TITLE:  Youth Crew Member  

CREW: Youth Conservation Corps – South Carolina Camping Crew

REPORTS TO: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator  

LOCATION: Crew will report to a designated location in South Carolina. From there, transportation is provided to the crews worksite within Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests.

STATUS: Seasonal - Summer, Full-time, Exempt  

STIPEND: $330 per week before taxes.  

BENEFITS: Job Training, uniform shirts, protective equipment. Other development opportunities as available.   

START/END DATE:  6/7/2021 - 7/2/2021 (mandatory virtual open house night prior to season; date TBA) 

MULTIPLE POSITIONS, OPENED UNTIL FILLED.  

SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS:    _EMPOWERING YOUNG ADULTS TO CULTIVATE COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY, AND GRIT THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE, HARD WORK, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. _  

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. SECC selects young adults to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. The majority of SECC’s programs are camping model programs, with crews camping in either front-country or back-country settings for 4 day -10 day periods; schedules may vary by program and region. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast; including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC has also taken on a role as a part of the larger AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team.  

SECC’s service projects for Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) programs take place throughout the state of Tennessee and neighboring states within the Southeast region. YCC programs are paid summer opportunities for local youth, ages 16-18, to gain experience in conservation, learn on-the-job training, and have fun. The YCC Camping Crew’s typical schedule is Monday – Friday, with weekends off. Crews will work on trail-related projects Monday-Thursday from 7:30 AM – 4 PM. Fridays are set aside for educational/recreational learning opportunities, breaking down the camping area, loading up gear, and completing a de-rig with the rest of the crew.  

Crew members prepare and cook shared meals together before/after work hours, and camp at the end of the workday. Crew chores will be completed every day, with some days including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.  Crew members are responsible for finding and attaining their own housing during the weekends, as this is a non-residential program.  Depending on project work and location other schedule variations may be implemented. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION:  

SECC’s YCC Camping Crews engage motivated young adults, ages 16 - 18, in a program that combines training and education with impactful conservation and service projects throughout the local area. Projects include, but are not limited to trail design, maintenance and construction, watershed restoration, habitat enhancement, fencing, tree planting, invasive plant removal, and much more. This program focuses on engaging local youth in meaningful service and learning opportunities in their communities.       The Camping Crew consists of 6 crew members and 1-2 experienced and trained leaders. Crews are in the field working Monday - Friday, Friday being primarily an education/recreation day. Crew members have Saturdays and Sundays off, and return to a designated rig-up location every Monday morning at 7:30am sharp. Transportation will be provided from the rig-up location to the worksite. 

There will be a virtual open house/parent night before the season starts for YCC members and parents/guardians. This is a mandatory event for participation in the program. This is an open space to meet the other crew members, leaders, SECC staff, and complete any paperwork that is needed before the season start date. The crew member must supply their own personal equipment such as a day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC has used camping gear (i.e. tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads) that crew members may borrow, but it is preferred that members bring their own camping gear if possible.  

Make note - members must be able to be without cell phones or technology during work hours.  

CREW MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:    As an SECC YCC program participant you must be able to:    

• Work as a team member.   
• Be open-minded and respect others from different cultures and backgrounds.   
• Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects.   
• Work and live outdoors in wilderness areas and during all types of weather.   
• Learn and apply new environmental conservation, restoration, and outdoor living skills.   
• Participate in group activities.   
• Practice appropriate safety procedures at all times.   
• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.

PROJECT WORK:    SECC works with a variety of land management agencies in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. Projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, habitat restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing on public lands, invasive weed removal, herbicide applications, and many others.      

QUALIFICATIONS:   To qualify, you must be between the ages of 16 and 18, and a US citizen or permanent resident. Members must be enrolled in a high school program or must have graduated in the same year as the SECC program (Example: you graduated in May 2021 and the program starts June 2021).  

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:   

No trail crew or conservation crew experience is needed to apply for this position. A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting is helpful.  

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS    Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position.   

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 of danger others may be encountering 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 direction 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 (WHERE APPROPRIATE)   

• 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:   

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.   
• Required to use hands to operate equipment and tools and to reach with hands and arms.   
• Required to use close vision and the ability to focus.   
• Must be able to understand and communicate in English.  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with additional disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• APPLICANTS WILL BE SELECTED BASED ON THEIR INTEREST, AVAILABILITY AND INTERVIEW. PLEASE NOTE THAT PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO LOCAL APPLICANTS (CHATTANOOGA REGION AND SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS) AS THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE LOCAL YOUTH IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC LANDS. *

THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, AGE, SEX, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR RELIGION.  

SUBSTANCE FREE    

In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.     

TO APPLY:   Complete the application, upload cover letter and resume if available.    

Any questions can be addressed to:    

_Lindsey Agee  _  

_Recruitment and Support Services Coordinator  _  

_423-322-4976  _  

Lagee@ConservationLegacy.org_  _

Required Skills Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• Active Secret Clearance