Title: Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP)

Reports to: Program Director

Location: Salida, CO or Alamosa, CO

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt

Start/end date: March 28^th, 2022 – Late October 2022

Living Stipend: $500 / week

Benefits: 2 weeks of paid time off: 1 week between Spring Leader Training season and Summer Member season, 1 week between summer member season and fall member season. $4,546 AmeriCorps Education Award (Value may change depending on term of service), Food provided while in the field, uniforms, USFS recognized Chainsaw & Crosscut certification, Trauma-Informed-Care Training, Wilderness First Responder & CPR/AED certification, Trauma-Informed Care Training, Restorative Justice Training, QPR suicide prevention training.

Multiple positions opened until filled. 

Southwest Conservation Corps:
The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities, and the environment. The SCC Los Valles office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, in Salida Colorado, and serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. The SCC Los Valles Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 – 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Projects may include, trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, invasive species mitigation, hazardous fuels reduction, habitat restoration, and local environmental service projects.  Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.

Position Summary:

Crews consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews work in front and backcountry locations in all weather conditions. Standard schedule consists of 8 days on-hitch and 6 days off with some exception. On-hitch, crews’ camps together, prepare all meals together, and work together as a group to complete all chores. SCC does not provide accommodations off-hitch and AmeriCorps (AC) Crew Leader Develop Program (CLDP) members will be responsible for their own accommodations during that time.

The AmeriCorps CLDP is a two-phase program. Basic program structure will include:

• 1st phase: 8 weeks of training with experienced SCC crew leaders and staff. Trainings will include: Introduction to: SCC mission, policies, and procedures, restorative justice, trauma informed care, risk management, managing crew dynamics, front and backcountry living, Leave No Trace, USFS recognized Chainsaw and Crosscut training, technical trail skills, project management, partner relations, logistics, and Wilderness Medicine (WFR). Schedule during Crew Leader Training may vary.
• 2nd phase: Co-leading adult conservation crews. While co-leading, CLDP members will be responsible for project management, as well as the care and wellbeing of an 8-person crew, completing conservation projects on public lands, such as trail restoration, native planting, disaster deployment, habitat rehabilitation or fencing, invasive species removal, chainsaw, or various public recreational facility improvements. Leaders in Development are responsible for the physical and emotional well-being of the crew. We will be running the following crews during the 2022 season, please be ready to speak to how you would support 3 of them in your interview.
  • Leaders of Color – An affinity crew for QTBIPOC individuals with a focus on technical skills and certifications.
  • Women’s+ Saw Crew – An affinity crew for Trans/Cis Women and non-binary individuals with a focus on chainsaw skills development.
  • 14ers Crew – Working in two locations (high and sup alpine), these crews will be working to build a new trail up Mt. Shavano, working closely with Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
  • Alamosa Local Crew – A crew for systems-involved young adults in the San Luis Valley with a focus on career pathways with a variety of green jobs. This crew serves a predominately Hispanic, Chicanx community.
  • Queer Crew – An affinity crew for 2SLGBTIA+ individuals with a focus on a wide variety of trail work.
  • Short-term Conservation crews – Short-term crew aimed at individuals in school, or who are apprehensive about joining a longer-term crew, to introduce individuals to land management techniques and trail work.

Required Skills

• AmeriCorps members must be able to pass a criminal background check.

• Past conservation experience preferred but not required.

• Healthy Boundaries and Integrity: Members must be willing to follow and enforce all SCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, communicate effectively with partners, members, peers, and SCC staff, and appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps.
• Leadership: Experience, or a strong desire to lead and mentor a diverse group of young adults (ages 18-30). Ability to manage and participate in day-to-day details of crew life. Ability to listen, willingness to receive feedback, and desire to grow.
• Adaptability: Projects entail uncertainty and include variable living conditions and last-minute changes. Members must be patient and maintain a positive perspective.
• Community Building: Strong desire to help others grow as individuals while building cohesiveness in a group. Members must be willing to work hard, respect others’ viewpoints, be committed to equity, be inclusive of differing backgrounds, and embrace diversity.

• Environmental Stewardship: Members must engage leave no trace principles pertaining to public land stewardship and management.
• Fitness: SCC projects are physically demanding! 10 hour-long workdays consist of hiking, backpacking, heavy lifting, and repetitive motions using tools. Projects often take place at elevation – above 8,500’ – and in variable weather conditions. Members must confront conditions while leading their crew to do the same.
• Corps Member Development: Experience or strong desire to learn and participate as an outdoor educator and mentor.

Required Experience

Minimum Requirements:

• Driving:  Must be 21, or have had a driver’s license for 3 consecutive years with a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), and a current driver’s license. 
• Education: At a minimum, 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.   

• Citizenship: Members 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.

Essential Functions:  

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit, talk, and listen.  
• Required to use hands to operate objects and tools, and to reach with hands and arms.  

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision and the ability to focus.  
• Required to drive an SCC vehicle  
• Enforce all SCC policies. SCC is a substance-free work environment. All must refrain from the use of tobacco products, vaping, alcohol, and drugs while in the program.  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions