Adult Conservation Crews
ACC's adult crews offer an immersive experience with participants (ages 18-30) completing hands-on conservation service work to complete meaningful projects on public lands. Adult crew members are selected to serve in an AmeriCorps National Service Term on a seasonal basis - spring, summer, and fall.
Adult Crews
Appalachian Conservation Corps' adult crew projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species treatments, historic restoration, and much more. Technical training, hands on experience, and professional development opportunities are provided.
BENEFITS:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
- Living Allowance and Additional Benefit
- AmeriCorps members may be eligible for student loan forbearance.
- Food, group camping gear, and equipment provided during all project work
- Professional development opportunities and exposure to natural resource career paths.
DETAILS:
ACC's adult crews are available every spring, summer, and fall seasons. Each crew typically has four crew members, an AmeriCorps crew leader, and a staff crew leader. Crews run on a hitch schedule - typically 9 days on followed by 5 days off. Group camping equipment, transportation, and food are provided while crews are in the field. Participants are encouraged to bring their own personal camping gear and equipment, but ACC does a cache of loaner gear available upon request.
APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for veterans up to age 35).
- Be a United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
EXPECTATIONS:
- Work effectively as a member of a team.
- Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects.
- Work outdoors in all types of weather and successfully adapt to various climates.
- Camp overnight outdoors while on hitch.
- Effectively learn and apply new environmental conservation and restoration skills and outdoor living skills.
- Practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned.
- Provide their own transportation, food, and housing during days off.
CREW TYPES:
- Trail Crews
- Chainsaw Crews
- Wildland Fire Crews
- Herbicide Crews
- Historic Restoration Crews
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Women’s+ Chainsaw Crews
The Women's+ Saw Crew is a space that centers the experiences of women and is open to all trans women, cis women, and non-binary people. No prior saw experience is required. The Women's+ Saw Crew provides a supportive learning environment for crew members to work, learn from, and grow with one another while building chainsaw skills and acquiring certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship.
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Herbicide Crews
While prior experience with the outdoors or outdoor work can be helpful, it is not a necessity for this position. This crew will be trained in and expected to safely use herbicide in order to manage invasives plants.
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Fire Crews
Our wildland fire crews receive practical, hands-on training and certifications related to wildland firefighting, prescribed burning, and fuels management. This program is comprehensive and intentionally structured to prepare members to transition into careers focused on wildland firefighting.
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Trail Crews
Projects take place across the Appalachian Region, including work with the US Forest Service, the National Park Service, and other land managers. During their time in the field, crew members work outdoors in all types of weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects such as visitor access improvements, trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, disaster relief, and much more.
