Position: SCC Four Corners - Chainsaw Crew Member 

Dates: August 28th – November 17th, 2023 

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Camping Program  

Location: Durango, CO  

Stipend: $600 ($400/week living stipend + $200/week housing stipend) 

Ages: 18 – 30 

Benefits: $1,718.25, 450 hr AmeriCorps Education Award (Value may change depending on term of service), Food provided while in the field, uniform shirts, personal protective equipment.  Wilderness First Aid & CPR/AED certification 

 

Southwest Conservation Corps: 
The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit service organization, Conservation Legacy, that is built on the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 – 1942. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily on public lands. While serving with SCC, members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. Members receive a weekly living allowance, training, and an AmeriCorps Education Award (for qualifying individuals). 

About the Position 

As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of  6 members and 2 leaders. Crews work and camp for 8 days at a time in either frontcountry (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), in town (working with the county or municipality), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in with backpacks) locations. You will work effectively as a member of the crew; perform strenuous physical work related to environmental conservation and restoration projects; work outdoors in all types of weather and successfully adapt to various climates; effectively learn and apply new environmental conservation and restoration skills; actively participate in environmental education activities if they are provided; practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned; use, maintain and repair hand and power tools as necessary.   

  

Projects include hazardous fuels reduction, habitat restoration, forest stand improvement, invasive species removal and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises. Crews will receive a 5 day chainsaw training at the beginning of the field season.  

Schedules generally are 8-days on and 6 off. There is a possibility you could work 4-days on and 3-days off, or a variation of schedules requiring all AmeriCorps crew members to show flexibility. 

All crews will go through a 5 day (unpaid) volunteer orientation (August 28th – September 1st, 2023). This will include a Wilderness First Aid training. Food and space to camp is provided for this training.  

 

Required Skills & Experience 

Qualifications: 

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30  A US citizen that has received (or on track to receive) a high school diploma or GED  Regularly lift and/or move up to 50 lbs  Completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check 

  

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements 

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. 

  

Participant and Expedition Behavior 

Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions  Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program  Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of any kind  Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times 

  

Risk Management and Judgement 

Effectively follow direction by others, so that you will be able to successfully manage hazards  Ask clarifying questions when you do not understand a task  Maintain focus during workday, both while traveling and working in varied weather conditions  If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage without assistance from others. 

  

Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills 

Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living and work skills as appropriate to the project  Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks 

Substance Free 

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and SCC activities, and while on organization property. 

 

 

Any questions can be sent to:  

Greta Binzen, SCC Four Corners (Durango) Adult Program Coordinator: gbinzen@conservationlegacy.org 

Lane Tomassini, SCC Four Corners (Durango) Adult Program Coordinator: ltomassini@conservationlegacy.org 

 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.