Summer of Service Corpsmember (Colorado Springs)

Would you like a job where you can make a difference?

Do you want to know what it’s like to be excited to go to work?

Do you want to benefit your community?

Do you want to be outdoors every day?

Do you want to make friends that will last a lifetime?

This is what we do.

Job Overview

Join us for our 2021 Summer of Service (SOS) program! SOS is a team-based, 12 or 14 week-long program for individuals between the ages 18-24. SOS participants (called Corpsmembers) serve on environmental stewardship projects on public lands throughout the Southern Front Range region. Corpsmembers will be enrolled in AmeriCorps—a national community service program. This means, get paid biweekly while doing what you love and earn a scholarship at the same time!

What We Do Every Day:

• Serve on projects that have a positive, lasting impact on the environment throughout 23 Colorado counties (transportation is provided)
• Form affinity crews to bring underrepresented identities to the forefront of Natural Resources careers. These crews include a Black, Indigenous, People Of Color Affinity Crew and a Gender Spectrum Affinity Crew.
• Form close-knit crews of 9 young adults (18 – 24 years old) who share a passion for service.
• Camp at the project site during the week (usually Monday- Thursday or Tuesday-Friday); everyone is provided with camping gear and food for the duration of their trip; crews return home for several days between trips
• Participate in four hours per week of educational activities on environmental stewardship, civic engagement, healthy living, leadership & career development, and social justice.

Schedule:

This is a temporary position from May 10–August 13, 2021 or May 24-August 13, 2021.

• 450 hours of service in a 12 or 14 week commitment.
• All positions involve overnight camping (known as hitches).
• 40 hour weeks in a combination of the following (schedule will be set in advance of the season, but is always subject to change):
  • 4-day Days only, Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • 4-day hitches, Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
  • 9-day hitches, Wednesday—the following Thursday or Tuesday-the following Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• All Corpsmembers are additionally required to serve:
  • Friday, June 4 from 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. due to holiday observed on Memorial Day (May 31)
  • One Monday or Friday per month depending on crew from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for in-house programming, including career readiness training, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training and Community Meetings.

Corpmembers have the choice to serve on a variety of technical crews. MHYC staff will work with you to find the best match!

Sawyer Crew:  Corpsmembers operate chainsaws on invasive tree removal and wildland fire mitigation projects. They receive First-Aid/CPR and S-212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws certifications. Some sawyers will have the opportunity to receive pesticide application training. The use of pesticide is common on invasive tree removal projects.

Hand Crew:  Corpsmembers receive training in safe and efficient use of hand tools to complete a wide variety of projects. Examples include: trail maintenance and construction, noxious weed removal, pesticide application and other park development projects.

Corpmembers can also choose to serve on an Affinity Crew. Affinity Crews will be assigned to sawyer, hand or pesticide projects:

Gender Spectrum Affinity Crew:  Inclusivity is a core value at MHYC, and the Gender Spectrum Affinity Crew embodies this value by creating opportunities for cis women, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals to learn new skills in a safe and supportive environment and reduce historical barriers that have prevented natural resources from being an inclusive field.

Black, Indigenous and People of Color Affinity Crew: MHYC is committed to dismantling the barriers of systemic racism that exist in outdoor spaces and honoring the diverse lived perspectives of individuals from Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian and other multi-cultural communities. The BIPOC affinity crew embodies this commitment and strives to reduce historical barriers that have prevented natural resources from being an ethnically and racially diverse field.

Apply on our website at https://www.milehighyouthcorps.org/apply-now

Questions? Email [email protected] or call 719-630-7421 ext. 403.

MHYC is committed to hiring candidates with unique backgrounds and perspectives. If you are interested in this position but are concerned that you do not meet all of the requirements or possess all of the necessary skills, or that prior convictions or your background might disqualify you, we highly encourage you to submit an application anyway.

Mile High Youth Corps is committed to diversity in principle and practice, both in the community at large and within the organization.  We are, therefore, committed to having our internal operations and employment practices administered on a non-discriminating basis inclusive of, but not limited to, race, religion, color, socio-economic status, gender, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, marital status, or national origin. Every effort shall be made to grant reasonable accommodation for qualified people with disabilities to participate in this AmeriCorps program.

Special Benefits

Summary of Compensation and Benefits:

• Biweekly Stipend - Earn a living stipend of $840.00 before taxes paid every 2 weeks. Total program stipend is $5,040 for 12-week program or $5,880 for 14-week program.
  • Leadership Opportunities available: Corpsmember Drivers are eligible for a living stipend of $860.00. Returning Corpsmembers earn $880.00. Corpsmembers in Assistant Crew Leader roles earn $920.00. More information available on request.
• AmeriCorps Education Award - Earn a scholarship of $1,638.89 upon successful completion of the term (450 hours of service). This award can be used to pay tuition, pay back qualifying student loans or go on an expedition through a wilderness school! Corpsmembers have 7 years to use the award.
• Student Loan Forbearance - Corpsmembers can apply to put their qualified federal student loans on hold during their term through the National Service Trust.
• Health Insurance - Corpsmembers are eligible for health insurance the 1^st of the month after serving at MHYC for 60 days. Corpsmember contribution required.
• Counseling - Corpsmembers receive up to 5 free mental health counseling sessions per year.
• Networking - Corpsmembers have daily opportunities to network with federal, state and local natural resources professionals and access to a vast alumni network!

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications:

• Between the ages of 18-24.
• High school or GED/HSE graduate or still enrolled.
• Must be eligible for enrollment in AmeriCorps as a US Citizen, National or Lawful Permanent Resident. Documentation will be required on the first day. Must bring identification documents necessary to complete the I-9 and other forms on your first day.
• Must be physically fit, able to lift 50 lbs., spend 8-10 hours a day in all weather conditions (e.g., sun, heat, wind, rain, etc.) and hike 7 miles with a day-pack.
• Able to camp between 4 and 9 consecutive days at a time in all weather conditions.
• Able to be on time and maintain consistent attendance throughout term of service. Must commit to complete the program.