Americorps Opportunities

If you are 18 to 25 years old, interested in national and community service and want to gain green job skills in energy conservation or natural resource management, consider serving in the Conservation Corps. AmeriCorps opportunities are available in rural and metro areas of Minnesota and Iowa, including:

Non-residential Field Crews in northern, central and southern Minnesota and central Iowa that engage young adults in natural resource, renewable energy and emergency response work from February to December. Home Energy Squads work year-round installing energy-saving measures such as weather-stripping and programmable thermostats in Twin Cities homes. Seasonal Trail Crews, working in the Superior and Chippewa National Forests, spike camp for four- to eight-day stretches while they improve backcountry trails. Individual AmeriCorps Placements serve directly in nonprofit or government agencies that provide skills training in conservation-related projects such as educational and interpretive programs, volunteer management, community outreach, GIS mapping, and trail and wildlife surveying.

AmeriCorps young adults are also Youth Leaders for two programs that engage teens, ages 15 to 18, in outdoor service-learning: Conservation Corps Minnesota’s eight-week, residential Summer Youth Program engages youth for eight weeks over the summer. AmeriCorps leaders serve from late May to mid-August. The program is based in St. Croix State Park near Hinckley, Minnesota and youth crews, each with two AmeriCorps leaders, spike camp throughout the region to restore natural resources. 

Youth Outdoors engages Saint Paul teens during the school year in educational activities and service-learning projects after school Tuesdays and Thursday and on Saturdays, 12 hours per week. When not leading youth, AmeriCorps members perform natural resource management service and, in the summer, some members will lead families in overnight workshops to learn how to camp.

Corpsmembers are considered participants (not employees) and receive a living allowance rather than an hourly wage. All AmeriCorps members are eligible for an educational award at the end of their service, and receive training in technical and work skills as well as civic engagement and leadership skills.

AmeriCorps is a national service movement that addresses challenges in our nation’s communities through the dedicated service of its members. Corpsmembers enroll in the program to give back to their communities while gaining a strong foundation of marketable skills for careers in natural resources.