Job Description

OVERVIEW

Rockland Conservation & Service Corps (RCSC) Members dedicate their summer to carrying out environmental service projects in the Rockland County region. We are looking for passionate, enthusiastic, and friendly young people (18+, out of high school) who want to grow as civic leaders and gain work-related experience while making tangible environmental impacts on our community. As part of our Corps, you will see how volunteer-led conservation efforts can lead to real community change!

RCSC is not your average Conservation Corps!

RCSC provides the Conservation Corps experience (trail work, conservation, education, service projects) along with excellent opportunities to learn about land use, community development and planning. We use the unique land use features of the Rockland region along with the community’s rich social, cultural, historical and recreational assets to guide our service-learning experience. Members apply their knowledge and training to government and non-profit workplaces, resulting in tangible community impact. The cumulative Conservation Corps experience sharpens the Member’s workplace competencies and enhances their career exploration and opportunities.

The program begins full-time on or about May 22, 2023. Applications are due April 7, 2023.

Applications accepted on a rolling basis after 4/7/23 if positions remain available.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Our Corps consists of about twenty-six college-aged Members who spend 350-hours outdoors learning about environmental conservation and carrying out community service work. The summer is broken into three primary parts:

Part I: Training

A 7 to 10-day environmental conservation and leadership training with the whole Conservation Corps.

Part II: Site Placement

Members are placed in teams of 2- 4 people at one of several host sites for four days out of the five-day work week (Monday to Thursday). Site examples: County of Rockland Drainage Agency, Town of Ramapo Department of Public Works, and the Division of Environmental Resources. Sites change annually. At these sites, members work on various types of conservation projects for 250 hours of service time.

Part III: Friday Projects

On Friday of each week all our Members come together for hands on group service projects which will total about 50 hours.

TERM OF SERVICE

Start Date: On or about Monday, May 22, 2023

End Date: Friday, August 18, 2023*

*As needed, members may serve until August 31, 2023 to complete the required hours.

Hours: 350 [100 training, 250 direct service]

Hours Per Week: 35-40

Days of Service: Monday through Friday and some weekends

TRAINING: What you will learn

(50 hours) RCSC offers an experience that has components of classic environmentalism and community action projects while also exposing you to hands on government and not-for-profit environmental conservation work. Our 50 hours of environmental training and 50 additional hours of Friday service projects provides environmental education on a huge variety of topics such as public speaking, pollution, consumerism, career readiness, and event planning.

Members are taught how to:

• Speak effectively and engage an audience.
• Teach people of all ages about environmental conservation.
• Embrace core competencies for career readiness.
• Pursue career opportunities in the conservation, environmental, and public service fields.
• Translate their prior volunteer and early job experience into a professional, applied environmental opportunity.
• Assess government and not for profit organizations, learning how they operate and serve the community.
• Conduct water quality assessments, stream evaluations and assist municipalities in Stormwater Regulation compliance.
• Build and maintain hiking trails; learn to compost; evaluate streams and participate in food rescue.
• Evaluate environmental issues such as pollution, soil erosion, waste and recycling, invasive species, sustainable agriculture and more!
• Develop a unique resume and communicate professionally.

SERVICE: What type of work

(250 Hours) Each site placement offers customized community service experiences with unique environmental opportunities. Below is an example of some of the work our Members have done in previous summers:

• Patrolling local rivers and streams, removing blockages and assessing stream health.
• Inspecting, measuring, documenting, and photographing storm drains and outfalls to ensure storm water flow and quality of water.
• Repairing and building hiking trails throughout local parks. In addition, beautifying and cleaning up regional parks.
• Visiting farmer’s markets and summer camps to teach about composting, recycling, eco-systems and water quality.
• Producing outreach videos to educate about environmental threats and social media content.
• Designing, facilitating, and building park infrastructure to increase use and access.
• Creating, placement and distribution of educational materials on environmental issues to residents of Rockland County.

What are the sites:

Member are placed at one of several service sites for four out of the five-day work week (Monday - Thursday). Members spend eight hours a day at these sites immersed in a conservation project specific to that community and organization. Sites change annually. Past service sites have included:

• Rockland County Drainage Agency
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County
• Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources
• Clarkstown Planning Department
• Town of Ramapo Department of Public Works
• Rockland Lake State Park
• Lamont Earth Observatory – Columbia University
• Rockland County Soil & Water Conservation District

COMMUNITY IMPACT: Friday Projects

(50 Hours) On Friday's our whole Corps come together for group service projects and exploration days. Some past service-learning days included:

• Native American Stewardship Project
• Working on local organic farms: digging swales, planting crops, harvesting produce, and more.
• Trail building and design
• Invasive species removal
• Visiting environmental research centers to learn about global environmental issues
• Networking and skills building with other environmental organizations
• Building park infrastructure
• Planting shrubs, trees, plants, etc.

Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age. Out of school youth are welcome to apply, but must be able to begin full-time on or about May 22, 2023 .
• Must be a US Citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Ability to motivate and work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Throughout service experience, Members may be expected to conduct physically strenuous field work; use tools that require repetitive motion; and/or lift/carry/move heavy items.
• Transportation to various locations around Rockland County and the surrounding regions.
• Pass a criminal history background check.
• Members must serve 350 hours within the parameters of the program.
• Attending all days of training between 5/22/23-6/2/2

To Apply: 

Email rcsc@co.rockland.ny.us for an application or more information.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age. Out of school youth are welcome to apply, but must be able to begin full-time on or about May 22, 2023 .
• Must be a US Citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Ability to motivate and work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Throughout service experience, Members may be expected to conduct physically strenuous field work; use tools that require repetitive motion; and/or lift/carry/move heavy items.
• Transportation to various locations around Rockland County and the surrounding regions.
• Pass a criminal history background check.
• Members must serve 350 hours within the parameters of the program.
• Attending all days of training between 5/22/23-6/2/2

Why work here

• Receive training and experiential education in environmental conservation from working environmental professionals
• Spend your summer outdoors making a difference with other like-minded people
• Gain experience in an environmental workplace, as well as valuable professional contacts
• Gain a wide range of networking opportunities
• Explore the Rockland County region and see all it has to offer (it’s more than you think!)
• Receive a living allowance of $2,400.
• Education award upon successful completion of service in the amount of $1,342.86.

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