The mission of the Florida Conservation Corps is to develop natural and cultural resource leaders by connecting them to areas of critical need in conservation, preservation, interpretation and resource-based recreation.
What is the Florida Conservation Corps?
The 24-year-old Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps program is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Members are required to work 35 to 40 hours a week to complete 1,700 hours in 11 months.
FLCC members serve under one of three programs:
- Project ANT (AmeriCorps Nonnative Plant Terminators).
- Project ROAR (Regional Outreach Awareness Recruiters).
- Project TREC (Trail Restoration and Enhancement Corps).
Project ANT
Project ANT focuses on habitat restoration by managing invasive plants. Members reduce invasive plant infestations through various land management techniques (herbicide use/manual removal), recruit volunteers and educate park visitors about invasive plants in natural ecosystems.
Project ROAR
Project ROAR members are placed regionally throughout Florida and work directly with DEP staff to identify parks in need of volunteer recruitment and outreach. Members may create outreach material while learning manage DEP's volunteer tracking systems. Additionally, these members work with FLCC’s two other project areas to assist members with volunteer and outreach goals. Members are encouraged for cross-project collaboration.
Requirements
- Must complete an FBI/FDLE background check (free of charge) before start date.
- Must attend orientation week in March.
- Must commit to a half term (900 hours of service over sixth months) or full term (1,700 hours of service over 11 months).
- Must be at least 17 years of age. (Under 18 requires have a parent/guardian note approving participation in the program.)
- Must have obtained at least a high-school diploma or equivalent.
- Must have a valid driver’s license.
- Must be able to tolerate extreme and adverse conditions of Florida.
- Understand that this is not employment, but is national service through an AmeriCorps program.
- Must have a positive attitude.
Training and Benefits Available
- Interpretation.
- Leadership.
- Professional development.
- Project coordination.
- Conflict resolution.
- Disaster response.
- CPR/First Aid/AED.
- Effective communication.
- Resume/Cover Letter Workshop (Life After AmeriCorps).
- Trail tools training.
- Hatchet and machete training/use.
- Herbicide Application Training.
- Use of large equipment.
- Hauling trailers.
- Park/District Specific
- S-130/S-190 (wildfire training).
- Plant workshops.
- Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) interpretive training.
- Protected wildlife and plant species monitoring.
- ATV/UTV certification.
- DEP Boater Safety.
- Kayak training.
- Scuba certification.
- Tractor training.
- S-212 (Wildland Fire Chainsaw Training).
- DEP Chainsaw training.
Monetary Benefits
- Loan deferment.
- Childcare assistance through AmeriCorps.
- Free health insurance.
- Access to Member Assistance Program.
- Free access to state parks.
- Full Term Members receive $7,395.00 Education award at the completion of service.
- Half Term Members receive $3,697.50 Education award at the completion of service.
- Monthly Living Stipend: $1,550.00 (pending increase) for both half term and full-term members.
What you can expect from your service
- Natural Resource Skills.
- Plant identification.
- Chainsaw training and use.
- Hauling trailers.
- Training and use of large equipment.
- Tool maintenance (chainsaws, trail tools, herbicide application tools, hatchets, machetes, hand saw, vehicles, ATV, UTV).
- Safe use of herbicide application.
- Prescribed fire participation.
- Create/maintain/improve public trails.
- Professional development.
- Introduction to federal and state policy and guidelines.
- Experience entering data and retrieving reports for progress tracking.
- Organize and/or participate in strike teams and service projects.
- Network and build relationships with natural resource professionals, volunteer managers, and event coordinators.
- Community outreach.
- Flyer and graphic design and development.
- Opportunity to recruit volunteers and lead volunteer projects.
- Participation at community events.
- Participation in disaster response recovery efforts.
How to Apply
1. Register at my.AmeriCorps.gov (It’s free!).
2. Create an application.
3. Submit your application to Florida Conservation Corps.
View step-by-step instructions.
Contact Information
Please contact the administration office at:
Florida Conservation Corps
4801 Camp Ranch Road
Gainesville, FL 32641
FLCC@FloridaDEP.gov
