Title: Winter Trail Crew --AmeriCorps Crew Member   

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps  

Reports to: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator 

Site Location: Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving in various locations across the greater Southeast Region. 

Terms of Service: 

• Start Date: 01/19/2026 
• End Date: 05/01/2026 (with options to extend service through the 2026 season) 
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450-hour 

Status: This is a full-time, seasonal, 15-week- 450-hour AmeriCorps National Service position  

Benefits:  

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35 upon successful completion of the program 
• Living Allowance of $480 per week 
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week 
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible  
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible 
• Loan forbearance if Eligible 
• Interest Payments if Eligible 

Other Benefits: United States Forest Service-recognized chainsaw certification, First Aid/CPR, Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), food & transportation provided while in the field overnight, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available  

Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members  

Purpose — About Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC):   
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship.    

SECC, a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-17) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. Our AmeriCorps positions provide impactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes. SECC’s participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various ethnic and economic backgrounds. 

SECC collaborates with land management agencies such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits to host day and camping crews. Our projects vary but include trail construction and maintenance, restoration of natural areas, invasive species removal, fire fuels reduction, fencing, herbicide applications, and more. Most projects involve strenuous manual labor and require hiking to and from the project sites daily, carrying tools and day packs.   

SECC camping crews serve in frontcountry and backcountry locations, often in challenging weather conditions. While hitch schedules vary by project and location, they typically follow a 9-day on, 5-day off pattern, with 10-hour shifts and scheduled breaks throughout the day. While we aim to maintain consistency, flexibility is expected as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change based on project needs.   

SECC is an independent, non-residential program, and crew members are responsible for securing their own housing when not in the field. On-hitch, crews manage camp chores and prepare all their own meals, with evenings often including group discussions. Members must provide their own personal outdoor gear (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots), while SECC provides group camp equipment, tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC Office and project sites. 

Description of Duties 

The crew member position is an entry-level role. During their time in the field, crew members camp overnight and serve outdoors in all weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor to complete conservation and restoration projects. Most projects require hiking out to remote work sites for the day with tools, equipment, and a day pack. While prior experience with the outdoors or outdoor work can be helpful, it is not a necessity for this position. We ask that crew members embrace learning opportunities, face challenges, and build community with their crew.  

Service Project:   

The crew will be based out of SECC’s office in Chattanooga, TN and travel to complete various conservation projects across the Southeast Region, partnering with land managers such as the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, Tennessee State Parks, and other land partners. The crew will be managed by land managers who will collaborate with crews to complete conservation projects.  

Service projects vary depending on seasonal factors and safety considerations. While the staff at SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs. However, tasks may also include, but are not limited to:   

• Trail construction and maintenance 
• Corridor cleaning 
• Invasive species removal 
• Habitat restoration 
• Fence installation and repair 
• Bridge installation and repair 
• Community Service 

Opportunities to Extend Your Service 

SECC’s winter crew members have the opportunity to focus on developing their technical and interpersonal skills throughout their season to prepare for taking on potential member or leadership roles with SECC during the remainder of the year. Please be prepared to discuss your interest in continuing your service through summer/fall. 

Note: placement in member or leadership positions are not guaranteed and will be based on qualifications, performance, work ethic, and ability. We highly encourage those who participate to stay on throughout the summer.   

Crew Life:   

SECC crews consist of 4-6 crew members and 2 crew leaders who provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants. Food is provided while in the field, and crew members collaborate to plan meals and share chores, such as cooking and washing dishes. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance. Crew members must be prepared to camp, travel, complete service projects, and share meals as a team. No drug or alcohol consumption is allowed during service-related activities or travel at any time.   

Crew members will need to supply their own personal equipment such as a day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide tools, protective gear and transportation between SECC office and project sites. SECC has a limited supply of loaner gear available for crew members to borrow. While this gear can be helpful, we strongly recommend that members bring as much of their own gear as possible, as the loaner equipment may not fully meet personal preferences or specific needs. 

SECC supports a culture of feedback and growth. Crew Members will set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance through both self-evaluation and a review with their Crew Leader in the middle and at the end of their season. Evaluations will cover areas such as professionalism, responsibility and leadership, communication, engagement, productivity, safety, and equipment use. Crew Members will also be asked to evaluate their Crew Leaders’ performance, the overall program, and their experience at the end of their term.  

Hitch Schedule:     

This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule, but generally it will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Project days follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. While the staff at SECC strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change per project needs.  Applicants should be prepared to camp during hitches for the duration of the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary.    

Requirements:     

Minimum Qualifications:       

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien 
• Must be between ages 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a military veteran.   
• 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. 

Preferred Qualifications:    

• General comfort with and prior experience in outdoor environments.  

Our Commitment: 

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 January to May, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service  
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 

 Orientation and Training: 

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. 
• The crew will spend the first three weeks of their season completing onboarding, receiving their FirstAid/CPR, chainsaw related certifications, and trails training. 

**SECC is a nonresidential program. Housing is not provided during off-hitch (Wednesday-Monday) evenings. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements while not in the field. 

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. 

Participant Behavior Expectations:    

Expectations for SECC Corpsmembers:    

• Teamwork & Responsibilities: serve effectively as part of a team by assisting with meal preparation, camp chores, and group discussions on corps-related topics.   
• Professionalism & Conduct: be punctual, hardworking, flexible, and complete all assigned tasks. Always represent SECC and AmeriCorps in a professional manner when interacting with the public and project partners. 
• Positive Atmosphere: contribute to a positive and safe culture, free from harassment. Demonstrate teamwork and respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land. 
• Physical Readiness: be prepared for strenuous physical labor in both frontcountry and remote backcountry locations, in all-weather conditions.  
• Personal Gear & Housing: Provide your own personal outdoor gear (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots) while SECC provides group camping equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between the SECC office and project sites. You are responsible for securing and paying for housing when not in the field. 
• Corps Values: strive for an experience grounded in the corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, and integrity. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior    

• Serve 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 culture; no harassment of others for any reason.    
• Willingness 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 willingness to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service project 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 serving n 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.     

Environmental Ethics:   

• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques   

Outdoor Skills:  

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living, travel, and industry 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 place for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions 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.     

Substance Free: 

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