CREW: American Sign Language Inclusion Youth Camping Crew  

TITLE:  Crew Member   

REPORTS TO: Crew Leader, Program Coordinator  

LOCATION: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA                

STATUS: Seasonal - Summer Program - Full-time, Exempt 

STIPEND: $300 per week before taxes. 

BENEFITS: Job Training, uniform shirts, protective equipment. Food, camping gear, and transportation provided during the 3-week program.  

SESSION DATES: Members can apply for one or both sessions. Sessions are 3 weeks long. 

Session 1: May 31 – June 18

Session 2: June 28 – July 16

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE AND SHOULD APPLY:  

• Teens, ages 16 – 20. (Must be between the ages of 16 and 20 at the time of the program start date)
• Youth/young adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (H/H)
• Individuals who are available and committed to camp and live outdoors in a group setting for the ENTIRE program session.
• US Citizens, permanent residents.

SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS:   _SECC EMPOWERING YOUNG ADULTS TO CULTIVATE COMPASSION, RESPONSIBILITY, AND GRIT THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE, HARD WORK, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. _ 

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), a program of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization located in Chattanooga, TN. SECC’s service projects for Youth Conservation Crew programs take place throughout the state of Tennessee and neighboring states within the Southeast region. Throughout the season, crew members will work, live, and camp communally as a crew. Each crew consists of six crew members, one assistant crew leader, and one crew leader. Projects include, but are not limited to, trail design, maintenance and construction, watershed restoration, habitat enhancement, fencing, tree planting, invasive plant removal, and much more. While the staff at SECC works to provide consistency throughout the season schedules, times, and work locations are subject to change.  

POSITION DESCRIPTION: 

This summer SECC will run two American Sign Language Inclusion (ASLi) crews.  This program seeks to provide an opportunity where Deaf youth and young adults can learn job and leadership development skills in their native language from other Deaf members and leaders. Participants who complete this program will be better equipped to find future employment while simultaneously expanding the representation of Deaf people in the outdoor and conservation fields in hopes of growing opportunities for the Deaf community. 

Crew Members will:

• Earn a living allowance.
• Learn valuable professional and personal skills.
• Work and camp for 3-weeks, for entirety of session.
• Monday - Friday: Work on conservation service projects.
• Saturday - Sunday: Participate in educational and recreational activities, shower, and do laundry.

Program Details: 

• All camping equipment, personal protective gear, uniform shirts, and meals (weekends included) will be provided during the program.
• Transportation is provided while in the program, but members are expected to transport themselves to and from the SECC office at the beginning and end of the program. 
• Crews share camp chores such as cooking meals for breakfast and dinner, cleaning, etc.
• No experience is needed to apply for this position. A general comfort and knowledge of working/living in an outdoor setting is helpful when coming into this position.
• Members must be able to be away from home for three weeks and must agree to follow our Technology/Phone Policy*

*TECHNOLOGY/PHONE POLICY: ASLi members will have pre-scheduled access to their phones during the session, on reoccurring days/times. Outside of prescheduled time, members cannot have or use cell phones or other technology as determined by SECC staff. Parents/Guardians will be notified of the phone usage schedule to provide opportunities to communicate with their child.  

CREW MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:  SECC YCC program participants must be able to:  

• Work as a team member.
• Be open-minded and respect others from different cultures and backgrounds.
• Perform heavy manual labor related to environmental conservation and restoration projects.
• Work and live outdoors in wilderness areas and during all types of weather.
• Camp overnight outdoors in wilderness areas near work sites for duration of program 
• Learn and apply new environmental conservation, restoration, and outdoor living skills.
• Participate in group activities.
• Practice appropriate safety procedures at all times.
• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS  Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization. These requirements are written the same for all positions and therefore may not apply directly to your particular position. 

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR: 

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues and organization staff. Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements. 
• Appropriately represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times.

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others. 
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

OUTDOOR SKILLS AND FITNESS (WHERE APPROPRIATE) 

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed so as to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries. 
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps in excess of 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Required to use hands to operate equipment and tools and to reach with hands and arms.
• Required to use close vision and the ability to focus.
• Must be able to understand and communicate in American Sign Language.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with additional disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUBSTANCE FREE  

In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.   

THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, AGE, SEX, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR RELIGION.  

TO APPLY:  

• Visit https://southeastconservationcorps.org/open-positions 
• Scroll down and click “American Sign Language Inclusion Youth Conservation Crew – Crew Member.”
• Complete the application, upload cover letter and resume if available.

Any questions can be addressed to:  

_Lindsey Agee  _

_Recruitment and Support Services Coordinator  _

_423-322-4976  _

Lagee@ConservationLegacy.org_   _

Required Skills Required Experience