Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision (starting at the first of the month after the first 60 days)
• AmeriCorps members are eligible to participate in the AmeriCorps Student Loan Forbearance Program.
• AmeriCorps education award up to $3,697.50 for the 900-hr term and $2,817.14 for the 675-hr term upon successful completion, and bi-weekly living stipend (listed above).
• 3 service shirts, Personal Protective Equipment while in field
• s-212 certification
• Non-certified applicator technician training in herbicide application
• First Aid/CPR certification
• Leave No Trace Training

Program Summary:

The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps we are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN).

RiversEdge West (REW) is a non-profit organization founded in 1999, with a mission to restore riverside (riparian) ecosystems through education, collaboration, and technical assistance. A key part of this mission, and primary goal of the Strike Team, is to restore native riparian vegetation by removing invasive plants like tamarisk and Russian olive and re-establishing native plant communities.

The Riparian Restoration Strike Team was developed through a partnership between REW and WCCC to conduct invasive vegetation treatments and perform site maintenance (including follow-up treatments and revegetating with native plants) on Riparian restoration sites throughout western Colorado. Sites are located along the Colorado, Dolores, Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and White rivers. Restoration efforts are carried out in collaboration with partners in the Desert Rivers Collaborative (DRC), Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), and White River Partnership (WRP) and others to cooperatively restore and maintain healthy river corridors.

The team works with a diverse group of partners, including federal and state land managers, local governments, non-profits, and private landowners. This Strike Team is designed to be flexible to adapt to the evolving needs of partners associated with the DRC, DRRP, and WRP, ensuring effective and ongoing riparian restoration.

Position Summary:

The AmeriCorps Riparian Restoration Strike Team will serve with WCCC to implement initial and follow-up invasive plant treatments. This will involve using chainsaws, hand tools, herbicide, and herbicide application equipment such as hand-held pump sprayers and backpack sprayers. Revegetating restoration sites with native plants through planting and seeding may also be required. The Strike Team will also map daily progress using tablets, provide photo documentation of progress (e.g. before-and-after photos), and complete short weekly and/or daily project summaries.

The Strike Team is based in Grand Junction, CO and will serve at restoration sites throughout western CO. Approximately 75% of the sites will require camping on or near the site for the week, while other sites are local to the Grand Junction area, allowing Strike Team members to go home each night. Accessing restoration sites will require hiking with tools and herbicide application equipment. Some restoration sites may require access via boats.

WCCC does not provide housing accommodations off-hitch, and Crew Leaders and members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time.

The Strike Team will assist with conservation projects while developing interpersonal and leadership skills. The Crew Leader will be responsible for leading crews in environmental stewardship, i.e., Leave No Trace, and risk management. A variety of soft skills and technical competencies are required to be successful in this role. See below for core competencies.

Responsibilities: 

• Utilizing skills gained through training on service-site and facilitating intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community.
• Must be willing to follow and enforce all WCCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent WCCC and REW.
• Complete AmeriCorps orientation, chainsaw training (S212), and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Efficiently complete conservation projects and mapping on a variety of land ownership types in Western Colorado.
• Manage the on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, and WCCC crew members& WCCC/REW staff.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Project Management and Safety
• Responsible for all project-related outcomes and deliverables.
• Must be willing and able to camp at least 4 nights per week.
• Complete 9 hours of service a day for 5 days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions, including inclement weather for the duration of term.
• Successfully complete AmeriCorps member Orientation and CPR/First Aid Training.
• Must adhere to and enforce the rules and regulations of WCCC and AmeriCorps, which includes abstaining from the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco as well as other rules, regulations, and risk management protocol.
• Must be motivated, responsible, and have a positive attitude.
• Willing to cook and clean up at the camp site when necessary.
• Participate in WCCC-wide volunteer events.
• Participate in rig-up and rig-down procedures.
• Live, work, and serve closely with a diverse group of people.
• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen.
• Spend long days serving in riparian areas with dense vegetation and variable conditions and temperatures.
• Map daily and weekly progress in the field using handheld tablets and field-mapping software (WCCC and/or REW will provide training)
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and operate a chainsaw and apply herbicide through backpack or hand sprayers.

Required Qualifications:

• Be a United States citizen or national or lawful permanent resident.
• Be available full-time between the dates specified on the Member Service Agreement.
• Be able to pass a pre-service National Criminal History check (State, Sex Offender, and Federal).
• High School Diploma or GED required (AmeriCorps) or in the process of obtaining
• Physically capable of standing and hiking (6-10 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching, and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 50 pounds, in upwards of 90+ degree heat.
• Must be between the ages of -28, have a clean driving record (insurable by WCCC), a current driver’s license, and have had a valid driver’s license for at least 3 years.
• Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write English

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience conducting field work and comfortable with long days in exposed environmental conditions.
• Experience operating chainsaws and hand tools in remote settings.
• Teaching, facilitation, and team-building experience with diverse groups of people. 
• Strong conflict resolution skills. 
• Strong communication skills.
• Experience using field-mapping software such as Avenza, Gaia, FieldMaps, or Survey123
• Knowledge of or interest in learning about western riparian and river systems, ecology, or plant identification.
• Strong time-management skills and ability to serve independently as well as with others.  
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to serve in a fluid, changing service environment.
• Willingness to commit fully to the program through its duration and completing its mission.
• Sense of humor, spirit of adventure, and desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.