AmeriCorps Supervisor: Youth in Environmental Service Crew (novato)

AmeriCorps Supervisor: Youth in Environmental Service Crew


Marin Conservation Corps

The Marin Conservation Corps (MCC) is a local non-profit job training, education and development program serving youth and adults ages 11-30.
MCC assists young adults in the development of basic job competencies and qualifying work experience for employment in a wide variety of fields. Participants work on crews implementing projects in natural resource conservation, ecological restoration, recycling, service learning projects with children, and public land beautification in Marin County. MCC helps corpsmembers to enhance their academic and vocational abilities and assists them in formulating and progressing toward their long-term employment and educational goals.

The Volunteers in Service to the Environment (VSE) AmeriCorps Program of the Marin Conservation Corps (MCC) will address the intersection of three critically important needs in Marin County: 1) The stewardship of Marin・s natural lands, habitats and ecosystems; 2) The encouragement of environmental stewardship among youth; 3) The engagement of the larger Marin population in environmental service and volunteer activities on public lands.

The program will recruit and train 22 AmeriCorps members serving on either the Restoration and Environmental Management (REM) Crew or the Youth in Environmental Service (YES) Crew. Members will be placed at sites ranging from agencies with wide responsibilities for land management such as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, to grassroots youth and environmental groups such as Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW), and to middle and high schools in underserved areas of Marin County. All members will have roles aimed at generating volunteers to participate in service programs at their placement sites. In the summer, 12 YES members will play a leadership role in Project ReGeneration, MCC・s summer environmental service-learning program. All 22 members will work together to meet the goals of the VSE program. YES members will be partnered with REM members to create a partnership between local schools and adjacent public lands to help meet our goals of bringing more youth out to serve the community on environmental service projects.

These AmeriCorps National Service positions are designed to offer members an introduction to field research, ecological monitoring, sustainability, recycling and waste reduction, environmental education, civic engagement, leadership skills, and public outreach. Integral to the program is member development and training. AmeriCorps members gain hands-on professional experience at their placement sites, and participate in site-specific training conducted by agency staff, and participate in a bi-weekly Member Development Program led by MCC staff consisting of technical trainings, civic engagement lessons and projects, and corps to career training and counseling. Several times during the service year members will participate in National Community Service Days including Make A Difference Day, California Coastal Clean-up Day, America Recycles Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cesar E. Chavez Day, National Youth Service Day and National Volunteer Week, and Earth Day. Members will plan and lead service projects and also recruit community volunteers on these days.

Youth in Environmental Service (YES) Crew:
The AmeriCorps Supervisor for the YES Crew will directly supervise 12 members who are charged with promoting environmental service-learning and educating youth about the environment using hands-on experiential learning techniques. Two days each week, 10 members will serve in pairs at middle and high schools leading environmental service clubs, after-school volunteer programs, instituting and maintaining recycling infrastructure on the school campus・, recruiting for weekend volunteer community service projects, conducting classroom presentations on various environmental topics throughout the school year, and other projects as assigned. Members will also assist local environmental organizations and smaller land management agencies that restore habitats and currently involve youth volunteers by spending two days each week at these ：Community Partner； placement agencies leading youth in environmental service projects and implementing outdoor education curriculum. For the 2006-2007 service year, the YES Community Partners are the Marin Food Systems Project (a program of the Environmental Education Council of Marin), STRAW (Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed) and MCC・s ：For Earth・s Sake； (FES) creative reuse art and education program. In the summer months, YES corpsmembers lead teams of middle and high school youth in MCC・s summer service and education program, Project ReGeneration. Daily activities include field trips, environmental/outdoor experiential projects, environmental education and recreation. The YES Crew provides a well-rounded service experience for members interested in exploring the education field, by providing a look at school-based education activities, as well as outdoor, experiential and environmental education and docent programs.

Also on the YES Crew will be 2 specialized member positions, Volunteer Coordinators, whose duties will include but are not limited to the following projects; assist MCC in creating the new environmental service recruitment and placement program for the North Bay Area, conducting training and support activities for AmeriCorps members on both REM and YES Crews, placement at a regular Community Partner site and within an agency already working on volunteer recruitment and management, and other duties relating to volunteer programs.

Qualifications:
X Ability to supervise and motivate young adults from a wide variety of social, economic and educational backgrounds to work collaboratively as a team.
X Background in curriculum development, training facilitation and implementation.
X Ability to effectively and efficiently plan and lead staff meetings, orientations, and trainings.
X Experience or desire to work with college-aged youth and ability to provide mentorship while enforcing the corps・ rules.
X Experience working in educational settings and leading instructional programs.
X Knowledge of non-profit organizations and flexibility to change with shifting programming.
X Ability to prioritize tasks and to meet deadlines.
X Strong organizational skills and knowledge of MS Office software.
X Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
X Familiarity with a wide range of environmental issues, including recycling and restoration ecology.
X Clean DMV record and ability to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver・s License.

General Responsibilities: (40 %)
The AmeriCorps Supervisor supports the goals of MCC・s AmeriCorps VSE Program through direct oversight and leadership of AmeriCorps members participating in the Youth in Environmental Service (YES) Crew.

X Provide daily supervision of AmeriCorps members, including enforcing program rules, evaluating performance, facilitating personal and professional development and completing daily paperwork. Effectively facilitating personal and professional development among the corpsmembers is a key component of supervision for this program.
X Educate and continually promote AmeriCorps goals and service ethics among corpsmembers, and provide a strong role model by demonstrating own service and work ethics.
X Provide leadership and assist in the coordination of community service projects and National Service days aimed at youth, such as Earth Day, Make a Difference Day, National Youth Service Day, and the Dr. MLK Jr. Day of Service.
X Assist the Program Coordinator in recruitment activities and hiring procedures for AmeriCorps members.
X Work with the Program Coordinator to monitor progress of programs for state granting agencies, developing new methods for evaluation when appropriate.
X Occasionally represent MCC at professional conferences.
X Provide additional administrative and programmatic support for overall MCC and REAP programs, as needed.

Specific Responsibilities: (40 %)
X In collaboration with the Program Coordinator, facilitate planning and scheduling for the in-school and Community Partner components of the YES program and maintain relationships throughout the year.
X Throughout the AmeriCorps service year, conduct regular site visits to both in-school and Community Partner portions of the YES program, in order to guide and mentor corpsmembers in their service duties and to ensure that program objectives are being met.
X Foster relationships with MCC・s partners in the environmental and educational fields, continually looking for ways MCC・s presence can expand into the community.
X Provide training and continual guidance to YES corpsmembers in the development of lesson plans, delivering effective presentations, managing classrooms and outdoor education environments, and teaching appropriate environmental content, in line with program objectives and curriculum.
X Coordinate daily YES crew logistics including transportation, staffing, and materials.
X Provide coverage for absent corpsmembers on projects and presentations when needed.
X Supervise, mentor, and provide guidance for the two Volunteer Coordinators, who are second year members.
X Develop networks with other youth service agencies and volunteer centers to ensure MCC・s youth programs effectively supplement regional efforts.

Additional Responsibilities: (20%)
X In collaboration with the Program Coordinator, facilitate the planning of VSE・s new Volunteer Programs including;
o North Bay Environmental Service Clearinghouse
o ReGen After-school Program Pilot
o MCC・s In-House Volunteer and Internship Program
o National Service Day Volunteer Project Planning
X Provide direct supervision and mentorship of the two AmeriCorps Members acting as Volunteer Coordinators.

To Apply or for Information:
William Pagan, Human Resources Manager
(415) 454-4554 ext. 144 or ext. 276
recruiter@marincc.org

For Program Questions:
Sandy Miles, AmeriCorps Programs Coordinator
(415) 454-4554 ext. 271
smiles@marincc.org

Marin Conservation Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer.