The Sierra Nevada wants YOU to serve with Americorps

from
Sierra Nevada Alliance and
South Yuba River Citizens League
October 2, 2006

Want to live, work, learn and give back to Sierra Nevada’ ecosystems and communities?

Apply to be a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Member

The Sierra Nevada is seeking applicants with a desire to devote a year of their lives to work for the protection of Sierra resources, to engage citizens in watershed restoration, and to join a team that explores the connections between community service and a sustainable Sierra environment. The Sierra Nevada Alliance and South Yuba River Citizens League are starting a new Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Program (SNAP) throughout the 400-mile range.

AmeriCorps Members will have the opportunity to work with one of 20 conservation groups and/or agencies within the Sierra to implement habitat restoration, ecological monitoring, watershed education and/or volunteer recruitment programs. The mission of SNAP is to develop the capacity of community-based organizations to play a leading role in the protection, restoration and stewardship of public lands, local waterways and working landscapes of the Sierra Nevada region.

The program will begin with an orientation and pre-service training from January 22nd to 29th, 2007.

Responsibilities/Activities:
Responsibilities and activities will vary depending on hosting organization but will be based on ecological monitoring, habitat restoration, watershed education, and volunteer recruitment.
• Coordinate volunteers and prepare field equipment in the implementation of monthly water quality monitoring program.
• Collaborate with State Parks to design and implement a riparian habitat restoration projects in high priority public lands.
• Deliver environmental education presentations to 3rd-8th grade students on water conservation and watershed ecology.
• Assist the organization in developing a membership database and associated outreach materials to enhance your project.

Placement Locations:
• AmeriCorps Members will be placed with a Conservation Group (e.g. Tahoe Baikal Institute, Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships, Placer Land Trust, and Mountain Lion Foundation) or an Agency (Yosemite National Park, Central Sierra RC&D).
• Exact locations will vary. There are up to 20 potential site placements in the Sierra Nevada and Sacramento such as Nevada City, Lake Tahoe Basin (North & South Shores), Quincy, Springville, Truckee, Auburn, Bishop, El Portal, and Jackson.

Necessary Skills and Qualifications
• Ability to work with local community members, conservation groups and agencies.
• Experience organizing events
• Skills facilitating and/or participating in group meetings
• Ability to lay out work tasks, identify resources, focus work and complete tasks on time
• Strong writing skills
• Public speaking and outreach skills
• Independent, highly motivated, and ability to meet deadlines with limited supervision
• Passion for the natural environment
• Proficiency using personal computers and internet
• Ability to travel throughout the region
• Physical ability to perform strenuous activities at high elevations

Compensation and Benefits
• Full-time AmeriCorps Service positions for 11.5 months. Beginning January 22nd, 2007 and concluding December 31st, 2008.
• AmeriCorps Members will receive up to 350 hours of technical, ecological and skills-development training throughout the year.
• AmeriCorps Members will receive a monthly stipend of $1200 and standard health insurance.
• AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 will be granted upon completion of the program for use on existing qualified student loans or future higher education expenses.

How To Apply:

To apply please visit www.sierranevadaalliance.org/programs/
Applications will be due to the Sierra Nevada Alliance by November 1st, 2006.

Review Process:
• Top candidates will be requested to participate in phone interviews during the week of November 13th to 17th 2006
• Second round interviews will be conducted with host organizations during the timeframe of November 28th-December 8th
• Final Announcements made on December 13th 2006

For more information please contact:
• Megan Suarez-Brand, Sierra Nevada Alliance: 530-542-4546, megan@sierranevadaalliance.org or www.sierranevadaalliance.org
• Jason Rainey, South Yuba River Citizens League: 530-265-5861 ext. 207, Jason@syrcl.org or www.syrcl.org/americorps.
• Or visit the AmeriCorps national site at www.americorps.org

All submissions are confidential. People of color are encouraged to apply. The Sierra Nevada Alliance, SYRCL and AmeriCorps are equal opportunity employers.