EBCI Crew Member-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Crew Member-EBCI Conservation Corps Member– AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina

Site Location: Cherokee, NC

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 06/02/25
• End Date: 07/25/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 Hours

Purpose:

The mission of Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) is to empower young adults through meaningful outdoor work that benefits North Carolina’s land and water and creates healthy communities.

CCNC is a program of Conservation Legacy that partners with public land managers in North Carolina to engage motivated young adults (ages 18-30) to complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects throughout the region. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazard fuel reduction, and ecological restoration. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.

Description of Duties:

This AmeriCorps crew projects take place across southwest North Carolina, including work with the USDA Forest Service and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribe. The crew will work a day schedule, meaning the crew returns home at end of work hours. During their time in the field, the AmeriCorps Crew Members will work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, performing manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects. These hands-on projects include public access improvements, trail construction and maintenance, forest management, habitat restoration, invasive species treatments, heritage work related to ancestral lands, disaster relief, fire & fuels reduction, and much more. The focus of this program is to equip crew members with job skills related to conservation. The AmeriCorps Crew members will also receive cultural enrichment through learning Tribal management practices and history related to natural resources. Most projects require hiking out to remote work sites for the day with tools, equipment, and day pack.

Expectations:

CCNC is an independent, non-residential program. Crew Members are responsible for their own housing, food, and transportation when not in the field unless otherwise specified. Some equipment is available to borrow throughout the season, but Crew Members are asked to supply as much of their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc) as possible. A gear list is provided upon acceptance into the program CCNC will provide group equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between Cherokee, NC and project sites.

Crew Members are asked to work hard, stay positive, and be flexible with changing schedules, weather conditions, and project needs. This is a seasonal position; Crew Members are asked to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline.

Once Crew Members are selected and prior to their start date, they are required to complete an online enrollment process that includes completing e-forms, uploading IDs, enrolling with AmeriCorps, and beginning their background check process. For those with limited access to online platforms, accommodations may be available and can be discussed during the interview process.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.

Safety and Judgment:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow directions by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Outdoor Skills and Fitness:

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Environmental Ethics:

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques

CCNC is a drug-free organization. Alcohol and illegal substances are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps/program activities and on CCNC, North Carolina State University, and program partner property.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Preference will be given to enrolled members of a federally-recognized Tribal Nation
• No previous experience is required, but a general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting is helpful.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• This is a seasonal position; Strike Team Members are asked to fully commit to the experience, expectations, and timeline.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Accrue hours towards the Public Land Corps Certificate that offers a hiring authority when applying for future federal positions.
• Members may be eligible for student loan forbearance.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Uniform shirts, helmet, work gloves, eye protection, and other necessary safety equipment is provided
• On-the-job training provided
• Assistance may be available for getting Crew Members the outdoor gear needed to participate
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, Crew Member positions may fulfill internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.)
• Exposure to natural resource career paths and opportunities

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Conservation Corps North Carolina Contact information:

Diquan Edmonds & Stephanie Dunton

dedmonds@conservationlegacy.org & sdunton@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.