DescriptionPosition Title: Conservation Crew Leader in Development (CLDP) - AmeriCorpsConservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation CorpsSite Location: Durango, COTerms of Service:
- Start Date: 03/24/2025
- End Date: 11/07/2025
- AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.50 available at completion of service term. Award amount dependent upon length of service term.
- Living Allowance of $485/week
- Additional Benefit of $200/week
- Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
- Childcare Coverage if Eligible
- Loan forbearance if Eligible
- Interest Payments if Eligible
- Other Benefits:
- 5 paid days off in August between summer member season and fall member season.
- Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Employee Assistance Program provided.
Housing: SCC-Durango will be securing a camping location for leaders and CLDPs during the spring season. Other options, including host-housing and a partnership with a local hostel, which will be reviewed in the interview process. *Wilderness Medicine: CLDP members are provided with Wilderness First Responder/CPR/AED training. There will be a WFR course available in Durango March 11th-19th through Desert Mountain Medicine. Other acceptable WFR Courses and Re-certification Courses can be reimbursed (up to $650) but must be taken prior to the start of the season. Purpose:Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that 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 primarily on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on 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 (for qualifying individuals). The Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP) is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples' lives while completing conservation projects. CLDPs will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water. The AmeriCorps Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP) is a two-phase program. The first phase focuses on orientation, training, and development, the second phase focuses on implementation and continued leadership development. The AmeriCorps CLDP will spend 9 weeks in a crew leader training period alongside fellow CLDPs, Crew Leaders and SCC Staff, which will include a SCC leadership skills week, chainsaw and crosscut training, technical trails training, administrative training, and prep weeks, in addition to project work. In late May, CLDPs will be paired with an experienced Crew Leader where they will work together to lead a crew of young adults for the Summer and Fall Season. Crews consists of 6-7 members, 1 Crew Leader and 1 CLDP. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Standard schedule consists of 8 days on-hitch and 6 days off, or 4 days on-hitch and 3 days off, with some exceptions. On-hitch, crews camp together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores. Description of Duties:CLDPs, along with Crew Leaders, are responsible for ensuring the physical safety and emotional well-being of their crew. The intention of the CLDP/Crew Leader pairing is to aid in the leadership development of the CLDP. Over the course of the season, the CLDP will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to take on full Crew Leader responsibilities. CLDP's may assist the Crew Leader with project management, creating and implementing development and educational opportunities, and completing required hitch paperwork. However, those duties are ultimately the responsibility of the Crew Leader. Examples of crews we may be running during the 2025 season are listed below. All crew leaders should be prepared and willing to do all manners of project work, but please be ready to speak to your preferences and how you would support them during your interview:
- Conservation/Trail Crew- A crew for young adults that works in both backcountry and front country settings, focusing on trails and a variety of conservation projects
- Chainsaw Crew-A crew for young adults that works primarily in front country settings, focusing on sustainable forestry, fuels reduction, or invasive species removal (with the potential to use herbicide)
- Crosscut Crew-Crew works in remote Wilderness areas, clearing down trees from trails with a two-person crosscut saw
- Fuels Crew - Crews complete fire training and project work specifically related to fuels management and fuels reduction
Affinity CrewsThe goal of our affinity crews is to have a place where those with identities that have historically and systematically been underrepresented in the conservation field can come together and build an equitable community with representative leadership by us, for us . These crews seek to create an inclusive space for all regardless of gender or sexual identity. We value respect (of names, pronouns, orientation, gender, and philosophies), confidentiality, and boundaries (both physical and auditory). Affinity Crews we may be running in 2025:
- Women's+ Crew- An affinity crew for Women (both trans + cis) and Non-Binary individuals
- Queer Crew- An affinity crew for LGBTQAI2S+ individuals
Responsibilities & Core Competencies:Leadership& Mentorship
- Integrate values pertaining to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) within the corps
- Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew's personal growth and group dynamics
- Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community
- Must be willing to follow and enforce all SCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent SCC. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program
Project Management & Implementation
- Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale
- Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems
- Communicate effectively & coordinate logistics with project partners, co-leader & SCC staff
Safety & Risk Management
- Monitor, manage, and promote the crew's physical and emotional safety
- Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety
- Transport crew and equipment safely in SCC's vans or large SUVs with trailers
Qualifications:
- AmeriCorps members must be able to pass a criminal background check
- Adaptive, patient, and able to maintain a positive perspective throughout
- Experience, or a strong desire to lead and mentor a diverse group of young adults (ages 18-30).
- Strong desire to help others grow as individuals while building cohesiveness in a group setting.
- Enjoyment and desire for caring for the land while living and working in the outdoors in a variety of conditions
- Ready to confront physically demanding, long workdays in variable weather conditions while being able to help and encourage others that they are leading.
- Experience or a strong desire to learn the technical skills needed to effectively maintain public lands and have a flexible definition of what 'conservation' means.
- To drive, members must be 21, have a clean driving record (insurable) and a current driver's license
- CLDP members must be high school graduates, GED recipients, working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service. CLDP members obtain either a diploma or GED before using an education award
- Member's must provide primary documentation of status as a U.S. citizen or National, OR primary documentation of status as a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States
Physical Requirements:Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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.Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.Time Requirements:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve 8 days, serving 10 hours each day, followed by 6 days off, 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.
- Physically fit and able to serve 40-50 hr. work weeks
Other Considerations:
- Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation & our work base: The Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, CO
- Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year
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:Stephen Lokos: Adult Program Coordinator,
[email protected] Greta Binzen: Adult Program Coordinator,
[email protected] Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
