Strike Team -AmeriCorps Crew Member
Conservation Legacy
Title: Strike Team --AmeriCorps Crew Member (DAY CREW)
Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps
Reports to: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator
Site Location: Crew will be based out of the Conasauga Ranger District office and serving within various locations within the Chattahoochee National Forest Conasauga Ranger District, Chatsworth, GA (3941 US-76, Chatsworth, GA 30705)
(Members must live within a 30mi radius of Chatsworth, GA)
Terms of Service:
- Start Date:5/25/2026 - first day at SECC office
- End Date: 8/14/2026
- AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450hr
- Status: This is a full-time, seasonal, 12-week- 450-hour AmeriCorps National Service position
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35 upon successful completion of the program
- Living Allowance of $480 per week
- Additional Benefit of $120 per week
Other Benefits: Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Certificate (upon successful completion of hours), uniform shirts, personal protective equipment, and other developmental opportunities as available
Crew Structure: 1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 2 Crew Members
Purpose — About Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC):
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship.
SECC, a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-18) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host day or overnight camping crews and individual placements.
Our AmeriCorps positions provide impactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes. SECC’s participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various backgrounds.
Description of Duties
The crew member position is an entry-level role. During their time in the field, crew members will perform heavy manual labor to complete conservation and restoration projects. Most projects require extensive hiking to remote project sites for the day with tools, equipment, and a day pack. While prior experience with the outdoors or outdoor work can be helpful, it is not a necessity for this position. We ask that crew members embrace learning opportunities, face challenges, and build community with their crew.
Service Project:
SECC and the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Conasauga Ranger District have partnered to support a Strike Team. This small crew will be immersed within the Conasauga Ranger District supporting projects alongside district: Biologists, Silviculturists, and Recreation teams. Most projects involve strenuous manual labor in all weather conditions and require hiking to and from the project sites daily, carrying tools and day packs. This is an opportunity for members to gain experience in a variety of natural resource management areas.
Project service will include (but is not limited to):
Silviculture
Stand exam plots are taken to collect stand-level data. The crew will serve alongside Silviculture staff to measure tree data across the district. This project includes hiking, tree measurement, coring trees to determine age, and recording data.
Wildlife Projects
Invasive Plant Treatments: Conduct herbicide treatments of non-native invasive plants via a backpack sprayer. Must be able to carry 35lbs for extended durations. Non-native plants that will be treated include kudzu, Chinese privet, autumn olive, and bicolor lespedeza.
Other projects may include: Wildlife surveys (bats, bobwhite quail, breeding bird surveys), stream habitat enhancement via the addition of large wood, wildlife opening maintenance, gate inventory/repairs, wild pig management, and wildlife stand improvement.
Recreation
The Recreation Team maintains all campgrounds, day-use areas, wilderness areas, and trails on the district. Projects that will be included when with recreation could include trail work such as brush clearing, crosscut and chainsaw work, and require some arduous hikes. Beyond trail work, members may be asked to assist with developed recreation. These projects could include bathroom cleaning and maintenance, trash site cleanup, campground maintenance using weed-eaters and leaf-blowers among other power tools.
Crew Life:
- Crew Structure: This day crew model consists of 2 crew members and 2 crew leaders who will provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants.
- Hitch Schedule: This crew will operate on a varied hitch schedule, with options including 5 days on 2 days off Monday-Friday OR 4 days on 3 days off Monday-Thursday OR Tuesday-Friday. Schedules will vary depending on the project. The crews’ schedule will depend on the project and partner’s needs. Members must remain flexible and expect partners to communicate crew schedule before off time.
- Food: Participants will be responsible for providing their own water and food for meals each day. (lunch)
- Gear: Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots. SECC will provide tools, program vehicle for project travel, and personal protective equipment.
- Transportation: Participants will be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the duty location each day. SECC will provide transportation between duty station and project sites.
- Housing: SECC is a nonresidential program. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements.
Requirements:
Minimum Qualifications:
United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
Must be between ages 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a military veteran.
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.
Preferred Qualifications:
General comfort with and prior experience in outdoor environments.
Willingness to spend up to 10-hours per day completing manual labor projects in the field
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:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve May through August, but exact service schedules may vary. 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.
Orientation and Training:
- Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- 5/25 members will begin their season at the SECC office. 5/26 members will be expected to arrive at the Conasauga RD office in personal vehicles, where they will be based for the remainder of their 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.
Participant Behavior Expectations:
Professionalism:
Be punctual, hardworking, and flexible. Appropriately represent SECC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.
Participation:
Learn all necessary skills and apply them to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
Commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
Positive Atmosphere:
Contribute to a positive and safe culture, free from harassment.
Demonstrate teamwork and respect for fellow members, partners, the public, and the land. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level and a willingness to accept differences.
Corps Values:
Strive for an experience grounded in the corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, and integrity.
Safety and Judgment:
Effectively communicate ideas, concerns, and danger as they arise directly to colleagues, supervisor, and program staff.
Effectively perceive, understand, and follow directions by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate techniques to manage hazards.
Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and serving 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.
Outdoor Skills:
Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living, travel, and industry skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed 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 may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at least one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.
Practice ‘Leave no Trace’ principles to preserve public spaces
Substance Free:
Alcohol and drugs are prohibited during AmeriCorps and program activities, and on organization property, in accordance with a drug free environment.
Application Instructions:
To Apply: Complete the application, upload cover letter and resume.
Any questions can be addressed to:
Angela Gerstner
Recruitment Coordinator
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.