Come live and work in the beautiful state of Maine! The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) is devoted to conservation and environmental education across the state in places like Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park and on the Appalachian Trail, as well as land owned by local communities and land trusts, with positions available throughout the year. The four-fold mission emphasizes these key elements:

Accomplish Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Projects
Members build and rehabilitate campsites and trails, build outdoor learning centers for schools, construct cabins, picnic shelters, bridges and erosion control structures, maintain boundaries, improve wildlife habitat and timber stands, survey watersheds, test water quality, and oversee planting projects.

Create Conservation Employment
Participants can join the MCC on the trail, in the classroom or on the water to get involved in local efforts to protect and restore the environment.

Provide Conservation Education
Individual members serving with nonprofit organizations and natural resource agencies develop curriculum, train teachers, teach in classrooms, and do outreach presentations in the community.

Engage Conservation Volunteers
MCC programs develop a strong work and community service ethic, teamwork, communication skills, self-esteem and confidence, safety, job skills and outdoor living experiences.

What You Can Do

Seasonal Employment Overview with the Maine Conservation Corps
Field Teams | Team Members | Team Leader
Trail Training Academy | Environmental Educator Program

Field Teams Summer Season: May through mid-August; application deadline in early April Fall Season: mid-August to mid-November; application deadline in mid-July

Come build great trails with great people! The Maine Conservation Corps' Field Team is composed of trail crews (3-6 people) serving to construct and improve recreational trails in the mountains, along the beautiful coastline and in communities all over the state of Maine. Projects include remote backcountry hiking trails, local nature and walking paths, multi-use trails, as well as accessible pathways for wheelchair use. Some of the trail structures the MCC builds are stone staircases, timber bridges, boardwalks, bog bridging, and rock water bars, with a focus on the traditional trail skills that the MCC is famous for. Learn More & Apply »

I met some really good people and we accomplished some unbelievable things. Getting thanked by a southbound hiker on the Appalachian Trail in twenty different languages; that won't happen twice!
–Erika Brown, Team Member

Team Members Summer Season: late May through mid-August; application deadline in early April Fall Season: mid-August to mid-November; application deadline in mid-July There is some flexibility with start dates.

Have you ever wondered about the hard work that goes into your favorite trails? How about learning how to move a 500-pound boulder or building a bridge? If you like spending time outside, learning new things and aren't afraid to get a little dirty, spending a season as a Team Member is the way to go! You will learn valuable skills (both physical and interpersonal), get in great shape and make a difference, as well as have some fantastic stories to tell by the end of your service. Team Members serve 3-6 months on both frontcountry and backcountry crews all across the state of Maine. Ready to take on a little more responsibility? Provide support and leadership with the Team Leader as an Assistant Team Leader. Learn More & Apply »

My team took on one of the most arduous endeavors. We built the largest bridge that the MCC had ever built. The project took place on the beautiful shore of the Duck Trap River in Lincolnville, Maine. We learned how to use unique tools safely, work together under extremes (it was black fly season), endure really, REALLY, REALLY hard work (most of the wood used for the bridge we carried over a mile to the location). It was certainly an accomplishment to build a 55-foot bridge, but it was truly special what we learned during that process. During that summer we built so much together: bridges, friendships, and futures. –Nicole Chismar, Team Member/Assistant Team Leader

Team Leader Positions begin in early May for 3-6 months; application deadline in early February

Want to spend a season honing your trail-building skills in the great state of Maine? Serving as a Team Leader with the Maine Conservation Corps is an amazing and challenging experience that many leaders return to year after year. As a Team Leader, you will be a teacher, mentor, leader and friend to a group of 2-5 Team Members for 3-6 months. Most Team Leaders will work on an average of 4-6 projects (often both frontcountry and backcountry) throughout each season, enabling them to learn and improve on both new and acquired skills. Responsibilities of the Team Leader include crew management, acting as a liaison with project sponsors, and working with volunteers and local media. Highly successful Team Leaders may also have the opportunity to advance and become Senior Team Leaders in future seasons. Learn More & Apply »

It is difficult to single out any one specific moment or event because quite honestly, every single moment I spent in the woods with my crew(s) was special! Memories were made during the summer/fall sessions that I will cherish for a lifetime! Whether building stone steps on Deboullie Mountain trail, laying bog bridge on Katahdin Lake trail, waking up to seagulls and surf on Marshall Island or cooking a great meal at the end of a long hard day of trail work at Western Head in Cutler, Maine, I enjoyed every minute of every day I spent with the MCC and the outstanding people in my crew(s) and that is no joke! At the age of 46, and after a 21 year career in the Coast Guard, I can honestly say that the summer I spent doing trail work with the MCC was the best summer of my life and I would do it all again in a heartbeat! Thanks for the memories! –Jeff Kimball, Team Leader

Trail Training Academy 2010 positions run from February 22nd through August 13th, with the possibility of an extension to November 12th; the application deadline is January 8, 2010.

If you want to learn how to build trails, work as a team, and become a great trail crew leader, the Trail Training Academy is for you. Each year, the Maine Conservation Corps conducts an intensive 10-week training academy for potential Team Leaders from late February through early May. Participants receive extensive training in trails skills including timberwork, chainsaw safety and operation, rigging & grip hoist operation, rockwork, crew management, and more. In addition, all participants receive Wilderness First Responder certification. Successful participants will lead MCC teams from late May until mid-August. Learn More & Apply »

As a Trail Training Academy alum, you have at least been exposed to all aspects of trail work. So far the chainsaw training has resulted in job offers, and I believe that participation in the academy as a whole was the reason I was offered my current Field Coordinator position. The MCC allows its team leaders to actually manage the team. The MCC empowered team leaders to make decisions and then stood behind the team leader. That level of support, and the ability to develop management skills without being micromanaged was a great professional experience. –Philip Kolling, Trail Training Academy & Team Leader

Environmental Educator Program Positions begin in January, April/May and October with varied opportunities available each year. Application deadlines are generally two months prior to the start date.

Now hiring for positions beginning in April/May 2010
Application deadline: March 7, 2010

Do you have an environmental degree, but need some real-world experience before entering the job market? Maybe you're transitioning from one career to a more environmentally-focused one, or perhaps you are simply passionate about education and conservation. If any of these are true, the Maine Conservation Corps has the ideal position for you!

Environmental Educators serve either 900 hours (approximately 6 months) or 1,700 hours (approximately 10 months) as AmeriCorps members with a nonprofit organization or state agency in the state of Maine. While community education and outreach are the primary goals, each position has unique responsibilities and activities such as biological monitoring, leading classroom activities in local schools, managing volunteers, trail maintenance & planning, logistics for an educational summer camp, or leading local watershed surveys, just to name a few.

Past organizations that MCC Environmental Educators have recently served with include the Chewonki Foundation, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the UMaine Cooperative Extension, and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Many Environmental Educators have gone on to serve two terms with the MCC, often with the same organization, and some have even been offered permanent positions as a direct result of connections made during their MCC service. Learn More & Apply »

MCC was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was exposed to career choices I had not considered, I gained work experience that has led to my career today, the learning opportunities presented through being part of the MCC group were very influential, and working at my individual placement location was great in teaching me the value of self motivation and initiative. The friendships that developed over the year are priceless. –Megan Sines, Environmental Educator

Perks & Rewards

• Explore the mountains and coast of Maine and everywhere in between!
• Living allowance/stipend ranging from $240 to $525 per week
• Immediate health insurance, with Cobra option when service is completed
• CPR/first aid certification
• Maine State Parks Pass
• AmeriCorps education award ranging from $1,250 to $4,725 (if eligible)
• Child care reimbursement (if eligible)
• Student loan forbearance (if eligible)
• Pro-deals and gear discounts
• Unlimited networking, training and experiential learning opportunities
• A great sense of satisfaction from taking on responsibilities that directly affect the environment and the people of Maine

The Essentials

At minimum applicants must be a U.S. citizen, have a high school diploma (a bachelor's degree is required for the Environmental Educator Program), at least 18 years old (leader applicants must be at least 20 years old) and pass a criminal and sex offender background check.

Additional qualifications may include the ability to live and perform strenuous work under challenging conditions; the desire to learn, serve others, and make a difference; a season (or more) of trail work experience in an outdoor leadership role; previous experience with construction work; and the ability to teach trail skills; good communication, writing and public speaking skills; and a valid driver's license.

Connections & Application

To learn more about upcoming positions and to apply for a job, complete the application and reference forms (available for download online) and send to:

Brenda Webber Recruitment Assistant Maine Conservation Corps 124 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333-0124 Visit the MCC Facebook page

207.624-6085 800.245.5627 toll free in Maine 207.287.3342 fax corps.conservation@maine.gov www.maine.gov

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