Watershed Strike Team Crew Member- AmeriCorps

Position Title: Watershed Strike Team Crew Member- Americorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps

Site Location: Four Corners Office- Durango, Colorado

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: May 25, 2026
• End Date: November 10, 2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900

Purpose:

The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is an AmeriCorps Program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy. It is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training of job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award. 

SCC’s Watershed Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 – 30, to complete challenging and impactful watershed restoration projects on multiple watersheds in the Four Corners region. SCC’s Watershed Program is based in the Four Corners office in Durango, CO.

SCC’s Watershed Strike Team will work with the Montrose County invasive weed management program and as part of the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP). The DRRP is a public-private collaborative of conservation corps, non-profits, BLM managers, private landowners, and engaged community members surrounding the Dolores River watershed. This is the DRRP’s 15th year of an ambitious effort to treat invasive plant species along 175 miles of the Dolores River corridor.

 
Description of Duties:

This is an AmeriCorps position. The crew members will participate in a 3-person crew (1 leader, 2 members). While working (i.e. on-hitch), the crew will camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Hitch schedules may vary between 4 days on, 3 days off or 5 days on, 2 days off, or 8 days on, 6 days off. SCC does not provide off-hitch accommodation and crew members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time.  

The primary responsibilities of this crew are to treat noxious weeds, participate in revegetation activities such as seeding and planting of native species, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, cage native trees to encourage co-existence with beaver, and complete instream restoration work as available. This crew is designed to be flexible to meet the evolving needs of the DRRP. Flexibility and adaptability are essential. 

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Have a current driver’s license and have had a license for three years
• Capable of walking (minimum of 5 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain)
• Standing, crouching and stooping for long periods of time
• Lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds
• Working in temperatures that can reach above 95 degrees (F)
• Knowledge or interest in native and non-native vegetation of the Southwest is encouraged
• GIS, herbicide, vegetation monitoring experience is a plus

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements 

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your position: 

Participant and Expedition Behavior 

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program, including conservation projects, education, training and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners

Safety and Judgement 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

 Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills 

• Learn and practice Leave No Trace ethics and techniques.
• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require several hours to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free 

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and SCC activities, and while on organization property.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruitment process, please send a request to the hiring manager.  

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Tuesday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• Members must be able to serve 40-50 hour work weeks

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Members will participate in a member orientation week Monday, May 25-29, 2026. This orientation will include Wilderness First Aid training.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3697.50
• Living Allowance of $500 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Wilderness First Aid Certification provided
• United States Forest Service-recognized chainsaw certification
• Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Employee Assistance Program provided
• 5 days off in August between the summer member season and the fall member season

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Any questions can be directed to Tarryn Dixon, Watershed Programs Manager at tdixon@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.