Compensation: $950 per week ($600 living stipend + $350 additional benefit)
Terms of Service
Start Date: September 7th 2026
End Date: December 17th 2026
AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,956.35 upon successful completion of a 450-hour service term
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 Veterans Fire Corps (VFC) program provides training, certifications, and on-the-job experience for veterans aged 18-35 who are interested in entering careers and gaining experience in wildland firefighting and natural resource management. The program engages veterans in a cohort environment to train and complete projects related primarily to fuels management, which may include prescribed burning and wildland firefighting. The crew should also be prepared to assist on a variety of projects including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and habitat management.
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, crews perform heavy manual labor on environmental conservation projects in all types of weather conditions for 10 hours each day. Crew members and leaders may go through trainings including Wildland Fire Red Card, S212 Chainsaw Certification, and Wilderness First Aid to gain necessary certifications to complete crew projects.
Project Management & Implementation
- Train and motivate a crew of four young adults 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
This crew will typically be stationed at New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia but can also be deployed to other National Park Service sites within the Northeast region. The schedule for this crew is heavily dependent on weather, partner schedules, and varying workload at any given time in the season. We ask members to be flexible and open to changing needs throughout the season. The typical hitch schedule is Monday through Thursday each week. While in the field, crew members work outdoors in all types of weather conditions for 10 hours a day. On hitch, crews camp, prepare meals, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.
We are an independent, non-residential program. Crews are responsible for their own 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
- $950 per week ($600 living stipend + $350 additional benefit)
- $1,956.35 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of a 450-hour service term.
· On-the-job training and certification opportunities including Wildland Fire Red Card, S212 Chainsaw Certification, and Wilderness First Aid.
- 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 a military veteran able to provide a DD-214 or NGB-22.
- Able to pass the USFS arduous level pack test (3-mile hike with 45-pound pack within 45 minutes).
- Be between the ages of 18 and 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.
- 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 wildland fire, trails, herbicide, or chainsaw experience.
- Background with experiential and/or environmental education.
- Facilitation and team-building experience.
- Strong conflict resolution skills.
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
etrott@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.
