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Position Title:Urban Forestry Crew-AmeriCorps Crew Member

Conservation Legacy Program:Southeast Conservation Corps

Reports to:Crew Leader, Program Coordinator

SiteLocation:Crew will be based out of SECC's officein Chattanooga, TNand serving within Chattanooga's public spaces

Terms of Service:

• Start Date:08/17/2026

• End Date:11/13/2026

• AmeriCorps Slot Classification:450-hour

Status:This is a full-time, seasonal,13-week-450-hourAmeriCorps National Service position

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of$1,956.35upon successful completion of the program

• Living Allowance of $480per week.

• Additional Benefit of $120 per week

Other Benefits:Transportation to and from project,uniform shirts,personalprotective equipment, and other developmentalopportunities asavailable.

Crew Structure:1Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader,4Crew Members

Purpose - About Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC):
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hard work and land stewardship.

Southeast Conservation Corps, aprogram of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age 15-17) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host day or overnight camping crews and individual placements.

Our AmeriCorps positions provideimpactful educational and service opportunities that benefit both communities and landscapes.SECC's participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various backgrounds.

Description of Duties:

The crew memberposition is an entry-level role.During their time in the field, Urban Forestry Crew Members serve outdoors in all weather conditions, performing heavy manual labor to complete conservation and restoration projects. Most projects requirefull days outside withinurbansettings for the daycarryingtools, equipment, and a day pack.While prior experience withthe outdoorsor outdoor work can be helpful, it is not a necessity for this position. We ask that crew members embrace learning opportunities, face challenges, and build community with their crew.

Service Project:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC)and theCity of Chattanooga have partnered to host an In-town(day crew)Urban Forestry Crewwith funding for this project provided by the USDAForest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program.TheUrban Forestry Crewwill be managed by the City of Chattanooga's Natural Resources Departmentwho will collaborate with crews to complete their conservation projects.

The crew will engage in strenuous manual labor in all weather conditions. Crew members will combine training and education to support impactful conservation service projects throughout the City of Chattanooga.

Service projects will vary depending on seasonal factors and safety considerations, with a primary focus oninvasive plant species management, native vegetation restoration, and streambank stabilization. While SECC and partners strive to provide consistency throughout the season, personal flexibility is expected and should be prepared for when entering the term as schedules, times, and project locations are subject to change perprojectand weatherneeds. However, tasks may also include, but are not limited to:

• Riparian buffer restoration

• Invasive plant species removal

• Seeding for native plant species

• Erosion Matting installation

• Limbing up/pruning trees

• Litter removal

• Streambank stabilization

• Grading

• Coir log installation

• Live stake installation

• Native species planting

• Tree, shrub, and perennial planting

• Assistin container tree planting in parks

• Learn proper tree planting techniques

• Potential to plant native plant plugs in stream buffers

• Tree maintenance (watering, pruning,etc)

• Weekly watering, weather permitting

• Weekly tree health inspections

• Weeding mulch rings

• Refreshing mulch rings when necessary

• Staking trees

• Invasive species removal

• Identification of invasive plant species

• Mechanical removal of invasive plants will beaccomplishedprimarilythrough the use oftools and hand pulling

• Larger shrub species will be managed with the use of loppers and weed wrenches to remove the entirety of the root system

• Smaller vine species will be hand pulled or individuals will be dug up to remove the entirety of the root system

• Herbicide treatment will be applied to larger shrub individuals that cannot be removed mechanically through a cut and spray method or direct leaf application

• Herbicide treatment willbe potentiallyapplied to large areas of ground cover or vining species through foliar foam or wipe application.

• Herbicide application willoverseenby an individual certified in herbicide application

• Plant and Wildlife Identification

• Become familiar with local flora and fauna

• Identifycommon invasive plant species to the area

• UtilizeiNaturalistand contribute to citizen science data collections

• Planting procedures

• Hand weeding

• Gardening/landscaping

• Bank stabilization

• Working with volunteers and engaging with the public

• Assistancewith volunteer tree plantings or invasive species removals

• Work beside and engage with volunteers

• Assistin events such as City Nature Challenge that may occur at theParkduring the term

• Assistvolunteers with plant identification and/or proper tree planting techniques

• Potential to help in volunteer day instruction and safety talks prior to the event

• While working in public parks, citizens will ask questions and want to know about the work being done, you will be expected to engage and talk about the project

AdditionalDuties:

• Learn and apply conservation, restoration, and outdoor skills

• Active participation in educationalactivities

• Practiceappropriate safetymeasures in all assigned tasks

• Use,maintain, and repair hand and power tools as necessary

ProjectSkillsAcquired Through the Program:

• Plant Identification

• Invasive plant species management practices

• Young tree care

• Volunteer management

• Proper planting techniques

• Erosion control

• Understanding ofvegetative practices used for stormwater management and improved stream health.

• A foundational understanding of conservation careers, inparticularly natural resource management within an urban park setting.

• Proper use/maintenance of hand and power tools.

• Communication and outreach with the public.

• Teamwork and collaboration in a field setting.

• Problem-solving and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

These skills are highly transferable to careers in urban forestry, environmental education, natural resource management, park services, conservation nonprofits, and more.

***Note:Many waterways across Chattanooga are impaired forvarious reasonsincluding, butnot limited to potentially harmful bacteria likeE.coli. All crews will be equipped with theappropriate PPEto work in water that maycontainthesecontaminants,howeverindividuals will be expected to practice best management practices while working in the field.

Crew Life:

• Crew Structure:This crew consists of4crew members and2crew leaders who will provide projectexpertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants.

• Schedule:Crew members will report to the SECC office at 7:30am Monday-Friday and will end each day around 4:00pm. Members will have evenings and weekends off. The day includes two fifteen-minute breaks and an unpaid half-hour break for lunch.

• Camping:This crew will not be camping, as crew members will go home at the end of the day.

• Housing:Housing IS NOT provided. Crew membersare responsible forsecuring their own housing during off time.

• Food:Crew members will provide their own snacks and lunches. SECC willprovideawaterjug for members to refill their water.

• Chores:Crew members collaborate to manage chores (putting away tools, cleaningtools,etc.) andparticipatein any group discussions.

• Gear:Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots). SECC has a limited supply of loaner gear available for crew members to borrow, but it may not fit personal preferences or specific needs. SECC will provide tools, group equipment, and personal protective equipment

• Transportation:SECC will provide transportation between SECCofficeand project sites.

***Note: transportation needs will be taken into consideration on a case-by-case basis.Please contactstafflisted belowwith any questions or concerns you may haveregardingyour personal transportation needs.

Requirements:

General Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

• Must be betweenages18 and 30, or up to 35 ifa military veteran.

• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award

• Agrees to provide information toestablisheligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

• Must beliving within 20mi fromSECCofficein Chattanooga,TN.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Generalcomfort withand prior experience in outdoor environments.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities areprovidedreasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specifictoolsand a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also berequiredfor some positions. If you needassistanceand/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected toserveAugusttoNovember, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service

• Membermaybe requiredtoparticipatein national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an...