AmeriCorps Wilderness Trainee 2023

Hiring Organization: AmeriCorps
Employment type: Seasonal
Job Location: Oregon
Application Due Date: April 14, 2023

AmeriCorps Wilderness Trainees support the Deschutes National Forest through wilderness stewardship service while learning key skills and developing professional competencies. You will serve daily with Forest Service staff, other AmeriCorps Members and wilderness volunteers to complete your daily duties. The Heart of Oregon Corps -AmeriCorps, Discover Your Forest, Deschutes National Forest partnership passionate about promoting equity while celebrating the diversity of our community and providing empowering opportunities for those who are under-represented.

Generation Green Heart of Oregon AmeriCorps Program is as follows:

• Number of positions hiring: Four (4)
• Age requirement: 18-30
• Salary: $7,500 total stipend. $500/week, paid bi-weekly
• Scholarship: $2,472.27 Segal Education Award
• Term of Service: 675 hours / 15 Weeks
• Certification: Upon completion of full-service hours, each Wilderness Trainee will receive the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority certificate. PLC Hiring Authority provides 2 years of non-competitive hiring status*. (*Non-competitive hiring status is the ability to apply and be considered for permanent vacancies within the Forest Service without competitive examination or competing with career or career-conditional employees under internal merit staffing procedures for any position which eligible. Candidates applying under this authority are considered with other non-competitive status candidates.
• Provide conservation education and exposure to natural resources through mentorship and experiential shadow opportunities.
• All participants, based on personal interests, will have additional opportunities to explore other Forest Service specialties.
• Housing is not offered through this program.

Primary duties include

• Provide education to visitors at trailheads and in the backcountry. Education topics include trail/campsite/forest conditions, Wilderness Regulations and compliance, Leave No Trace ethics and best practices, and general Wilderness Stewardship information.
• Restore illegal and inappropriate campsites and trails to improve habitat, specifically around riparian areas.
• Clean up campsites and day use areas to mitigate recreation impacts to wilderness resources.
• Monitor and document use patterns.
• Clear and maintain wilderness trails to minimize recreation impacts.
• Documenting prescribed treatments to public lands by use of photos or videos
• Completing project narratives for reporting purposes
• Participate in all trainings and orientations

Secondary duties include

• Opportunities to participate in projects with Heart of Oregon Corps – AmeriCorps crews include
• Clearing areas of dangerous fire fuels
• Building or repairing fencing to protect vulnerable habitat
• Restoring trails and waterways
• Habitat restoration
• Herbicide application on invasive plant species
• Assisting with driving and project logistics
• Conducting tool/equipment/vehicle inventory tracking and maintenance

Qualified candidates will be/have

• Must be a U.S. Citizen and pass a background check.
• A current driver’s license with good driving record.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to easily talk to large groups of people every day.
• Exceptional work ethic, enthusiasm, and a high degree of flexibility.
• Commitment to serve a minimum of four -10-hour days, Thursday-Sunday, with weekend work required. Weeks regularly range from 40-50 hours.
• Service will consist of primarily day excursions with 1-2 opportunities for an overnight wilderness outing.
• Ability to spend long days in the field under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to hike over rough, uneven terrain.

Questions and How to Apply

• For more information contact Davey Pearson, Discover Your Forest’s Volunteer & Career Pathways Program Manager, at 541-383-5530, davey.pearson@discovernw.org or Christine Meyers, Assistant Partnership Program Manager at 541-383-4770 or christine.meyers@usda.gov
• To apply: Email Cover Letter and Resume to both christine.meyers@usda.gov and davey.pearson@discovernw.org. Please include your outdoor experience and interest in the Natural Resources field in your cover letter.
• Please apply before close of business Friday, April 14th, 2023. (contact if you miss deadline)
• Interviews - week of April 18th – April 28, 2023
• Selections - by May 12th, 2023
• Anticipated Start Date - June 18th, 2023
• Anticipated End Date – September 24th, 2023
• Once a member starts, they must be available to serve full-time