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Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps Volunteer Full Term Position - Project A.N.T. and Project R.O.A.R.

Florida Conservation Corps
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(Message to position approvers: This position is with the national service organization; AmeriCorps - it's not a job however participants receive monthly stipend and are under contract for a term of service. Handshake does not currently provide a category for this position type. 

Please read the description below for more information or contact the Assistant Program Coordinator; Lauren Natwick @ lauren.t.natwick@floridadep.gov for more information. Thank you for your consideration.)

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps program managed by the Department of Environmental Protection. AmeriCorps is a national service organization supporting the enrollment of individuals to provide direct service to communities in need. In the Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps Program, AmeriCorps Volunteers are helping to meet three specific needs in the environmental community of our Florida State Parks.

  1. Invasive plant management
  2. Volunteer recruitment
  3. Trail maintenance

AmeriCorps Volunteers serve a contracted full term of service (11 months) September to July or a half term of service (6 months) February to July. During their term, AmeriCorps Volunteers receive a monthly living stipend, free health insurance, professional/personal development, other site specific and/or sought out benefits, and qualify for the Segal Education Award upon completion of their term. 

FLCC AmeriCorps Volunteers serve in various capacities through our two “project areas”; Project A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Non-native plant Terminators) and Project R.O.A.R. (Regional Outreach Awareness Recruiters). 

Project A.N.T. AmeriCorps Volunteers serve in pairs (or more) at a designated “host” state park (opportunity to work in other parks as well throughout the term) and focus on habitat restoration by managing invasive plants in some of the most pristine real Florida environments. AmeriCorps Volunteers reduce invasive plant infestations through various land management techniques including but not limited to herbicide use/manual removal, recruiting volunteers & educating park visitors, and conducting outreach at schools and events, etc. 

A.N.T. AmeriCorps Volunteers use the following methods to manage invasive plants in their host park:

  1. Survey and identify non-native invasive plant infestations
  2. Research, discuss, & prepare a plan for proper herbicide type/techniques with park/district biologist
  3. Actively treat non-native invasive plants (coordinate strike team with other A.N.T.s)
  4. Keep records/analyze data of treated/to be treated areas
  5. Retreat as necessary following the herbicide label

A.N.T. AmeriCorps Volunteers may recruit volunteers to assist in invasive plant management, work with Project R.O.A.R. to conduct outreach, and interpret the A.N.T.’s focus in parks, events, schools, and other approved venues.

Project R.O.A.R. AmeriCorps Volunteers may serve individually alongside their A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Non-native Plant Terminators) counterparts, in pairs at the state park district administration office(s), or within a specific state park focusing their efforts on volunteer recruitment, outreach, and interpretation. R.O.A.R. AmeriCorps Volunteers assist the Florida State Parks to promote parks’ protected resources, recruit and manage volunteers, and interpret why the park’s resources are so important. In addition, they help to promote the FLCC program, the state parks, and AmeriCorps. 

They may also work weekly with Project A.N.T. AmeriCorps Volunteers and other R.O.A.R. AmeriCorps Volunteers with outreach events, workdays, strike team projects, trail projects, interpretive material creation, etc. They spend a large portion of time on the computer using various volunteer management/outreach and graphic design platforms, communicating with community partners, managing/coordinating park/volunteer events, and creating outreach interpretive material. 

Additional Opportunities 

AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (ADRT)

Florida Conservation Corps is the only AmeriCorps program in the state of Florida that has the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team component. While serving in Project A.N.T. or R.O.A.R. AmeriCorps Volunteers will be given the opportunity to apply to the program’s ADRT. If selected, AmeriCorps Volunteers will receive disaster response training, an in-person orientation to ADRT 100/200, and are expected to deploy and respond to natural disasters within the state of Florida up to 30 days at a time. So far, the program has deployed/assisted with five natural disasters since 2017.

Trail Restoration Enhancement Corps (T.R.E.C.) Strike Teams

While serving as a Project A.N.T. or R.O.A.R. AmeriCorps Volunteer, there are opportunities to receive trail assessment/maintenance training and participate in trail projects throughout Florida. Projects will be coordinated by the FLCC AmeriCorps Trail Coordinator. 

Requirements 

  • Must be able to complete an FBI/FDLE background check (free of charge) before the start date
  • Must be able to attend 1 week orientation in October
  • Must commit to full 1,700 hours of service over the 11-month period (Sept – July) (If applying in January – must commit to the full 900 hours of service over the 6-month period (Feb – July)
  • Must be 17 years of age with a parent’s note stating they can serve in the program
  • Must have obtained at least a high school diploma, equivalent, or be actively working toward one while serving in this program
  • Must have a valid driver’s license
  • Must be able to tolerate extreme and adverse environmental conditions of Florida
  • Must understand that this is not employment, but national service through an AmeriCorps program
  • Must have a positive attitude and be flexible

 

Trainings (Varies by site) Monetary Benefits

  • Interpretation
  • Leadership
  • Professional Development
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Outreach/Interpretation
  • Disaster Response
  • CPR/First Aid/AED
  • Effective Communication
  • Resume/Cover Letter/Interview Tips & Techniques Workshop (Life After AmeriCorps Preparation)
  • Trail Maintenance & Tools Training
  • Hatchet and Machete Training
  • Herbicide Application
  • Use/Maintenance of Large Equipment
  • Trailer Training
  • Chainsaw
  • Prescribed Fire
  • ATV/UTV 
  • Canoe and Kayak
  • Tractor Use
  • Invasive Plant Identification
  • Turtle Surveying

 

Monetary Benefits 

  • Loan deferment
  • Childcare Assistance through AmeriCorps
  • Full Term (Feb - Dec) AmeriCorps Volunteers receive a $7,395.00 Education award at the completion of service
  • Half - Term (July - Dec) Members receive a $3,697.50 Education award at the completion of service
  • Monthly Living Stipend: $2,200.00 for both half-term and full-term members
  • Free health insurance through FLCC Program
  • Access to Member Assistance Program
  • Free access to Florida State Parks

 

Development Opportunities

  • An AmeriCorps experience in our Florida State Parks
  • Natural resource management individual and group projects
  • Trail Restoration Enhancement Certification (T.R.E.C.)
  • Plant identification
  • Chainsaw training and use
  • Water sampling
  • Interpretive material creation (presentations, flyers, videos, programs, etc)
  • Network with FISC, CISMA, Forestry, FWC, FTA, ACT, and other natural resource management organizations/groups - attend events to represent FLCC
  • Endangered/protected species monitoring
  • Training and use of large equipment (tractors, marsh masters)
  • Tool maintenance (chainsaws, trail tools, herbicide application tools, hatchets, machetes, hand saws, vehicles, ATV, UTV)
  • Hike over various Florida terrain (no, it's not all flat) and see parts of state parks not seen/open to public
  • Cultural/historical resource rehabilitation
  • Participate in prescribed fire
  • Create/maintain/improve public trails
  • Professional development 
  • Introduction to federal and state policy and guidelines
  • Experience entering data and retrieving reports for progress tracking
  • Coordinate and/or participate in strike teams, service projects, & workdays
  • Network and build relationships with natural resource professionals
  • Community outreach and interpretation
  • Flyer and graphic design and development
  • Opportunity to recruit volunteers and lead volunteer projects
  • Table at community events
  • Participate in disaster response recovery efforts
  • Participate in park events (Florida Folk Festival/Fire Fest, other)

How to Apply: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/login.do - Register for free! Contact FLCC staff at FLCC@FloridaDEP.gov for assistance.