Position Title: Invasive Plant Crew Member – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps

Site Location: Four Corners Office – Durango, Colorado

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 05/25/2026
• End Date: 08/07/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hour

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.

Funded through the America the Beautiful Challenge Grant, Southwest Conservation Corps’ Invasive Plant Management Crew will serve throughout the San Juan Mountain Region. The 3-person crew will treat noxious weeds, collect vegetation monitoring and survey data, install boot brush stations at trailheads and perform general restoration activities as needed. This crew’s schedule will be 4-days on, 3-days off. The crew will partner and learn from local agencies and make an impact in controlling the spread of noxious weeds in the Southwest

Description of Duties:

This is an AmeriCorps position. The crew member will participate on 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 team to complete all projects and chores. Hitch schedules are 4 days on, 3 days off. SCC does not provide off-hitch accommodation and crew members will be responsible for their own accommodation during that time

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements

The following 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.

Participant and Expedition Behavior

• Serve effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of any kind.
• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.

Risk Management and Judgement

• Follow directions by others so that you can successfully manage hazards.
• Ask clarifying questions when you do not understand a task.
• Maintain focus during the service day, both while traveling and serving in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living skills as appropriate to the project.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for up to several weeks.

Substance-Free

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

Qualifications:

• Knowledge or interest in native and non-native vegetation of the Southwest is encouraged
• Herbicide experience, or desire to work with, is a plus.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Capable of walking (minimum of 5 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain)
• At least 17 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.

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 recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Members typically serve either 8 days on/6 days off or 4 days on/3 days off schedules. Service days are 10- hour days, typically from 7am to 5:30pm. A half-hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• Members must be physically fit and able to serve 40-50 hour service weeks.

Orientation and Training:

• Crew members will be invited to participate in a voluntary crew member orientation week from 05/25/2026 to 05/29/2026. This orientation week will include Wilderness First Aid training.
• Members will also receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps policies, procedures, and prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Wilderness First Aid Certification provided
• United States Forest Service-recognized chainsaw certification (if serving on chainsaw crew)
• Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Employee Assistance Program provided

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.

Other Considerations:

• The ability to live, serve, and camp in rural Colorado is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

• Greta Binzen, SCC Four Corners (Durango) Adult Program Coordinator: gbinzen@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.