SSP participants spend 8-10 weeks camping, working and travelling together as a five person team. You can expect to work on physically challenging conservation projects in any kind of weather, gaining hands on experience in the groundwork of stewardship.  Each day, you will return to camp after work and participate in community activities, including meal prep, water collection and treatment, and tool maintenance, followed by a family style dinner. Evenings will be spent on various educational and recreational activities; including formal lessons taught by team members, group discussions, and stargazing around the campfire.

The SSP will work on high priority conservation projects for land management partners like the Forest Service, BLM, and Bureau of Reclamation. Some crews may be focused on construction of bridges and kiosks, while others may be focused on the restoration of at-risk landscapes and watersheds. Other projects may include fuels reduction or GIS mapping and survey. Each crew will have a project specialty and will receive training and certification appropriate to that theme.

A critical element of the SSP is the educational curriculum that accompanies the experience. The SSP curriculum is based around preparing the next generation of stewardship leaders to work in the outdoor industry. Lessons range from group dynamics and environmental policy to stewardship and resource management. The SSP education experience is seminar based and requires inquisitive group participation.  Lessons are planned for only a few nights each week. As a part of the inclusive experience each member will be responsible for creating and presenting a lesson in the final weeks of the program.

This is a team-based experience where you learn by doing! You will graduate with sore muscles, technical skills, and a much stronger resume for employment in the outdoor industry. At the successful completion of the program, you will receive an AmeriCorps Education Award that will help you meet your educational goals or be used to pay off student loans.

Overview:

– Projects will be in or around Idaho.

– Participants will earn a living allowance of $3,400, prorated for their term of service in addition to a $1,538.30 AmeriCorps education award upon the successful completion of the program..

– These programs begin and end at ICC headquarters in Boise, ID.

– SSP Members must be at least 19 years of age.

Hours and Compensation

All SSP’s area spike based residential crews requiring long days, high energy, and love of challenge. The crew works up to 45 hours a week on a variety of projects. Crews are spiked based meaning they spend 4 to 10 days on a project, followed by 3 to 5 days off in town. AmeriCorps Members work a minimum of 450 hours over a 10 to 11 week period. Hours include travel, work, trainings, education and mandatory camp activities such as debriefs and evaluations. Members earn a living allowance of $3,400, prorated through their term of service. Members are eligible for an educational award of $1,538.30 once their program has concluded and they have completed the minimum 450 hours of service.

Requirements:

Education
Minimum of a high school degree. Course work in education, leadership, resource management, and recreation preferred.

Experience
Applications will be reviewed considering all past work experience, outdoor recreation background, and volunteer experience relevant to this position. Prior experience in environmental studies, outdoor recreation, resource management and familiarity using hand tools is desirable. Experience and certification in First Aid is not required but strongly encouraged.

Physical Condition
All applicants must be in good physical condition and capable of working long hours on strenuous, labor intensive projects. Work projects often require heavy lifting, constant bending, digging, and extensive backcountry travel. Applicants must be able to backpack 12 miles and lift up to 50 lbs.

Due to the possible remote nature of this program, applicants must be comfortable with extremely limited contact with the outside world.   There may be no opportunities for internet access and mail, and cell service may be extremely limited.

HOW TO APPLY

Email resume to EmmaS@IdahoCC.org