Maajii-akii-Gikenjigewin Field Crew Member
Description
Position: Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin Field Crew Member (AmeriCorps, ages 18+)
Location: 1720 Big Lake Road Cloquet, MN 55720
This is not a residential program; participants must secure housing preferably near the crew location
Service Term: February 24th, 2027 – September 23rd, 2027
Service Term and Education Award Amounts:
|
Enrollment Type and Minimum Hours Required |
Education Award* |
||
|
Full Time (FT) |
1700 Hours |
$7,395.00 |
|
|
Three Quarter Time (TQT) |
1200 Hours |
$5,176.50 |
|
|
X |
Half Time (HT) |
900 Hours |
$3,697.50 |
|
Quarter Time (QT) |
450 Hours |
$1,956.35 |
|
|
Minimum Time (MT) |
300 Hours |
$1,565.08 |
|
|
Abbreviated Time |
100 Hours |
$416.17 |
*Members are eligible for an education award up to the amount listed by enrollment type.
Benefits:
- Living Allowance: $2,500/month pretax ($2,400 living stipend + $100 specialty program payment)
- Training, certifications, networking
- Access to outdoor clothing library
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Health insurance
- Childcare assistance
- Student loan forbearance (on qualifying student loans)
- Service term eligible to count towards Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa (CCMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and AmeriCorps grantee that engages hundreds of youth and young adults each year in programs and initiatives that improve access to outdoor recreation, restore natural habitat, protect waterways, and respond to community needs and natural disasters. Our mission is to cultivate a community of emerging leaders in service to people and the planet. Learn more at .
Fond du Lac Resource Management: The Fond du Lac (FDL) Reservation has been formally managing natural resources as a government function since 1975. The Resource Management Program now has over 50 full-time staff members overseeing conservation and restoration projects relating to Natural Resources, Forestry, Conservation Enforcement, Wildlife, Fisheries, Invasive Species, Air Quality, Water Quality and several others. It’s stated in the program’s mission that “The Fond du Lac Resource Management Division is committed to the management, conservation, and sustainability of the natural resources of the Fond du Lac Band in order to protect the environment on the Fond du Lac Reservation and within its treaty areas. The Resource Management Division will use the tools of research, education and outreach with Band Members, partners and stakeholders to accomplish these goals” (Fond du Lac Resource Management Division, 2017, p. 5) FDL’s mission, staff expertise, and broad range of conservation focus areas provides a unique opportunity to train the next generation of Indigenous Natural Resource and Environmental Professionals.
Position Summary: The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin, starting out in Earth Conservation, engages young adults, ages 18+, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the Fond du Lac Reservation and within the 1837, 1842, and 1854 ceded territories. The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin crew will work with current FDL Resource Management professionals to gain valuable experience and skills, to prepare for future careers in the natural resources field. Crew members will work on challenging and impactful conservation projects that may include:
- Invasive species management
- Community gardening
- Prescribed burn preparation
- Trail construction & maintenance
- Tree planting
- Habitat Restoration
- Wildland fire suppression
- Wildlife Monitoring
- Emergency response
The Maajii-akii-gikenjigewin crew will work to conserve and restore rivers, wetlands, watersheds, forests, and other important ecosystems within the FDL reservation; expand access to the outdoors for FDL band members; engage Tribal youth in conservation work to prepare them for careers in natural resources; and support the conservation plans of FDL Resource Management, with a focus on locally led and designed conservation efforts that support and respect Tribal sovereignty and cultural knowledge.
By the end of the term, the entirety of the crew will have a wide breadth of understanding of management activities occurring within the FDL Reservation and ceded territories, and be prepared for future careers in a variety of fields occurring within resource management at a local, state, and federal level.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complete natural resources service projects in cooperation with fellow members safely, effectively and efficiently and to the satisfaction and specifications of the project host
- Abide by FDL and Corps program safety regulations as well as applicable federal/state/municipal law and OSHA requirements; communicate any safety concerns and incidents
- Contribute actively to the team to complete projects, demonstrating a commitment to the Corps mission
- Positive attitude, desire to learn new skills, interest in community service; represent Conservation Corps in positive manner in public
- Complete the entire service term per the start and end dates listed on the Member Service Agreement
Complete and approve timecards and other required reports and paperwork in timely manner
Hours & Schedule
A typical schedule is 40 hours/week, Monday – Thursday, 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM, including a mandatory 30 minute lunch break which does not count towards service hours. Overnight travel (4 – 5 consecutive days) is sometimes required for service projects. Some special assignments (including wildfire response and other emergency response assignments) and community events may require members to deploy for several weeks at a time or commit to an occasional Saturday or Friday.
Training & Development
The Corps and FDL Resource Management provides orientation and skills training at the start of the program year, and additional region or project specific training throughout the service term that may include:
- AmeriCorps benefits
- Team building and Leadership
- Conflict resolution
- Safety and risk management
- Power and hand tool safety and maintenance
- Wildland Fire Training
- Mental Health
- First Aid and CPR
- MN Safety Council defensive driving
- Invasive species management/herbicide application
- Treaty Rights
- Plant identification
- Leave No Trace principles
- NWCG S112 Chainsaw Course
Qualifications
- Willingness to learn and adapt to changing plans, work, and project needs
- Commitment to upholding the CCMI mission
- Ability to perform project work in a safe manner, while wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, CCMI steel-toed work boots, and hearing protection (when using loud equipment such as brush saws, chain saws, etc)
- Dedication to complete the full term of AmeriCorps service
- Ability to perform the Essential Service Functions, which include but are not limited to:
-
- Long (8-12 hour) days engaging in physically demanding work using various hand and power tools
- Heavy lifting, bending, and carrying up to 50 pounds
- Walking and working on steep or uneven terrain
- Working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Must be a US Citizen, US National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the US
- Must pass a criminal history check consisting of a National Sex Offender Public Website check, a state criminal history check, and a fingerprint-based FBI check. Passing the criminal history check is defined as no positive hits on the NSOPW and no history of violent offenses on the state or FBI checks.
- High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED
Other Information
Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against anyone. This program is available to all, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status, familial status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Conservation Corps engages AmeriCorps members, ages 18-30, as defined under the American Conservation and Youth Service Corps Act, a subtitle of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Reasonable accommodations available upon request.