Eastern Conservation Crew Member

Summary:

Join American Conservation Experience in Asheville NC and receive free housing skills and certificate training an AmeriCorps education award eligibility and the chance to travel and work in a variety of locations ranging from popular National Parks Forests and local natural protected areas. Multiple term lengths locations start dates and other options are available.

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit conservation corps with a divisional branch in Asheville NC is looking for members to come join our team of young adults serving on meaningful conservation projects throughout the Eastern U.S. This opportunity is intended for those looking to learn valuable skills for their career while immersed in a community of likeminded young professionals from around the country. Members typically serve for 13 or 26 weeks on projects including habitat restoration historic preservation and trail maintenance and construction all while completing a term of AmeriCorps service. While serving members typically have 26 days off between each project to enjoy locations around the easts abundant beauty and recreational opportunities with their friends and colleagues. Take your first step towards beginning or advancing your career by applying with us today!

Start Date: July 2025

Estimated End Dates:

October 2025 (for 450 hour term)

February 2026 (for 900 hour term)

Location: Asheville NC

Projects take place throughout the eastern half of the U.S. at a variety of different public lands.

Schedule: Project schedules vary greatly but typically members serve 4 days on with either 2 or 4 days off or 8 days on/ 6 days off. For remote projects members spend offdays nearer to their project location. Remote projects often last up to 4 6 weeks long.

Benefits: Member compensation and benefits include a package valued at over $2000/mo.

Members will receive a Living Allowance of $360/week paid biweekly.

Members obtain an Education Award for the amount of $1956.35 (for 14 weeks) or $3697.50 (for 26 weeks) upon successful completion of service.

ACE provides members with food during all project days; members are responsible for providing their own food on offdays.

ACE provides members with free housing during their term of service. When working in or near the eastern region members spend off days in our hostelstyle housing in Asheville. When working remotely members will be provided tents and camping facilities in those remote locations. The member will provide their own blankets/pillow/sleeping bag/towels.

AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage and federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Gear: ACE provides each member their own tent. The member will provide their own sleeping bag sleeping pad rain gear and hiking boots. Upon acceptance to the program members will receive a more extensive packing list. Weather can be highly variable so plan on bringing layers of warm clothing and adequate rain gear. Members will have access to deeply discounted Pro Deals via Outdoor Prolink once they are offered and accept a position and will have the opportunity to purchase discounted gear prior to their arrival.

Travel: ACE provides transportation to and from worksites; personal vehicles are not necessary throughout the members term of service. ACE does not provide relocation assistance.

Position Description:

Members serve in professionally supervised teams as they explore future outdoor careers learn practical field skills and develop confidence as emerging leaders in the field of conservation. Members are afforded opportunities to learn and train under the guidance of professional mentors within ACE while gaining invaluable career perspectives working alongside staff from the National Park Service US Forest Service Bureau of Land Management US Fish and Wildlife Service and many other stewards of our nations public lands.

Field work and additional responsibilities might include but are not limited to:

• Habitat restoration
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Dry and wet stone masonry
• Reforestation
• Forest thinning
• Plant identification
• Fencing
• Invasive species removal
• Swamping

Members get experience with or in conjunction with the following tools and equipment depending on their level of training:

Trail Maintenance: Pick mattocks Pulaskis shovels single/double jacks McLeods single bit axes rock bars chisels crosscut saws and griphoists.

Restoration Equipment: Herbicide backpack sprayers spray bottles GPS units and measuring tools.

Power Tools and Gas Powered Equipment: Chainsaws brushcutters drills saws and compressors.

Qualifications: Applicants should be prepared to perform physically challenging labor on environmental and conservation projects for 10 hours a day. Applicants should expect to hike extended distances on rough terrain carrying backpacks tools and equipment and be prepared to spend 8 consecutive days in the field on each project. Members will work in a variety of weather conditions such as temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit high winds intense sunshine rain and snow.

Required:

• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
• Able and willing to work in a group
• Able and willing to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and capable of hiking moderate distances in somewhat rough terrain during inclement weather conditions
• Willingness to undergo and must pass a required criminal history check

Preferred:

• Experience in hiking and navigation in steep terrain
• Strong desire to enter the conservation field as a natural resource professional
• Experience or interest in volunteering in local communities

Physical Demands Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting standing walking hiking carrying using hands to handle or feel reaching with hands and arms talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools or equipment. Required to stoop kneel climb stairs and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Close distance peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus may be required.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs. ability to move up to 60 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gaspowered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position requires domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold rocky terrain swamp or wetland conditions biting insects and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self fellow staff/members or resources.

The member must be willing to represent ACE and AmeriCorps in a professional positive and enthusiastic manner. ACE has a zero tolerance policy for illegal and underage drinking. ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.

To Apply: Please submit a thoughtful resume complete a motivational statement (instructions are provided when applying) OR upload a cover letter and provide at least 2 references that are either professional or from a community leader (eg colleagues teachers counselors religious leaders career advisors). Visit to view other listings and use the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing to apply using ACEs online application portal.

NOTE: Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Sydney Seng Outreach and Member Manager at

ACE participates in EVerify and will provide the federal government with your Form I9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability qualifications attitude and jobrelated factors. Every qualified employee member or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment hire training transfer promotion compensation demotion termination benefits employee activities and general treatment without regard to race color religion age sex creed national origin pregnancy ancestry citizenship status genetic information veteran or military status physical or mental disability sexual orientation medical condition marital or parental status political affiliation ethnicity hair texture or style arrest record caste hereditary status endogamy or any other classification protected by applicable local state or federal law.