AmeriCorps Crew Leader - Youth
Conservation Legacy
Position Title: AmeriCorps Crew Leader – Youth Crew
Location: Based out of Harrisonburg, VA
Compensation: $675 per week ($500 living stipend + $175 additional benefit)
Terms of Service
Start Date: May 26th 2026
End Date: July 17th OR July 31st 2026, depending on crew
AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,565.08 upon successful completion of a 300-hour service term
Multiple positions available. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
Purpose
Appalachian Conservation Corps works to connect young people to critical conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania. As an AmeriCorps program, we partner with public land managers to identify, plan, and complete projects that improve public access, habitat quality, and economic development.
Appalachian Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation service organizations envisioning a world with healthy lands, air, and water, thriving people, and resilient communities. We aim to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our public lands through community-based service. We welcome national applicants but also emphasize the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.
Project Description
The AmeriCorps Crew Leader (ACL) is a full partner in the crew’s leadership, helping to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term. This position requires open dialog with the staff crew leader, helping them to manage projects, project partners, communications, overall logistics, and crew assignments.
It means more than just showing up and doing the work; it means setting an example of how to work hard with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It means facilitating learning experience for crew members, both formally and informally. This position may require additional participation time outside of standard project and crew hours.
During their time in the field, youth crews perform manual labor on environmental conservation projects in all types of weather conditions for 8 hours each day. Projects take place either on the North River Ranger District of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, or in Shenandoah National Park. These hands-on projects include visitor access improvements, trail construction and maintenance, habitat restoration, mechanical invasive species removal, re-vegetation, and much more.
Project Management & Implementation
- Train and motivate a crew of four youth (ages 16-18) to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands.
- Delegate project work and investment amongst the crew.
- Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of project work.
- Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
- Communicate effectively and coordinate logistics with project partners, staff crew leader, members, and program staff.
Safety & Risk Management
- Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
- Exhibit strong situational awareness and promote a culture of safety.
- Transport crew and equipment safely in program vans or large vehicles with trailers.
Administration
- Manage crew medical history forms and incident documentation in conjunction with the staff crew leader.
Schedule and Crew Life
The season begins with two weeks of crew leader training out of our Harrisonburg, VA office, after which your schedule will depend on your crew.
Forest Service Youth Crew: Crew camps out and works in the field for 8 hours a day Monday – Friday. Crew members and leaders return to our office in Harrisonburg each Friday afternoon to head home for the weekend and return to the office the next Monday morning to go back out the following week.
Shenandoah Youth Crew: This crew has two four-week sessions, each with a different group of youth members but the same crew leader pair.
Session one is from June 8th to July 3rd, 2026. During session one, crew camps out and works in the field for 8 hours a day Monday – Friday. Crew members return to our office in Harrisonburg each Friday afternoon to head home for the weekend and return to the office the next Monday morning to go back out the following week.
Session two is from July 6th to July 31st, 2026. During session two, crew camps out in Shenandoah National Park for the entire four weeks. They complete project work for 8 hours a day Monday to Friday and have educational and recreational opportunities each weekend. Crew leaders each take one weekend individually and ACC staff cover the third weekend.
We are an independent, non-residential program. Crew members and leaders are responsible for their own housing, food, and transportation when they are not in the field. Food is provided while in the field. Crews work together to plan meals and complete necessary chores (cooking, washing dishes, etc.). Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if known ahead of time. We also provide group camping equipment, tools, protective gear, uniform shirts, and transportation between Appalachian Conservation Corps offices and project sites.
Members may be required to participate in service projects or events as part of their service terms. Prior to their start date, selected participants are required to complete an enrollment process that includes completing e-forms, uploading IDs, an orientation on AmeriCorps prohibited activities, and beginning their background check process.
Appalachian Conservation Corps supports a culture of feedback and growth. Participants will set goals at the beginning of the season and review their performance in the middle and at the end of their season. Participants will also be asked to evaluate the program and their experience. Overall performance will be measured by assignment completion, hours served, and other criteria set at the start of the service term.
Benefits
- $675 per week ($500 living stipend + $175 additional benefit)
- $1,565.08 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of a 300-hour service term.
- AmeriCorps members may be eligible for student loan forbearance.
- Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist.
- Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.
General Qualifications
- Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for veterans up to age 35).
- Have US citizenship or legal permanent residency status.
- Have a high school diploma or GED.
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
- Must hold current Basic First Aid with CPR/AED certification or higher or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
- Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders.
- Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles.
- Over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).
Preferred Qualifications
- Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies.
- Technical trails, herbicide, or chainsaw experience.
- Background with experiential and/or environmental education.
- Facilitation and team-building experience.
- Strong conflict resolution skills.
- Current Wilderness First Aid Certification with CPR/AED.
Our Commitment
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. 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.
Any questions can be addressed to:
Eleanor Trott
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.