Iowa Field Crew Member

Position: Field Crew Member/Leader (AmeriCorps, ages 18 – 35)

Locations: Des Moines, Iowa

This is not a residential program; participants must secure housing near the crew location.

Service Term: 900-hour AmeriCorps position.

• Crew Leader: May 20 – December 12, 2024
• Crew Member: May 28 – December 12, 2024

Position Summary: AmeriCorps Field Crews serve outdoors restoring habitat, managing natural resources, and occasionally responding to natural disasters or community needs. The Field Crew program prioritizes personal and professional growth while teaching hands-on conservation skills in the field. Members develop technical skills throughout their term while completing challenging and impactful conservation projects. Natural resources projects vary by region and crew location, but may include:

• Invasive species management
• Stream bank stabilization, erosion control
• Prescribed burning
• Trail construction & maintenance
• Tree planting
• Basic carpentry
• Wild land fire suppression
• Emergency response

Hours & Schedule
Schedules can vary, depending on crew location. Crew members should expect to be scheduled for at least 40 hours of service per week. A typical schedule is Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM. Overnight travel (4 – 12 consecutive days) is often required for service projects.

Benefits:

• Living Allowance: $2,200/month (member), $2,300/month (leader)
• Education Award: $3,447.50, if eligible and upon successful completion of program
• Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
• Health insurance
• Childcare assistance
• Training, certifications, networking

Qualifications

• Be 18-35 years old.
• Commitment to upholding Corps values of safety, service, respect, equity and community
• Ability and desire to work well with others in a team setting, outdoors and in all weather conditions
• Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include:
  • Long (10 hour) days of shoveling, digging and swinging heavy tools repetitively
  • Long (10 hour) days of chainsawing / brush sawing
  • Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
  • Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
  • Working in extremes of heat or cold 
• Flexible schedule to accommodate week-long out of town assignments and emergency response
• Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
• Must pass criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. 
• High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
• Iowa locations only: Must possess or be able to acquire an Iowa Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License. Corps will provide training and support to obtain license