Conservation Corps – Texas GulfCorps

Join a traveling team of 5 in a paid service program in entry-level conservation work with Federal, State, and/or local partners on public land within Texas. Work will include a variety of land restoration practices, which can include invasive plant species removal, trail and/or boardwalk creation and maintenance, prescribed burn preparation, public outreach, data collection including GIS data, debris removal, general landscaping of public areas, as well as other activities. Team members will receive certifications, training, and experience valuable for careers in coastal land management and habitat restoration.

Position Dates

Members will serve a total of at least 2.5 months. Start and end dates vary depending on when members are hired. Tentative dates for the new hires will be December 16th, 2024 – March 7th, 2025.

Professional development: 

The Student Conservation Association’s GulfCorps team is focused on providing young adults opportunities to grow competitive skills in the field of natural resource management to prepare them to move into jobs with our project partners, or other conservation organizations, after their term of service. Our partners will include the US Fish & Wildlife Service. The program will include hands-on conservation work experience, filling partner work needs. Around 35 hours can be expected to be spent completing professional development training with the Corps Network, including topics such as: leadership development, resume building, interviewing, communication, diversity workshops, public speaking, networking, etc.

Expectations:

This is a paid AmeriCorps service position with weekday hours (within a weekly time frame of Mon-Fri, and between 7A – 530P), with 40 hours of work expected weekly, for the duration of the term. A variety of projects will be performed in cooperation with various federal, state, and/or local partners, on numerous conservation projects across Texas. Individual projects will last between a week and a month.

Team members will work under a team leader that will serve as their on-site SCA supervisor. All team members are expected to be respectful, on-time, hardworking, ready to learn, and aware of changing conditions in any work environment to ensure safety while working. Work will primarily be outdoors and will sometimes require heavy lifting. Successful members will be able to travel across uneven terrain for 8 hours of a 10-hour workday, while carrying equipment or tools that can weigh 50 lbs. Work will require use of gas-powered equipment such as chainsaws or brushcutters, as well as application of herbicide for vegetation control. Work is expected to be conducted in somewhat remote settings, without access to modern amenities (running water or electrical outlets), for the entirety of the work day. This can include working in temperature ranges from extreme heat and humidity to temperatures as low as freezing, in muddy or wet environments or during rainy conditions, in areas with elevation changes, and in areas with continuous direct sunlight throughout the day. Some work may be completed close to the southern border of the United States. Some work will also include basic familiarity and abilities with computers and/or smart phone applications.

Preference will be given to applicants that are interested in pursuing an environmental career, that are local and personally invested in Texas and/or the Gulf coast, and that are interested in learning conservation practices from leading organizations in the field.

Compensation:

A weekly living allowance of $520 will be provided as well as an AmeriCorps education award of $1,824.07 (contingent on completion of 450 hours, and other program requirements). Housing will be provided for the duration of the program – which may include camping.

Training Provided:

Members of this team will participate in the following trainings, through SCA staff, project partners, or private educational organizations:

• Wilderness First Aid (or equivalent first aid training)($200+ value)
• CPR ($50+ value)
• Chainsaw skills
• Herbicide use
• Professional Development Opportunities

Team members will have the opportunity to meet and work alongside partners from numerous environmental agencies in coastal Texas. This program strives to have members prepared for environmental careers after successful completion.