Program Background:
CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps program was created to offer professional development and training for youth and young adults aged 15 to 18 who are in high school. The CorpsThat Conservation Corps program integrates team-based work projects, education, and professional training into a program that stresses leadership growth and the development of conservation work skills. By creating an ASL inclusion crew, Deaf and hard of hearing people have access and are included in the more significant national service movement. It has the intention to provide youth and young adults with a sense of identity, job experience, and connections to future job and/or academic opportunities.

Job Purpose:
Are you in school, out of school, between schools, or thinking about returning to school? Maybe you just want to be in a different space while you figure things out. In any case, the challenge and simplicity of three weeks in the woods will give you the chance to regain perspective, meet new friends, and discover new opportunities. Is that appealing to you? With CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps, you will learn how to pitch a tent, cook over a campfire, and stay dry in the rain. During the process, you will discover a new ability to address the unknown and surmount challenges that will prepare you for life’s next adventure; finishing high school, starting college, or landing that next job.

Duties and Responsibilities:
CorpsTHAT Conservation Corps program combines education and job skill training with outdoor adventure for 15 to 18-year olds. With the guidance of experienced field staff, youth crew members work on conservation, reforestation, and recreation projects, while developing leadership skills and learning how to work as a team. Crews camp in the field for their entire three-week session, traveling to a new project each week and recreating on the weekends. In addition to earning stipends weekly, participants make new friends, learn new skills, explore the mid-Atlantic wildest places, challenge themselves, and have an awesome summer.

Essential Functions:

  • Travel to various site locations (spike trips) accomplishing different projects.
  • Living outdoors in tents for three weeks.
  • Work hard as a team to accomplish project goals.
  • Maintain high standards of personal and emotional safety both on and off the worksite.
  •  Accomplish work goals to the satisfaction of the sponsors and project proposals.
  • Remain drug, tobacco, and alcohol-free while with your crew.
  • Complete tasks and chores when they are expected to (cooking meals, cleaning up,
    preparing and maintaining tools, and so forth).
  • Abide by CorpsTHAT’s Policies and Procedures.
  • Service projects may or may not include trail construction and maintenance, footbridge
    building, landscaping, campsite development, invasive species removal, and other
    projects that restore natural habitats and improve public access to outdoor recreation.
  • Actively participate in environmental, outdoors and conservation curriculum.
  • Actively participate in professional and academic development curriculum.

Qualifications:

  • Be of 15 to 18 years of age.
  • Deaf or hard of hearing.
  • Comfortable with spending three weeks outdoors.
  • Have some knowledge or want to learn more about the outdoors.
  • Relishes rugged living and work conditions.
  • Positive mental attitude: able to work long hours in often adverse and extremely
    challenging conditions.
  • Be open to adversity that may arise.
  • Great work ethic.
  • Willingness to learn.
  • Be a helpful and contributing member.
  • Work hard and follow directions.
  • Push yourself to develop new skills.
  • Follow a timely manner with the daily schedule.
  • Understands the importance of conservation fieldwork.

Working conditions:
You will be expected to live in a tent for three weeks, along with working in conditions that may involve rain or cold days. The majority of your time working and living at the base camp will be majorly outdoors. Also, you will be expected to work on your crew’s assigned project, typically from 8 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. It does not include the expected tasks and chores of each crew member (ranging from cooking meals, cleaning, and so forth). In the end, you will learn how easy it is to live in the woods without the comforts of modern
civilization.

Physical requirements:
The ability to stand for long periods of time, sit, twist, bend, grip, and lift and carry heavy objects. Also, the ability to hike long miles and live in tents for weeks at a time.