Leadership Development Program

Leadership Development Program

Members in the Leadership Development Program (LDP) will serve on a recreation & restoration crew, gaining hands-on experience in conservation work alongside targeted training and mentorship in leadership, safety, and technical skills. Service projects may include trail construction and maintenance, hazardous fuels reduction; wildfire fuels reduction and hazardous tree removal, habitat restoration, invasive species treatment, fence installation or removal, cleanup of illegal dumping sites, and decommissioning unauthorized motorized routes.

In addition to restoration work, members will participate in comprehensive crew leadership training. Topics covered will include conflict resolution, mental health first aid, prioritization, performance management, accountability, collaboration, team development, decision-making, and goal-setting. Training is delivered through a combination of classroom instruction, mentorship, and practical field experience.

Upon successful completion of the program and the leadership retreat, members will be eligible to serve as a restoration crew leader, equipped with the skills and confidence needed to lead a crew in the field effectively.

Members will report to the Great Basin institute's Offices (field stations) for departure to and return from project sites. Members may serve in the field on 4-day tours, 8-day tours, or a mixture of the two, in an outdoor setting, usually camping in the field for the duration of the tour. Camping locations are often in "front country"

Members will begin service on February 1st, 2027 and will serve quarter time (450-hour) terms of service. This is an AmeriCorps position; the living allowance is a fixed amount, not an hourly wage or a salary.

Living Allowance: $676.92/week before taxes

Per Diem: $15/day spent in the field. This is in addition to your Living Allowance and on average is $120.00 biweekly. Crews typically combine per diem funds and shop/prepare meals as a team

TOTAL BIWEEKLY ALLOWANCE: $1,473.84 (pre-tax)

Shared Housing Option:

Shared housing may be available for non-locals upon request. Housing will be sourced locally in the field station city (i.e. Las Vegas area).

Segal Education Award:

Members who successfully complete their term of service are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

Student Loan Forbearance:

If you are currently paying on any federal student loans you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps volunteer, that will allow you to cease payments while serving.

Interest Accrual Repayment:

As an AmeriCorps alum, you are eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible to have accrued interest paid: The loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility:

AmeriCorps Volunteers qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Insurance:

Health, Dental, Vision insurance, and $25,000 Life/AD&D policy paid 100% by GBI. Eligible to enroll first day of month following first day of service

This program prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The functions of this position may be completed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Nevada Conservation Corps harnesses the energy and idealism of youth to meet the needs of Nevada public lands and communities. The NCC promotes ecological literacy through field research and direct conservation service. The NCC provides students and young professionals opportunities to make meaningful contributions toward protecting and conserving Nevada's natural heritage, while also gaining valuable work experience in the natural resource management field.

While serving in the field, members will adhere to a strict uniform and personal protective equipment policy as dictated by the specific project requirements and as outlined in NCC or partnering agency policy, including the display of an AmeriCorps logo while in service. Members will be required to participate in any additional service events as required by AmeriCorps. Arrangements for service events will be made by NCC staff, and members will be notified well in advance of the service event.

Members will receive an end of term performance evaluation, and mid-term evaluation if serving for 6 months or more. Members must submit a weekly member service log (timesheet) in OnCorps for review by their Host Site Supervisor. Members are also expected to provide or contribute to a weekly or quarterly report of work accomplishments and service provided. The frequency of these reports will depend on the members? service activities and the report contents will be discussed in the member's orientation to the program.

The increasing pressure resulting from housing development at the wildland urban interface (WUI) requires a more aggressive implementation of trail maintenance plans. The National Wildfire Hazard/Risk Model rates 74% of Nevada communities as "extreme," "very high" or "high" fire risk. Approximately 14,000 homes are located in vegetation types capable of supporting fire behavior that will destroy homes and threaten lives in the WUI. Home construction in the WUI is increasing, while the size and intensity of wildfires is also increasing, resulting in record numbers of homes being threatened and destroyed annually. Ongoing human environmental conflicts, such as the destruction of homes by wildfire, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of exotic species, all can be related, in part, to the growing presence of humans along Nevada's wildland boundaries . To reduce human-caused fire risk, trail systems used for both motorized and nonmotorized recreation will be restored to proper width and grade. The NCC will also mitigate fire threat by reducing vegetation encroachment along trail corridors. Trail systems targeted for intervention include those that serve as fire-fighting trails and roads, offering improved access for fire management. The new trail may also serve as fire containment lines and support back-burning operations. As such, Corps members will support agency trail programs for increased protection of forest lands.

Our underfunded government agencies struggle to provide successful conservation intervention programs to address these compelling environmental and constituency consensus challenges. The steady, and at times overwhelming, increased demand for NCC services attests to our successes, while underscoring the ongoing need for a Corps program in Nevada to aid in the recovery of species. Our program's focus is now largely centered on demonstrating successful conservation actions, thereby supporting and building stakeholder consensus, and fostering an environment in which agencies, private industry, and the general public may agree upon viable strategies that reconcile the competing demands of environmental stewardship and economic development.

Acres of Forest Treated for Hazardous Fuels and Ecosystems Treated for Invasive Plants Trail Construction, Restoration, Re-Designation, and Maintenance.

Qualifications

(Essential) Responsibilities

• Learn and practice trail construction and maintenance using hand tools and other equipment at designated project sites.
• Receive training in hazardous fuels reduction and habitat restoration using tools like chainsaws, handsaws, and loppers.
• Develop competencies in invasive species identification and control through manual, mechanical, and chemical methods, along with native planting and riparian restoration practices.
• Gain experience in illegal road decommissioning and fence or barrier construction/removal using hand tools.
• Understand and adhere to AmeriCorps, Nevada Conservation Corps (NCC), and agency sponsor policies at project sites and camp locations.
• Cultivate a positive, professional attitude while learning to communicate effectively with crew members, leaders, NCC staff, and project sponsors.
• Work towards meeting production and quality standards as established by NCC administration, crew supervisors, and project partners.
• Assist with basic campsite duties such as cooking, cleaning, and organizing crew equipment.
• Engage in in-field education sessions to deepen understanding of restoration practices.

Intermediate/Advanced Learning & Training:

• Participate in leadership development training, covering key topics like conflict resolution, mental health first aid, prioritization, performance management, accountability, collaboration, team development, decision-making, and goal-setting.
• Learn how to teach and mentor fellow crew members in crew roles, tool use, and construction techniques under supervision.
• Develop an understanding of safety protocols and assist with the maintenance, repair, and organization of tools and equipment in the NCC shops and field.
• Receive guidance on supporting crew members in their training and ensuring tasks meet NCC and AmeriCorps standards for production and quality.
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