Greenagers, AmeriCorps

Full-time year round service type

September 15th 2024 through August 15th 2025 (1700 hours, roughly 35 hours/week)

Benefits:

• Living stipend amount – $30,600 ($18/hour or roughly $650/week)
• Education award – $7,395.00 (available upon successful completion of term)
• Other benefits include health care (for Full-time year round service type), training in environmental education, training in trail building, training in forestry practices, certification in chainsaw use, certification in wilderness first aid.

Location: Greenagers AmeriCorps Members are based out of April Hill Education and Conservation Center in South Egremont, the southwest corner of Massachusetts. Throughout the season, members serve on various projects and school districts in western Massachusetts.

Purpose: Members will focus on addressing the growing trail, forest, and environmental education needs in western MA while developing and enhancing their skills in the fields of conservation and education. In the fall, winter, and spring Greenagers AmeriCorps Members crews will operate in small crews to build and improve trails and implement forest and habitat improvements. In the summer, AmeriCorps members will serve as leaders to small groups of high school age youth to complete trail building and improvement projects. Throughout the year, pairs of members will serve in classroom settings to deliver environmental education curriculum.

Responsibilities:

Trail Services Essential Functions (75-85% of service)

• Serve in small (2-3) and large (6-16) groups of AmeriCorps members to ensure a safe working environment and quality trail and habitat improvement projects in the front country (day crews) and back country (camping crews)
• Hike uneven terrain for long distances (more than 4 miles)
• Capable of lifting and carrying 50lbs
• Construct trail structures like staircases, drainages, bridges, universally accessible tread, and retaining walls
• Layout project work and continually check specifications using levels, measuring tape, chalk lines, etc.
• Safely and effectively use hand tools, power tools, rigging equipment such as winches, cables, blocks, shackles, slings, chainsaws, and wedges
• Serve in and be prepared for nearly all weather conditions including rain, heat, humidity, and snow.
• Serve in a way that follows the seven principals of leave no trace
• Foster a spirit of cooperation, safety, teamwork and responsible stewardship

Environmental Education Essential Functions (15-25% of service)

• Serve with one to two other AmeriCorps member to deliver quality environmental education curriculum; topics will include climate change, sense of place, ecosystem service, erosion, habitat, wildlife, etc
• Develop environmental education curriculum
• Ensure the safety of students

Qualifications:

• Must be a minimum of 18 years old by start date, no exceptions
• Must be a US citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
• Must have a HS Diploma or equivalent
• Must pass the National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC)
• Ability to serve under various environmental conditions
• Ability to set goals, prioritize tasks, assign roles to a group, assess needs and manage tasks
• Strong self-motivation and communication skills
• Ability to serve with people of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to carry heavy loads (50+ lbs.) for long distances over rugged terrain
• Ability to drive and must have a valid driver’s license
• Commitment to backcounty and front county stewardship and Leave No Trace ethics
• Ability to make informed decisions based on all the information available rather than relying on your own opinion
• Must communicate clearly

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Hand and power tool training and familiarity
• Leadership experience
• Trail work experience and knowledge
• Wilderness First Aid certification or higher
• Experience leading or assisting in a classroom setting