ACE Catalina Island Conservation Vacation Crew Leader

Catalina Island – ACE Conservation Vacation Crew Leader

Summary:  American Conservation Experience, a nationwide non-profit Conservation Corps is seeking  ONE Conservation Vacation Crew Leader Intern to dedicate approximately 18 weeks to the supervision of its Conservation Vacation crews on Catalina Island, Los Angeles, CA. The Crew Leader will supervise and facilitate the service projects of the participants, completing projects as directed by The Catalina Island Conservancy. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals.

Start Date:  May 26^th 2014 (On-island orientation and training), June 2^nd 2014 (as Crew Leader)

End Date:  September 26^th 2014

An 18-week commitment is required

Each Conservation Vacation is 2 weeks in length and represents 80hrs of work. During the term there will be approximately 8 Conservation Vacations (total of approximately 640hrs).

Conservation Vacation Start Dates: June 9^th, June 23^rd, July 7^th, July 21^st, August 4^th, August 18^th, September 1^st, September 15^th

Location:  Catalina Island (approximately 21miles off the coast of Long Beach, California)

Project Website: For more information regarding ACE's Conservation Vacation program please visit http://discover.acecvusa.org/catalina or http://www.usaconservation.org/vacations/vacations.html

Compensation:  $8 per hour when serving as Crew Leader or training for the position.  Depending on performance additional hours assisting with program support may be added as the season progresses.

Housing will be provided in the form of tent accommodations on Catalina Island, either in ACE's dedicated camping spot in Two Harbors, or within a tent cabin of the Laura Stein Volunteer Campground close to Avalon. Food will be provided during the Conservation Vacations.

ACE will also provide several round-trip tickets to the mainland.

Progression: This position provides an excellent opportunity to gain work experience within the conservation and land management industry, as well as experience leading groups of diverse participants. ACE Conservation Vacations is a developing program with huge potential. As the program grows the number of participants and project locations will increase. It is therefore possible that successful Crew Leaders will be offered more projects in additional locations, or offered to return for another season.

Position Description:  ACE's Conservation Vacation program aims to attract a diverse group of volunteer participants to assist with ongoing efforts to conserve and restore America's treasured wildlands. Each Conservation Vacation is 12 days in length, running from a Monday until the following Friday.

From the moment the paying  volunteer participants arrive at the meeting point to begin their service project until the moment they leave, the Crew Leader is responsible for the safety and supervision of the participants, and ensuring that they have a comfortable, enjoyable and beneficial stay with ACE.

Each day of the Conservation Vacation (except for weekends, which are free time) will involve 6-7 hours of volunteer service (07:30-15:00), the exact nature of which will be directed by our partner agency, the Catalina Island Conservancy. The service projects will involve working with the revegetation team, managing native plants and removing invasive species.

Aside from the conservation service projects, there will be ample opportunity to recreate with the participants. Since part of a Conservation Vacation is a vacation, activities such as snorkelling, kayaking, swimming, and hiking are built into the daily schedule.

Specific duties and responsibilities may include:  

• Effective leadership and supervision of volunteers
• Conducting an orientation (purpose of trip, program rules and a safety briefing) to incoming volunteers
• Maintaining the ACE campsite (clean, organized, safe
• Liaising with our partner agencies
• Coordinate project details with island staff and the participants
• Completing conservation projects; Restoration and revegetation work
• Direction and management of participants for the duration of the service project
• Educating the participants (materials, syllabus, and information will be provided

Training Provided:  The intern will receive training and orientation on Catalina Island during the weeken commencing May 26^th 2013 which will also cover report writing, safety training, and other skills related to the position.  ACE and is committed to providing the most educational, rewarding, and challenging experience possible to best prepare interns for future careers in the stewardship of America's public and private lands. 

Qualifications:  Applicants should have a degree or a combination of relevant educational and appropriate experience. Ideally the applicant's degree will be in Biological Sciences, Geography, Wilderness Management and/or Policy, GIS, Natural Resource Management, Recreation Resource Management, Botany, Engineering, Education and Interpretation, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.  Other degree subjects will be considered. A combination of relevant education and appropriate experience is also acceptable. Resumes must contain enough information to show that the applicant has the skills and experience as defined in this announcement. This opportunity is intended for U.S. citizens or Green Card Holders. 

Required Skills:

• Effective communication with diverse audiences
• The ability to lead and motivate a diverse group of international participants
• Approachable and friendly and receptive to participant's needs
• Should hold a deep appreciation for conservation and nature
• Proficiency and experience in hand tool use (e.g. shovel, Pulaski, handsaw)
• Possess a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and the ability to provide documentation.
• Must be able to able and willing to live and work outdoors, in varying weather conditions, and be able to lift 50 lbs.
• Must be able to take initiative, work independently, and participate effectively in collaborative efforts.
• Must be proficient in English.
• Possess excellent organizational skills.
• Must demonstrate leadership, self-motivation, initiative, and reliability.

 Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bilingual applicants are encouraged and welcome;
• Experience working in an environmental or cultural education setting;
• A demonstrated interest and/or education in the field of natural and cultural resources; and
• Writing, research, and public speaking skills.

To Apply: Please submit a thoughtful resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section on the upper-right side of your screen.

NOTE: Early consideration will be given as applications are received.  If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact the ACE EPIC Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator, Peter Woodruff at (801) 989-7069 or pwoodruff@usaconservation.org.

Current Openings for ACE Catalina Island Conservation Vacation Crew Leader Jobs at American Conservation Experience - Staff