Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation work projects on public lands throughout the Southeast.
SECC works with a variety of land management agencies throughout the Southeast region, such as the United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, and conservation-based non-profits. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning.
SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, young adults, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels. SECC is also an active member of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (A-DRT), and as such, selected crews may be deployed on disaster response projects for up to 30 days.
Position Summary
SECC’s Bartram Trail Crew will be working on the beautiful Bartram Trail in northern Georgia and North Carolina. The trail is a whopping 110 miles long and you will be working on a stretch of it. This crew will partner with the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy to continue maintenance efforts. This work may include, but is not limited to:
- Trail construction and maintenance
- Corridor cleaning
- Invasive species removal
- Habitat restoration
- Fence installation and repair
- Bridge installation and repair
- Community Service
Hitch Schedule
This position will operate on a variable “hitch” schedule, but generally it will follow 9 days on and 5 days off for camping crews. Workdays follow a 10-hour shift with scheduled time for breaks. While the staff at SECC work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.
The crew will tent camp in the field for the entire season. Workdays are typically 10 hours with scheduled breaks throughout the day. Depending on project work and location, other schedule variations may be implemented.
While the staff at SECC and partners work to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change per project needs.
Expectations of an SECC Corpsmember
- Expect to work long days in a frontcountry or backcountry location. Workdays will include hiking and strenuous labor in remote settings in all weather conditions.
- SECC is a non-residential program, meaning crew members are responsible for attaining and paying for their own housing when not in the field.
- Crews prepare all their own meals and work together as a group to complete all necessary chores. Community/camp chores will be completed every evening, with many evenings including group discussions on conservation and/or corps related topics.
- Crew members must supply their own personal outdoor gear and equipment such as a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots, etc. SECC will provide group camp equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between SECC office and project sites.
- While serving a term of National Service, SECC crews are expected to work in diverse team settings. Respect for all members of the program, our partners, the public and the land they are visiting is expected.
- SECC expects members to represent the program in a professional manner. Crew life will include our corps values of challenge, stewardship, dedication, community, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
- Members are expected to be timely, hardworking, flexible, and complete all functions of tasks assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be between ages 18 and 30
- Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident and provide primary documentation to support this
- Must be cleared through an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, as well as state and federal Criminal History Checks
- Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)
- Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of employment and able to provide proof of vaccination before starting
Preferred Qualifications
- A general comfort and previous knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting
- Must have a high school diploma, GED, or agree to work toward attaining either during term of service (this is essential to obtaining and using the AmeriCorps Education Award)
Compensation
AmeriCorps members will receive an AmeriCorps living stipend of $400 per week before taxes, dispersed biweekly. Upon successful completion of the term of service AmeriCorps members will earn an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award to be used for student loans, qualifying programs/classes, or tuition for traditional Title IV accredited colleges.