Position Title: Boundary Marking Crew Member– AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps
Site Location: Based out of the SECC office in Chattanooga, TN, camping and serving within various U.S. Forest Service locations across the Southeast Region
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hours
Applications will begin review on September 28th, 2026, with a selection by January 8th, 2027.
Southeast Conservation Corps works to empower youth (ages 15-17) and adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship throughout the Southeast region of the United States. As an AmeriCorps program, Southeast Conservation Corps collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, state parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host crews and individual placements.
Southeast Conservation Corps AmeriCorps positions provide impactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes. We encourage applications from across the nation but also recognize that Southeast Conservation Corps participants reflect the population of the Southeast region- including youth, high school and college graduates, veterans, and individuals from various backgrounds.
The crew member position is an entry-level position. During their time in the field, crews will perform heavy manual labor to complete conservation projects. These projects require traversing through challenging terrain to project sites while carrying up to 50lbs of gear and equipment. Crew members will camp overnight, serve outdoors (in all weather conditions), maintain equipment, and perform all duties with safety as a top priority. We ask that crew members embrace the learning opportunities, preserve through challenges, and build community with their crew.
SECC has partnered with the Southern region of the U.S. Forest Service to host a roving boundary maintenance crew that will be based out of Chattanooga, TN and will travel in a crew vehicle and hike out to various forest locations as needed by project partners.
Projects will vary based on the priorities and direction of SECC and USFS with a focus on:
The projects are extremely arduous and require traversing very challenging terrain; will require a high level of physical fitness of participants. During inclement weather, and to provide a more enriching experience, shadowing other departments will be added as a beneficial experience for the crew.
Hitch Schedule: Crews operate on a 9-day, 5-day off (Tuesday-Wednesday) schedule. The first hitch of the season will be Monday-Tuesday and will include training in skills and equipment needed for the season; the second hitch will be the beginning of the aforementioned schedule. Project days are 10-hour shifts with two 15-minute breaks, and one 30-minute unpaid lunch scheduled each day.
Housing, Food, and Transportation: This is a nonresidential program. Housing, food, and transportation are not provided in the off hitch. Members are responsible for providing their own lodging, food, and transportation when not in the field. Food and transportation will be provided when in the field. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance.
Gear: SECC will provide tools, group camp equipment, and personal protective equipment. Members must supply their own personal gear, including: day pack, water bottles, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tent, and boots. SECC has a limited supply of gear to loan to members, but it may not fit personal preference or needs.
Preferred Qualifications:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with 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.
Orientation and Training:
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.
Complete the application and upload a current resume and cover letter.
Any questions can be addressed to:
Reagan Phillips- 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.
