Position: Clean Water Corpsmember (AmeriCorps, ages 18-30)
Locations:
Baudette, MN (May- August)
Brainerd, MN (May- December)
Detroit Lakes, MN (May- August)
Maplewood, MN (May- December)
Preston, MN (May- December)
Two Harbors, MN (May- August)
This is not a residential program; participants must secure housing preferably near the crew location
- Living Allowance: $2,350/month pre tax
- Education Award: $1,956.35 - $3,697.50 Depending on Term Length
- Training, certifications, networking
- Access to gear lending library
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Health insurance
- Childcare assistance
- Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
- Service term eligible to count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee that engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in programs and initiatives that improve access to outdoor recreation, restore natural habitat, protect waterways, and respond to community needs and natural disasters. Our mission is to cultivate a community of emerging leaders in service to people and the planet. Learn more at conservationcorps.org.
Our values embody safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership. In working toward our vision, we believe that it is important we commit to the following:
- Using equity as a lens for the work we do and decisions we make
- Building a shared vision surrounding Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion goals with our partnering organizations and communities, and
- Providing an equitable training environment and high-quality programming to all our participants.
Position Summary: Clean Water Corpsmembers serve alongside a natural resource professional in a Minnesota Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) during the summer, learning hands-on skills in managing soil and water resources. Corpsmembers assist a variety of projects which may include but are not limited to: service and groundwater monitoring programs, wetland and watercourse inventories and assessments; preparing documents for cost-share and easement programs; conducting field surveys and site inspections and preparing reports; and coordinating and conducting educational programs and activities. Corpsmembers may also communicate with local landowners to develop management plans, gather input on best practices and provide education materials on water resources.
Members are directly supervised by Conservation Corps Program Coordinator and SWCD site supervisor. Members serve in a single placement setting with a partnering nonprofit/government organization. Members complete service projects with direction provided by partnering agencies and representatives of those agencies.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complete service projects to the best of their ability, serving safely, effectively and efficiently to ensure projects are completed to the satisfaction of project hosts and the community
- Abide by Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents
- Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership.
- Commit to completing the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
- Specific projects depend on the site assignment but may include:
- Designing educational, outreach and promotional materials, including internet and intranet content, press releases and newsletter articles
- Developing and implementing systems for outreach, networking and training
- Assisting with data collection and analysis, mapping and field work
- Assisting with best management practices around water quality monitoring, forest management, shoreline restoration, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, culvert inventories, boat contaminations and herbicide and mechanical invasive plant removal
- Compiling resource data to evaluate site design and development alternatives
- Assisting with preparation of briefing documents and presentations
- Document technical project information, applications, and IT approaches for project continuity and expertise transfer
- Attend scheduled meetings, orientations and workshops, including required Conservation Corps AmeriCorps training sessions and site visits
- Representing the Corps and the SWCD at local job fairs, county fairs
- Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely manner
Hours & Schedule
Members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is either Monday – Friday 8am – 4:30pm or Monday – Thursday, 7am – 5:30pm including a mandatory 30-minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Some evening and weekend hours may be required depending on site requirements.
Training & Development
The Corps provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year. Additional region or project specific training may be included throughout the service term depending on project need, length of term and other factors. Examples of potential trainings include:
- Team building and conflict resolution
- Justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
- Leadership
- Safety and risk management
- MN Safety Council defensive driving
- First Aid/CPR/AED
- AmeriCorps benefits
Qualifications
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to educate and interact with landowners and community members
- Familiarity with MS Office software
- Willingness to learn and adapt to changing plans, work, and project needs
- Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, justice, stewardship, community and leadership.
- Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service
- Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include but are not limited to:
- Long (8-12 hour) days engaging in physically demanding work using various hand and power tools
- Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
- Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
- Working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
- Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks.
- High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
- Valid driver’s license and safe driving record (no major moving violations or DUI’s in the past five years)
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of GIS software and GPS use; farming and agricultural knowledge, including tractor operation and/or trailer pulling experience
Other Information
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against anyone. Conservation Corps does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, military service, union membership, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status with regards to public assistance, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. Conservation Corps engages AmeriCorps members, ages 18-30, as defined under the American Conservation and Youth Service Corps Act, a subtitle of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Reasonable accommodations available upon request.
Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
