Conservation and Disaster Response Team | Crew Members and Leaders | September Start Date

Are you interested in getting paid to gain experience and build community in conservation, habitat restoration, trail projects, and disaster relief with opportunities to camp across Texas?

The Texas Conservation Corps (TXCC) of American YouthWorks (AYW) has crew openings for multiple Member positions with our crews based in Austin, TX.

TXCC participants engage in hands-on conservation projects on public lands, coastal regions, National Parks and recreational areas across the Central Southern United States. The Conservation Corps experience builds leadership skills, connection with community, and prepares young people with skills needed to enter the workforce with a strong work ethic and sense of service!

Conservation and Disaster Response Teams: These crews are focused on conservation projects throughout Texas landscapes and beyond. Crew Leaders and Members complete habitat restoration and trail projects with a variety of partners, from the National Park Service to local County Parks. Though most of the season will consist of conservation projects, these crews remain on-call and able to deploy should a flood, fire, hurricane, or other disasters occur.

TXCC is both a state and federal resource during disasters, and leaders receive training in spontaneous volunteer management, donations management, and the Incident Command System. Common partners may include FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

Schedule and Hitching: Depending on the project, crews complete local work (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm) or hitch (10 days at campsite, 4 days off). On-call for Disaster Response Deployment (typically lasts up to 30 days and is subject to change depending on circumstance). View more information here.

 Housing: Each member is responsible for coordinating housing before or during the start of their term of service accordingly – permanent housing is not provided. Participants may be camping for long periods of time while on hitch. View more information here.

This is a full-time seasonal term-based AmeriCorps position working outdoors that specifically focuses on gaining experience in disaster mitigation, habitat restoration, trail projects, and disaster relief. The Texas Conservation Corps is a Program of American YouthWorks.

APPLICATIONS DUE: ASAP! Priority due date is before June 8, 2026 by 11:59pm CST

COMPENSATION (Monthly Living Allowance):

• Crew Members: $2,400 per month ($1,200 biweekly)
• Crew Leader: $2,720 per month ($1,360 biweekly)

AMERICORPS TERM LENGTHS

• Crew Leader and Crew Members: September 2026 tendersglobal.net Exact End Date TBD

BENEFITS

• Monthly Living Allowance: to cover basic expenses during your service term
• Medical Health Insurance: Provided at no cost to participants by The Corps Network (TCN), eligible members can opt-in OR opt-out
• Personal and Professional Growth
• Technical and Fundamental skills training
• Support Services: Needs-based Support Services are offered for participants that need assistance with transportation, food, vital documents, bills, and other financial needs.
• Gear and Boot Assistance for qualified purchases.
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: money for qualified student loans, higher education and training programs
• Student Loan Forbearance: For eligible student loans, temporarily postpone payments during your term of service.
• Opportunity to network and build connections with partnering agencies: Including US Forest Service, Texas Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, National Park Service, City of Austin, and more!
• Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Eligibility status for jobs on Federal Lands
• Industry-Recognized Certifications and Trainings: depend on crew type and availability, and are not guaranteed during a term of service. Some that are frequently offered are the American Red Cross Adult First Aid/CPR/AED Certification, the S-212 Wildland Chainsaw Certification (typically only for Crew Leaders), and Disaster Response Certifications (for crews on disaster response teams).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Frequently required to walk and hike over long distances while carrying tools
• Ability to operate tools
• Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 35-50* pounds (*depending on crew type)
• Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
• Ability to work long days in adverse weather conditions
• Depending on crew type, ability to hitch, camp, and travel throughout the duration of an entire AmeriCorps term

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED
• Between the ages of 18-35; Ages 21+ for Crew Leaders
• US Citizenship or lawful permanent US Resident
• Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC)
• Additional experience and qualifications for Crew Leaders
  • Clean 3-year Driving Record
  • 3-5 months of previous conservation experience (ex: chainsaws, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, trail work)
• View more qualifications on our website by clicking here!

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Able to work independently and with a crew while having a safety mindset
• Strong commitment to completing an entire term of service with a desire to serve the community and the environment
• Adaptability and flexibility with project tasks during service hours
• Desire to learn, grow and problem-solve
• Additional Preferred Experience and Qualifications for Crew Leaders
  • Desire to explore your leaderships style and develop leadership skills
  • Good problem solving and logistical skills
  • Collaborative Leadership and Facilitation skills
  • Willingness to engage in hard conversations and mediate conflict
  • Prior Conservation Corps and/or AmeriCorps experience with successful completion of term