Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Please note: These are AmeriCorps member positions serving in an Ecology-sponsored program. Members are not considered Ecology/State employees.

The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program is recruiting Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) AmeriCorps Member positions. 

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to serve outdoors completing environmental stewardship projects across Washington State? WCC provides an opportunity for young adults and military veterans to gain hands-on experience, field skills, and professional training, while implementing meaningful service projects. WCC AmeriCorps Members serve on habitat restoration and recreation enhancement projects in partnership with nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies. Projects may include planting native trees and shrubs, building trails, conducting ecological field surveys, reducing wildfire risk in forests, developing and implementing habitat restoration projects, and more.

WCC is a career development program and offers professional mentorship, on-site skills training, and paid professional training opportunities. Networking opportunities abound with project partners from a diverse network of more than 100 federal, local, state, Tribal, and non-profit organizations.

WCC supports a variety of position types. Most members will serve on a field crew of five members led by an experienced crew supervisor who provides training, mentorship, and professional development support. Members serve outdoors, in all weather conditions and work as a team to implement projects. Individual Placement members will serve directly within partner organizations on a wide variety of projects including field surveys, education and outreach, research, and others. Members serve in-person, 40 hours per week. The typical schedule is Monday through Thursday 7a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Joining Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A term of service in WCC allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state. If you are interested in developing hands-on skills in the natural resource field while serving communities across Washington State, we encourage you to apply for this position.

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees and AmeriCorps Members to create and sustain an environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

HOW TO APPLY: Review open positions on the Washington Conservation Corps Locations web map and apply directly online through the WCC Member Application. 

Application Timeline:

• Application closes January 8, 2026.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and positions may be filled before the application closes. We encourage you to apply early!

Location Options:

This posting will be used to fill vacancies in the following counties: King, Snohomish, Thurston, Spokane, and Skagit Counties. Additional positions may open during the recruitment window and will be updated on our Washington Conservation Corps Locations web map.

What will I earn?

WCC AmeriCorps Members earn a living stipend equal to $2,910 per month ($1,455 twice a month, before taxes). *Location-based elevated living allowance available for members with positions based in King, Snohomish, and Clark counties: $3,164 per month ($1,582 twice a month, before taxes).

What benefits are offered?  

• Health Insurance - All WCC members are offered a basic health insurance policy. WCC pays the monthly insurance premium. Members are eligible for insurance coverage on their first day of service.
• Member Assistance Program - All members are offered free, accessible, and high-quality mental health services. 
• AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service term, more details in next section.
• Childcare and Food Assistance - Assistance is available to those who qualify through DSHS and / or the AmeriCorps Childcare Program.
• Loan forbearance – eligible for deferred payment on qualified loans. Contact your lender to learn if your loan qualifies for National Service forbearance.
• GED Reimbursement - GED exam fee reimbursement is available for those who successfully pass the exam during their WCC term.

• Members serving 11-month and nine-month terms will have two weeks paid professional training, including a variety of certifications that WCC offers to both supervisors and members (e.g. Hazwoper, Wildland Firefighting, and Wilderness First Responder).
• Paid Time Off in addition to observed state holidays. Up to 120 hours for 11-month service term, 90 hours for nine-month service term, and 30 hours for three-month service term.

Educational benefits:

The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (scholarship) is available to members upon successful completion of service term and required service hours. For the 2025-26 program year, our available terms and scholarship amounts are:

• Full-term positions (Oct. 1 – Sept.10 / 1,700 hours): $7,395.00
• Three-quarter-term positions (Jan. 20 – Sept. 10 / 1,200 hours): $5,176.50
• Quarter-term positions (Jun. 8 – Sept. 10 / 450 hours): $1,956.35

Local efforts... Diverse people... Statewide impacts

Duties

The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) program helps communities manage shorelands and wetlands. Our primary focus is on state and local responsibilities for administering Washington state and federally-delegated laws. Our mission is to work in partnership with communities to support healthy watersheds and promote statewide environmental interests.

The SEA program's Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) section is looking to fill AmeriCorps Member positions located across the State of Washington.

Please note: These are AmeriCorps member positions serving in an Ecology-sponsored program. Members are not considered state employees, and are not eligible for state employee benefits.

These are 9-month service positions that begin January 20, 2026 and end September 10, 2026. Typical schedule will be Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. but may change based on project requirements.

The positions will serve to complete natural resource assignments. WCC projects focus on Habitat Enhancement and Recreation Access Enhancement. As a leading AmeriCorps program with a nationally recognized disaster response program, WCC’s AmeriCorps Members may serve on deployments to local and national disasters.

Field Crew members serve on a crew of five members:

• Restoration crews focus on habitat restoration and enhancement projects especially focused on salmon and riparian habitat, such as planting trees and shrubs, removing invasive species, and monitoring and maintaining restoration sites.
• Trail crews focus on recreation enhancements such as building and maintaining trails, public camping infrastructure, bridges, boardwalks and more.
• Spike crews travel around the state of Washington to complete both restoration and recreation focused projects. Food and lodging are provided while in travel status.

Individual Placement (IP) positions offer a variety of opportunities to experience roles directly with environmental professionals to support scientific research, community education, and many other projects.

Duties typically include:

• Serving outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Serving in a variety of terrain and habitat types including steep inclines, river and stream banks, forested areas, marshlands, etc.
• Walking several miles per day and carrying tools and materials. May require lifting up to 60 pounds repetitively for long periods of time.
• Using hand tools, such as shovels, hoes, rakes, hammers and axes.
• Operating small power tools, such as chainsaws, brush cutters, drills, augers, and more.
• Crew members will take on roles to support production tracking, communications, education, safety, materials management, and other essential roles.
• Individual placement members may support a combination of indoor and outdoor projects.

Working Conditions - this position may require:

• Travelling overnight to accomplish assignments.
• Serving in excess of 40 hours per week.
• Serving in inclement weather.
• Travelling over rough terrain and wilderness areas.
• Lifting 60 pounds repetitively for extended periods of time.
• Serving four (4) or eight (8) consecutive days in travel status.
• Deploying to natural disaster areas in an emergency response capacity for up to 30 consecutive days.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 – 25 years old, with exceptions for those with military service or mental or sensory disabilities.
• AmeriCorps Eligibility: U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent U.S. Resident Alien.

Desired Qualifications:

• Preference is given to Washington State residents per WCC’s legislation.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

• Prior to enrollment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude enrollment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

For more information about the Washington Conservation Corps, please visit the following: AmeriCorps member positions - Washington State Department of Ecology and Chapter 43.220 RCW: WASHINGTON CONSERVATION CORPS.

HOW TO APPLY: 

Review open positions on the Washington Conservation Corps Locations web map and apply directly online through the WCC Member Application. 

Supplemental Information

Other Information:
  
If you need assistance applying for this job, please call our team at (360) 407-7248 or e-mail wccactivities@ecy.wa.gov. 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if enrolled.
 
The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-7248. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.