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

Skilled work

“Not only did the ACC crews assist NPS crews to catch up on the annual vegetation and tree clearing, they were able to complete larger project improvements such as box staircase replacement and causeway installation which could otherwise not have been performed by an underhanded NPS trail crew.” - New River Gorge Conservation Crew Partner, 2020
Self-Sufficient

“Huge leadership skills, they [needed] very little direction from our staff, which is a huge help. They are self-sufficient and they really knew where to go and what to do!” - USFS Conservation Crew Partner, 2019
Collaborative

“The degree of communication and collaboration between program management, members, and site supervisors/agency has been spectacular. The recruitment conducted by management has yielded consistently good candidates, as well.” - Shenandoah National Park Individual Placement Partner, 2018
Innovative

“The project manager was always very responsive and was able to address my concerns. Many times, the project manager came up with innovative ways to solve the concern.” - Nature Conservancy Conservation Crew Partner, 2017

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.

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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!