Conservation corps mentors provide vital service to their crews by specializing in training and education. They also assist the Crew Leader with many other aspects of crew life. Read more to learn about the responsibilities of Educational Mentors

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POSITION: Conservation Corps Mentor

CREWS: Trail Crews:
4 Week Regional Conservation Crews (RCC): Crew Member ages: 16-19 years (Colorado residents)
9 Week Conservation Corps Member: Crew Member ages: 18-25 years (Nationwide residents)

Chainsaw Crews:
9 Week Chainsaw Conservation Crew Member: Crew Member Ages 18-25 years (Nationwide residents)

MENTOR SESSION DATES: Mentors are assigned to crews based on details described in "Crew Structure" section below.
All mentors are required to participate in paid training starting on May 24th and commit to serve through either August 14 or October 9th.
450 Hour AmeriCorps term for Mentors: May 24th – August 14th
900 Hour AmeriCorps term for Mentors: May 24th – October 9th

COMPENSATION: Trail and Chainsaw Crews:
$310 per week minus $25 weekly meal deduction
PLUS: Paid training, food, lodging, transportation, recreational and educational opportunities;
AmeriCorps Education Award: In addition to weekly compensation, upon successful completion of term of service.*
$1,250.00 AmeriCorps Award for 450 service hours (9+ week session)
$2,362.50 AmeriCorps Award for 900 service hours (13+ week session)
*Applicants must be eligible for AmeriCorps award. See requirements below.

NATURE OF PROGRAM:
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps provides job and life skills to all participants. Corps members are employees of RMYC and are part of a functioning crew of workers in a group living and educational experience. Projects consist of conservation work that may include trail building and maintenance, primitive road construction (for Off Highway Vehicles, etc.), building and maintaining irrigation ditches, fence work, noxious weed eradication, fire fuels reduction (chainsaw work) and habitat restoration. The work is physically demanding and requires sustained effort. All crew members engage in educational activities and discussions for approximately 7-10 hours per week--typically in the evenings and on weekends. Weekends or other scheduled time off the project work provides time for crew recreational activities, performing personal tasks such as laundry, crew food shopping and moving camp when necessary. Corps members are expected to remain with their crew for the duration of their term of service and participate in all aspects of the program including the educational and recreational activities. RMYC crews typically camp in designated camping areas with access to facilities or semi-remote dispersed camp locations with no facilities, at or near RMYC vehicles. Some project camp locations may involve set-up of a remote, backcountry camp far from the crew's vehicle. Corps members may be able to earn college credit & may be eligible for an AmeriCorps Education Award.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps' programs are drug, alcohol and tobacco free programs (zero tolerance).
Participants are required to participate in drug screening upon the first day of employment. Random drug screening will occur throughout the season.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The corps member may perform the duties of this position in several different settings including desert, mountain and alpine environments. The position requires extensive bending, lifting, pushing, stooping, carrying and other heavy physical labor for extended periods of time. Corps members are exposed to stressful and physically and mentally demanding situations such as severe weather, a variety of environmental conditions, and changing group dynamics. Corps members may be required to carry a backpack with personal and/or group essentials for extended periods of time or long distances. Corps members may be required to carry tools and equipment for extended periods of time or long distances. The nature of the work environment requires that corps members utilize appropriate safety equipment such as leather gloves, hardhat, long pants, long sleeved shirts and protective glasses.

CREW STRUCTURE:
Each crew typically consists of one crew leader, two conservation corps mentors and seven corps members. All corps members are expected to abide by RMYC policies. Upon enrollment, assignments to a conservation crew are based on a variety of factors, such as age, gender, experience, and other administrative factors. It is important that all program participants remain open-minded and flexible regarding crew assignments, as they may change without notice to meet program and project needs. Placement on a chainsaw crew requires that the applicant states they are willing to participate in the chainsaw program.

MENTOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Conservation corps mentors provide vital service to their crews. By specializing in training and education, mentors should expect to complete essential crew duties as well as key educational duties including:
• Perform duties expected of any corps member including trail work, meal preparation, cleanup/setup, and other day-to-day duties;
• Facilitate weekly education activities (Seed) as developed by and for the RMYC;
• Plan, organize and facilitate Seed activities that meet the diverse needs of assigned crew (crew assignments may change without notice);
• Document education activities utilizing curriculum logs and other RMYC report forms;
• Report regularly to supervisory staff concerning educational staff issues;
• Participate in RMYC mentor training workshops and field training;
• Complete Life After AmeriCorps assignments and activities;
• Support RMYC staff and project sponsors as necessary during work sessions;
• Adhere to and enforce rules and regulations as specified in the RMYC Employee Guidelines Handbook;
• Manage nutrition planning, including: coordinating menus and purchasing food and supplies.

CONSERVATION PROJECTS:
Corps mentors will be expected to participate fully in all conservation projects. The types of projects performed by each crew vary with crew schedule and location. Projects typically include: trail construction and maintenance, fence construction, irrigation construction and maintenance, noxious weed eradication, habitat rehabilitation, park clean-up, fire fuels reduction (chainsaw crews) and other conservation work. Prior chainsaw or trail work experience is NOT required for crew member and mentor positions. Chainsaw and trail crews will participate in a thorough training at the outset of their session. Crew members and mentors must demonstrate basic competency with chainsaw operations and proper trail tool use by the end of the on-site training at the beginning of their session. All participants should expect 8-10 hour workdays filled with physically demanding tasks. In the course of an average workday, corps members will be utilizing tools to: move rocks, soil or brush; remove stumps or trees; create permanent trail structures; and complete other conservation related activities. Conservation projects are physically demanding. Corps members are in the public eye at all times and will be expected to demonstrate appropriate safety, project and youth corps behavior. Uniforms and personal protective equipment must be worn while working on projects.

WEEKLY WORK SCHEDULE:
The project schedule typically requires crews to work a full 40 hour week. This work schedule may be modified due to weather, logistics or other unforeseen circumstances. A typical day begins around sunrise with breakfast, followed by a stretching and safety circle. Crews then proceed to their work site and work throughout the day. Corps members should expect to work hard and consistently throughout the day. Upon returning from the work site, corps members complete assigned crew duties, eat dinner, and participate in 1-2 hours of nightly educational activities following the guidelines and resources in RMYC's education program called Seed. Lights out is at least 8 hours prior to the predetermined wake-up time.

EDUCATION:
RMYC's education program is called Seed, and includes technical skills workshops, discussions, presentations, activities, and journaling on a variety of topics. Crews generally spend about 7-10 hours a week in Seed sessions typically in the evenings at the crew's campsite, on weekends to explore nearby resources, and sometimes partial Seed hours are accrued with teachable moments that arise during lunch or short breaks while on the project site. Sessions are facilitated by conservation corps crew leaders and mentors who are trained in facilitation and instructional techniques. Corps members will have opportunities to facilitate Seed sessions as the season progresses. Project sponsors, visiting staff, and guests may also facilitate a Seed session or provide additional resources to the Seed program during the course of a crew's session. Seed is designed to foster personal growth, increase understanding of environmental and other relevant issues, and provide an introduction to key job skills and other types of training. RMYC values the Seed program as an integral part of its programs, and it is a key component behind corps members and mentors receiving an AmeriCorps Education Award. As a result, participation in all aspects of the Seed program is mandatory for all corps members, mentors, and crew leaders.

CREW CAMPING:
RMYC crews typically camp in designated camping areas with access to facilities or semi-remote dispersed camp locations with no facilities, at or near the RMYC vehicle (12 or 15 passenger van, or other large vehicle). Some project camp locations may involve set-up of a remote, backcountry camp far from the crew's vehicle. Some camping/project circumstances may require extensive backpacking or long distance hiking. All corps members sleep in tents, separated by gender. An outdoor kitchen with propane stove, coolers and food boxes are provided for meals and storage for food. Special dietary requirements are difficult to meet and must be disclosed by the corps member prior to arrival. Vegetarian options are generally provided at each meal if corps members communicate their needs. Vegan or other dietary restrictions are difficult to accommodate. Bathroom facilities range from campground pit toilets to latrines or 'cat holes' following low-impact camping guidelines. RMYC crews are functioning communities. Each corps member is expected to complete tasks that benefit the entire crew. Assigned duties may include meal preparation and clean up, kitchen clean up, camp set-up/break-down, tool maintenance, vehicle inspection, and other communal duties as required.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Weekends or other scheduled days off-project work provides time for laundry, showers, re-supply, moving camp and recreational opportunities. Crews typically pack up camp after project work on Friday and travel to a nearby town for laundry and showers. In general, crew recreation depends on crew timeliness in regards to camp chores, re-supply, travel, showers and laundry. Crew leaders are responsible for all participants throughout the entire crew session, including off-project activities and weekends. 
Crew recreation activities and travel must be approved by designated administrative staff.
*All RMYC corps members, mentors, and crew leaders are expected to remain with their crews for the duration of the term of service, including off-project activities, nights and weekends.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
RMYC crew leaders utilize cell phones and occasionally other communication devices to maintain scheduled contact with designated administrative staff. Emergency communications are coordinated for each crew location throughout the entire session. All program participants are required to abide by RMYC policies regarding use of mobile communication devices. All program participants are allowed to possess a mobile communication device while on session and are allotted designated times (typically a couple of hours, once a week, on the weekends). In order to fully take advantage of the unique group living experience and enjoy the natural surroundings, all participants are required to refrain from using mobile communication and entertainment devices for personal matters until brief designated times. Crews periodically will access a library near project locations for brief Internet access. Internet access (typically at a small library in towns near project locations) is brief, not guaranteed, and is designated by the crew leader as part of the crew's schedule for re-supply in a nearby town. RMYC encourages participants to write letters and visiting staff deliver mail to crews as often as possible throughout the session (see mail and package information in enrollment packet for guidelines for receiving mail and packages).

CREW TRAVEL:
RMYC crews travel frequently throughout each week. Crews utilize assigned RMYC vehicle (12 or 15 passenger van, or other large vehicle) to meet their travel needs. RMYC crews often utilize a trailer for crew gear. Personal vehicles are not allowed, and must be stored prior to crew session. Vehicle storage can be arranged at the RMYC offices and requires coordination with administrative staff. In addition to work related travel, crews are expected to travel to nearby towns for re-supply, showers and laundry. Travel time may also include travel to and from recreational sites. RMYC trained and certified drivers are solely responsible for vehicle operation.

REGULATIONS:
RMYC believes in healthy lifestyles modeling. Therefore, the possession or use of alcohol, drugs, and/or tobacco is strictly prohibited. Violation of this and other non-negotiable rules will result in termination. Other non-negotiable rules include possession of weapons, violent behavior, sexual harassment, unauthorized leave, and theft. The RMYC Employee Guidelines Handbook will be provided upon the first day of employment.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:
The corps member is responsible for work clothes and personal clothes, leather boots, work gloves, and personal camping equipment. Group food, group camping/cooking gear, tools, and other supplies will be provided by RMYC. A complete Equipment List will be provided upon offer of employment.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is an equal opportunity employer.

P.O. Box 775504  Steamboat Springs, CO 80477

For additional information, contact Mark Wertheimer at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

(970) 819-0533

www.rockymountainyouthcorps.org

Or, go to the online Application