Hire an AmeriCorps field crew

Why hire an AmeriCorps field crew?

Conservation Corps members in Minnesota and Iowa are enrolled in AmeriCorps and value hard work, community service and environmental stewardship. They are well trained, equipped and ready for projects throughout the midwest. The Corps serves primarily governmental, educational and nonprofit organizations for the common good.

How does it work? 
• Crews are located throughout northern, central and southern Minnesota and central Iowa.
• Each Conservation Corps crew includes 1 or 2 leaders and 4 members, all 18-25 years old. 
• District Managers in Grand Rapids, Brainerd, Saint Paul and Mankato schedule and oversee 6 to 9 crews in their region. A District Manager in Ames schedules and oversees 2 Iowa crews. 
• Crews complete natural resource projects lasting from one day to several months throughout the midwest.   
• Projects should support a public resource using public funds. Projects on private land must have public support or public funds associated with the project.

What is the crew’s schedule?
• Crews typically work 4, 10-hour days Monday through Thursday, late February to mid-December.
• For local projects, Corpsmembers report to the crew shop at 7 am, commute to and from the project site, and return to the shop by 5:30 pm. Equipment maintenance, load time, drive time and a 30 minute lunch break is included in the 10 hour day. 
• For nonlocal projects, crews can camp on or near the work site while completing the project. With less drive time, more work can be accomplished. Crews typically camp Monday through Thursday, but are available for up to 10 consecutive days for longer projects.
• Crews are equipped to camp in warm or mild temperatures. In cold weather, they stay in the least expensive hotel closest to the project site; food and lodging costs will be negotiated in the project contract.

Where are crews located?

Northwest District
Anna Lipenga
(218) 833-8606
anna.lipenga@conservationcorps.org

Northeast District
Lisa Cassioppi
(218) 327-4139
lisa.cassioppi@conservationcorps.org

Central District
Brian Miller
(651) 209-9900 x19
brian.miller@conservationcorps.org

Southern District
Doug Ekstrom
(507) 345-4744 x108
doug.ekstrom@conservationcorps.org

Iowa: Ames
Chris Severson
(515)233-1168
chris.severson@conservationcorps.org

How much training do the crews have?
• Crew members receive technical and personal skill training and
professional certifications throughout the service term. 15-20% of the term is dedicated to training.
• As a project sponsor, it is important to incorporate education into the project through site introductions, ecological and social benefits of the project, and other project specific skills.

Crews come fully equipped

SMALL EQUIPMENT:
• Chain saws, brush saws, power-pole saws and power tools such as drills, saws, routers, generators
• Hand tools such as shovels, rakes, picks, pulaskis, post-pounders, hammers, wheelbarrows,
• GPS handheld units (typically Garmin 76)
• Backpack sprayers and daubers for herbicide application

LARGE EQUIPMENT:
• 4WD pick-up trucks with trailers to haul equipment or project material
• Slip-on firefighting units (water pumps, hoses, etc)
• ATVs, snowmobiles, six-wheel Gators or Rangers, outboard motorboats, canoes

PERSONAL AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
• Prescribed burn gear including Nomex attire, bladder bags, fire shelters, drip torches
• Rubber boots, hip waders, chest waders
• Camping supplies: tents, sleeping bags, stoves, water containers, coolers
• Personal protective gear: steel-toe boots, hard hats, gloves, eye/ear protection, chaps, PFDs and other necessary gear

How do I request a crew?
1. Fill out a project request form. Download MN or IA 
2. E-mail or fax the project request form to the District Manager closest to your project.
3. The District Manager will contact you with crew availability and negotiate
project terms and rates.
4. A contract will be drafted and agreed upon by both parties.
5. The project will be scheduled and work can begin.

Once the project begins:
• District Staff will provide project planning and logistical support if needed, including materials acquisition and project design.
• Project sponsor involvement will vary depending on the nature of the project.
Some oversight is necessary to orient the crew and regular check-ins of
project status are recommended.

What can Conservation Corps crews do?
 
EROSION CONTROL 
Bio-engineering
Slope stabilization
Cedar tree revetments
Coir blanket/roll installation

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Exotic species removal 
Planting
Nursery activities
Seed collection 
Shoreline & stream bank restoration
Rain garden installation 
Fire suppression
Prescribed burning
Timber stand improvement

SURVEYING & DATA COLLECTION
GIS/GPS mapping 
Tree & plant surveys
Fish & wildlife surveys
Man-made feature surveys
Water-quality sampling & monitoring 

CONSTRUCTION & CARPENTRY
Step, retaining wall, boardwalk or bridge construction
Trail clearing and maintenance
Basic carpentry
Natural resource facility construction & maintenance