Skip to content

Appalachian Conservation Corps

49026413952 2294Ce5922 K

Project Partner

Appalachian Conservation Corps can help you accomplish critical conservation projects while providing opportunities for local young adults to learn about land management issues and challenges. Partnering becomes a win/win situation for the community, ACC members, and land managers by providing meaningful opportunities for young people to complete important community and natural resource projects and by building partner capacity to complete projects.

At ACC, we have a commitment to producing quality work that always meets or exceeds our partner expectations.

ACC is a job training and youth development organization providing our members with outdoor experiences and employment opportunities through national service. We promote individual responsibility and ethical behavior, instill solid work habits and attitudes, and empower young adults to change their lives, their communities, and their environment through conservation work.

We accomplish this goal by building an agreement that fits the partner’s needs and budget, collaborating to survey worksites and create a logistics plan, and sending out well-equipped crews with experienced leaders, fully supported by ACC’s office and field staff. We cultivate an environment of clear and constructive communication between ACC and land management partners throughout each project, from prior planning and on-site supervision to after-action review.

Past PARTNERSHIPS include:

  • National Park Service
  • US Forest Service
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Green Forests Work
  • The Appalachian Trail Conservancy
  • Friends of Blackwater
  • Schuylkill River Greenway Association
  • Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
  • ...and many other conservation organizations!

WHERE WE WORK

ACC may work on projects across Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and some locations in Pennsylvania.

PROJECT PARTNER REPORTS

48467820017_764c89bc2a_o-banner.jpg#asset:637

Project Capacity

Trail Construction and Maintenance • Historical Preservation • Chainsaw Work • Invasive Species Management • Developed Recreation Maintenance • Resource Monitoring • Fencing • Sign and Kiosk Installation • Erosion Mitigation • Individual Placements/Internships • Backcountry Support • And much more!

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS

ACC arrives at project sites with all group camp equipment (housing) necessary to outfit a crew, including: uniforms, PPE, personal day packs, first aid equipment, transportation, and a standard complement of tools to meet the needs of most projects. ACC can also provide some specialized equipment such as brush cutters, carpentry tools, grip hoist and rigging equipment, and herbicide sprayers depending on project needs. Each crew has 2 Crew Leaders that live and work with the crew, and ACC’s field staff provides support and expertise through crew visits and on-call availability to the crew and to partners.

Partners typically supply project materials like lumber, screws, concrete, gravel, or herbicide. Rarely, ACC may need to borrow specialty tools such as heavy machinery, generators, or mowing equipment to meet project needs. ACC is often supplied by project partners with some form of radio communication (if partners use a radio network) to allow the crew to contact partners in case of emergencies, although crews have DeLorme satellite texting devices for emergencies as well. Many project partners are able to supply or recommend a campsite for the crew, generally on or near the work site.

MG_0585.jpg#asset:375

BENEFITS OF PARTNERING WITH ACC

Individual

  • On-the-ground conservation work experience
  • Technical trainings and work skills development
  • Exposure to potential employers
  • Teamwork and leadership skills development
  • AmeriCorps Education Award and weekly stipend

Community

  • Potential career opportunities for local young people
  • Resource to address conservation and community needs
  • Work that directly benefits local and regional environments
  • Cost effective completion of critical projects for partner

HOW TO PARTNER WITH ACC

ACC crews operate for at least one week on a given site, and project costs vary depending on crew size (typically between 5 and 8 people), project duration, and the type of work involved. Please have a detailed work plan and timeline in mind, along with potential funding sources, and contact us for additional information about partnerships. ACC is a proud partner of several non-profit and public land managers. Our crews and individual placements have the skills and tools to help you reach your conservation and recreation project goals. Please contact us!

Zach Foster, Executive Director

zach@conservationlegacy.org or (540) 383-1297

49014039271_5a899cbfde_o-WebBanner.jpg#asset:536