Western Massachusetts Conservation Corps

Massachusetts Conservation Corps

Are you seeking the chance to learn hands-on conservation skills and give back to the environment? Does completing environmental and recreation services, for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (MA DCR), in picturesque locations in your backyard, sound like fun? If you said yes to either of these questions, then the SCA Massachusetts Conservation Corps (MACC) is the program for you! Come serve in this unique workforce development program that operates Tuesday – Friday, serving 10-hour days with three-day weekends.

The MACC is a partnership between SCA, the MA DCR, Massachusetts Service Alliance, Windover Foundation, and AmeriCorps. During this 28-week program you will learn technical and interpersonal skills as you jumpstart your conservation career! Our community of like-minded folks will tackle critical trail, recreation, and land management projects in the Bay State.

Position Location: Pittsfield, MA

Program Dates: The MACC is a 6-month program that runs from April 28 - November 6, 2025

SCA Massachusetts Conservation Corps:

The program's home base is at Camp Nihan in Saugus, with projects based regionally. Participants will meet and travel together to project locations. Members are serving four 10-hour days from Tuesday- Friday each week. Throughout the service term, there are a few additional service days built in to assist additional community partners.

Training Season:

The program begins with 1.5 weeks of training, with the first week being Monday-Friday. This includes SCA, AmeriCorps, and partner policies and protocols, wilderness first aid (16-hour course) and CPR, conservation trail skills, leadership development, customer service and visitor experience training, and tool maintenance.

Conservation Season:

Projects or hitches will typically be Tuesday - Friday for 2-3 weeks but could vary depending on the location and site partner's needs. Service may include, new trail construction, native or dimensional lumber bridges, rock steps/walls, invasive species management, resource monitoring, sign installation, and pollinator habitat creation. Additionally, everyone will have an opportunity to educate the public about the important service they are providing.

While serving, members will be outdoors, exposed to the elements - heat, cold, rain, and bugs. The skills learned, projects completed, and friendships made throughout the season will make all the hard work well worth the time and effort!

Professional Development Opportunities

Members will have an opportunity to learn many skills, network with project partners, and learn from one another. MACC program partners work in a variety of fields such as natural resources, ecology, trails and greenways, cultural resources, conservation biology, interpretive services, climate resiliency, and forestry to name a few. Serving with and learning from these professionals is an invaluable experience that will jump-start your career.

Essential Functions and Duties:

• Attend and participate in all trainings
• Manual, physical labor for 10 hours per day, exposed to the elements, lifting 50 pounds
• Carry tools, and daypack over challenging terrain
• Ability to hike up to 5 miles per day
• Operate and maintain hand and power tools
• Serve independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to interface and educate the public about the service

Marginal Functions

• If eligible, driving a large truck for programmatic purposes
• Basic maintenance of program vehicles
• Additional service days with non MA DCR community partners

Qualifications:

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Must have the ability to work legally in the United States
• Ability to pass state and federal background checks
• Located within commutable distance of the DCR office at 740 South Street in Pittsfield, MA.
• High school diploma or GED or actively working towards either
• At least 18 years old
• Available for the duration of the entire service term – must complete at least 900 service hours

Preferred Field Crew Member Qualifications:

• Demonstrate strong service ethic and desire to serve the community and the environment
• Experience with outdoor physical or manual labor

Position Benefits:

• $500 weekly living allowance up to $14,000
• AmeriCorps Education Award - $3,697.50 (Upon successful completion of 900 hours)
• Wilderness First Aid Certification

Safety Hazards:

• Outdoor manual labor has a variety of safety concerns that the SCA is monitoring and mitigating on an ongoing basis:
  • Weather
  • Using and maintaining hand and power tools to complete service activities
  • Driving large vehicles for service

For questions about the application process and program, please reach out to the recruiter for this program, Brian Pember at bpember@thesca.org

For reasonable accommodation requests before or during service, please reach out to the Program Manager, Zachary Belis zbelis@thesca.org

Massachusetts Conservation Corps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, reprisal, genetic information.