set the standard and pace of work. While serving alongside another AmeriCorps member, the crew leader will provide collaborative leadership for the crew, ensure safety procedures are followed, and communicate with project partners. Projects may include but are not limited to:
Introduced species management
Trail construction & maintenance
Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
Rain garden construction
Tree planting
Basic carpentry
Plant or animal surveying
Emergency response
Projects are in partnership with public land management agencies such as the State Department of Natural Resources, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, cities, counties, and trail associations. Projects are physically challenging and team-oriented and occur across MN and neighboring states, including urban and wilderness settings. Crews travel for 5 weeks in a row while camping in tents near project sites, preparing their own meals, and completing work projects. Crews are led by AmeriCorps Crew Leaders and supervised by the Program Manager, Assistant Program Manager and seasonal Field Coordinators.
Duties & Responsibilities
Complete natural resources service projects in cooperation with fellow crew leader and crew members safely, effectively and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host
Abide by Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents
Contribute actively to the team to complete projects, demonstrating a commitment to the Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity and community, as well as justice, diversity, and inclusion.
Positive attitude, desire to learn new skills, interest in community service; represent Conservation Corps in positive manner in public
Serve a minimum of 675 hours and complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely manner
Hours & Schedule Schedules can vary, depending on crew location. Crew members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, including a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours and an additional hour of facilitating education activities for youth in the evening. Crews typically camp near their project sites for a week, then do crew chores including laundry, grocery shopping, phone calls home, and travel to a new project location on Sundays. Training & Development The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year, and additional region or project specific training throughout the service term that may include:
AmeriCorps benefits
Team building and conflict resolution
Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Youth Development
Introduction to American Sign Language
Safety and risk management
Hand tool safety and maintenance
First Aid and CPR
MN Safety Council defensive driving
Introduced species management
Plant identification
Leave No Trace principles.
No more than 20% of total service hours will be spent on training and development activities. Qualifications
Ability and desire to work well with others in a team setting, outdoors, and in all weather conditions
Ability to foster strong work habits, environmental ethics, youth leadership, and team unity with youth from diverse backgrounds who may be experiencing a job and/or camping for the first time
Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity, and community
Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service
Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include but are not limited to:
Long (7-8 hour) days of shoveling, digging, and swinging heavy tools repetitively
Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
Working in extremes of heat or cold
Eating and camping outdoors in all weather conditions
Given the residential nature of our program, crew leaders must be willing to work long hours, continuing to supervise youth after the project day has ended, with limited time off. Must be willing to live in tents and in a variety of locations throughout the summer.
Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks.
High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
Valid driver’s license and safe driving record (no major moving violations or DUI’s in the past five years) as crew leaders drive 12 passenger vans to transport crew
Full Position Description Other Information Women, BIPOC, LGBTQ people, Deaf/Hard-of-hearing, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.Questions? Contact SYC Staff at syc@conservationcorps.org