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AmeriCorps Member Positions in the WCC

The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) offers nearly 250 opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps member positions. Though no work experience is required, please review the information provided on this page, before applying, to ensure you select positions of most interest to you.

 

Closing Date/Interview Schedule

The WCC only offers positions that are 40-hours per week. Our typical workweek is Monday-Thursday, 10 hours per day, but the schedule may vary. We primarily offer 12 month positions but may add seasonal positions (6-month and 4-month), based on the needs of our project sponsors. Recruitment for 12-month positions begin July 15th and continues into October until positions are filled. Interviews are conducted on a continuous basis so submitting your application early is recommended to ensure consideration. Our start date is the first Monday in October each year. For 6-month positions, recruitment will begin February 1st for a start date in mid-march. All positions conclude in late September, allowing a one week shutdown in between service years.

Applicant Requirements

The WCC is an AmeriCorps Program for young adults. Our grant funding and state mandate both limit our member positions to 18-25 year olds*. Applicants will need to provide their own transportation to designated crew sites and provide for their own living arrangements.

Position Descriptions

The WCC offers two types of AmeriCorps member positions; Crew Member or Individual Placement (IP). The two positions both offer excellent training, great networking opportunities, and exposure to the environmental field. Learn about the differences by selecting the position you wish to learn about:

• Crew Member (includes veteran positions)
• Individual Placement

Crew Members

A crew member position might be right for you if:

• You want to work outdoors every day
• You want to work closely as part of a team of six
• You want to gain experience on a restoration crew (includes veteran positions), a trail crew, or a spike crew

Restoration Crews

Our restoration crews work on public lands to improve habitat for fish and wildlife. The work will vary by crew, but typical projects include:

• Installing native species at riparian & re-vegetation projects
• Constructing roadway erosion control
• Participating in salmon recovery projects
• Establishing in-stream structures & channels

WCC members on restoration crews dedicate a majority of their time to large-scale planting projects; installing native trees and shrubs, removing invasive species, constructing livestock-exclusionary fencing, and working on a variety of in-stream projects.

Are you interested in a restoration crew? Click here to select crew locations and to apply online.

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Trail Crews

The typical work of a trail crew consists of:

• Upgrading and maintaining campgrounds
• Installing environmental education facilities
• Constructing or improving recreational trails
• Building bridges and boardwalks

This work may be performed in urban and backcountry areas. WCC crews are stationed in local, state and national parks.

Note on backcountry projects: These crews have a designated location during the year where members will meet before loading into a 6-person crew truck and heading to the backcountry. From there, crews will travel to the project location in a WCC truck, then hike several miles to establish camp where they will stay for 4 or 8-day spikes. Backcountry trail work occurs throughout the spring and summer (weather permitting) and typically involves a heavy amount of camping. These are rigorous assignments so please be sure you are up to the challenge before applying to one of these crews.

When weather prevents trail work, these crews will work on restoration projects instead.

Are you interested in a trails crew? Click here to select crew locations and to apply online.

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Spike Crews

Spike crews are traveling crews that provide short-term services to our partnering agencies. For this reason, the work of a spike crew varies monthly and even weekly. Projects include restoration projects, trail improvements, construction, and more! This allows members of a spike crew to explore nearly every aspect of the WCC program. These crews have a designated location during the year where members will meet before loading into a 6-person crew truck and heading out on a project.

Because our spike crews tend to have the most flexibility with their schedule, they are often our primary emergency response crews. In this role, spike crews work on the following projects:

• Flood control
• Forest & brush fires
• Oil spill clean-up
• National emergencies

During emergency response, members may be required to stay away from home for up to 30 days at a time. Housing accommodations provided may consist of a campsite, community center basement, or other makeshift locations while working on emergency response. These are rigorous assignments so please be sure you are up to the challenge before applying to one of these crews. Read past examples of WCC emergency response.

Are you interested in a spike crew? Click here to select crew locations and to apply online.

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Individual Placement Positions

We offer an internship program within WCC, referred to as the WCC Individual Placement (IP) Program. Individual Placements work for natural resource organizations throughout the state of Washington. They assist biologists, foresters and environmental educators. IPs perform the following types of projects:

• Designing restoration projects
• Creating outreach materials to recruit volunteers for environmental projects and/or inform the public about environmental topics
• Engaging in environmental research
• Assisting with monitoring projects

Because of the technical nature of these positions, a college degree is preferred, but not required.

Candidates accepting one of these positions will be committing to a full year of AmeriCorps service. Transfer to other WCC positions for IP members will not be approved.

Are you interested in an Individual Placement Position? Click here to select IP locations and to apply online.

*Age restrictions are based on legislative mandate, limited exceptions may be made for veterans, leadership positions, and participants with a sensory or mental disability.
 

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Questions or comments? Contact WCC.