Florida Conservation Corps @ Alafia River State Park

The Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) is an AmeriCorps program managed by the Department of Environmental Protection. AmeriCorps is a national service organization supporting the enrollment of individuals to provide direct service to communities in need. In the Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps Program, members are helping to meet three specific needs in the environmental community of our Florida State Parks.

1. Invasive plant management.
2. Volunteer recruitment.
3. Trail maintenance.

Members serve a contracted term of service (11 months) February to December or half term of service (6 months) July to December. During their term, members receive a monthly living stipend, free health insurance, professional/personal development, other site specific and/or sought out benefits, and qualify for the Segal Education Award upon completion of their term.

• Frequently Asked Questions

FLCC members serve in various capacities through our two “project areas”; Project A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Nonnative plant Terminators) and Project R.O.A.R. (Regional Outreach Awareness Recruiters).

Project ANT

Members serve in pairs (or more) at a designated “host” state park (opportunity to work in other parks as well throughout the term) and focus on habitat restoration by managing invasive plants in some of the most pristine real Florida environments. Members reduce invasive plant infestations through various land management techniques including but not limited to herbicide use/manual removal, recruiting volunteers & educating park visitors, and conducting outreach at schools and events, etc. A.N.T. members use the following methods to manage invasive plants in their host park:

1. Survey and identify non-native invasive plant infestations.
2. Research, discuss, & prepare a plan for proper herbicide type/techniques with park/district biologist.
3. Actively treat non-native invasive plants (coordinate strike team with other A.N.T.s).
4. Keep records/analyze data of treated/to be treated areas.
5. Retreat as necessary following the herbicide label.

These members may recruit volunteers to assist in invasive plant management, work with Project R.O.A.R. to conduct outreach, and interpret the A.N.T.’s focus in parks, events, schools, and other approved venues.

Project ROAR

Members serve individually alongside their A.N.T. (AmeriCorps Non-native Plant Terminators) counterparts, in state park district administration office(s), or within a specific state park focusing their efforts on volunteer recruitment, outreach, and interpretation. R.O.A.R. members assist volunteer managers to promote parks’ resources, recruit and manage volunteers, and interpret why the park’s resources are so important. In addition, they help promote the FLCC program, the state parks, and AmeriCorps.

They may also work weekly with Project A.N.T. members and other R.O.A.R. members with outreach events, workdays, strike team projects, trail projects, interpretive material creation, etc. They spend a large portion of time on the computer using various volunteer management/outreach and graphic design platforms, communicating with community partners, managing/coordinating park/volunteer events, and creating outreach interpretive material.

AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (ADRT)

Florida Conservation Corps is the only AmeriCorps program in the state of Florida that has the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team component. While serving in Project A.N.T. or R.O.A.R. members will be given the opportunity to apply to the program’s ADRT. If selected, members will receive disaster response training, an in-person orientation to ADRT 100/200, and are expected to deploy and respond to natural disasters within the state of Florida up to 30 days at a time. So far, the program has deployed/assisted with five natural disasters since 2017.

Trail Restoration Enhancement Certification (T.R.E.C.) Strike Teams

While serving as a Project A.N.T. or R.O.A.R. member, members will be given the opportunity to receive trail assessment/maintenance training and participate in trail projects throughout Florida. Projects will be coordinated by the FLCC AmeirCorps Trail Coordinator.

Requirements

• Must be able to complete an FBI/FDLE background check (free of charge) before the start date.
• Must be able to attend 1 week orientation in March.
• Must commit to full 1,700 hours of service over the 11-month period (Feb - Dec) [(if applying in May –must commit to the full 900 hours of service over the 6-month period (July – Dec)].
• Must be 17 years of age with a parent’s note stating they can serve in the program.
• Must have obtained at least a high school diploma, equivalent, or be actively working toward one.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Must be able to tolerate extreme and adverse environmental conditions of Florida.
• Must understand that this is not employment, but national service through an AmeriCorps program.
• Must have a positive attitude and be flexible.

Training and Benefits Available

• Interpretation.
• Leadership.
• Professional development.
• Project coordination.
• Conflict resolution.
• Outreach/Interpretation.
• Disaster Response (AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team). 
• CPR/First Aid/AED.
• Effective communication.
• Resume/Cover Letter Workshop (Life After AmeriCorps).
• Interview tips and technique.
• Trail maintenance & tools training.
• Hatchet and machete training/use.
• Herbicide Application Training.
• Use/maintenance of large equipment.
• Hauling trailers, use and safety.
  • Park/District Specific
    • S-130/S-190 (wildfire training).
    • ATV/UTV certification.
    • DEP Boater Safety.
    • Scuba Certification.
    • Tractor training.

Monetary Benefits

• Loan deferment.
• Childcare assistance through AmeriCorps.
• Full-Term (Feb - Dec) Members receive $7,395.00 Education award at the completion of service.
• Half-Term (July - Dec) Members receive $3,697.50 Education award at the completion of service.
• Monthly Living Stipend: $2,200.00 for both half-term and full-term members.
• Free health insurance through FLCC Program.
• Access to Member Assistance Program.
• Free access to Florida State Parks.

What you can expect from your service

• An AmeriCorps experience in our Florida State Parks.
• Natural resource management individual and group projects.
• Trail Restoration Enhancement Certification (T.R.E.C.).
• Plant identification.
• Chainsaw training and use.
• Water sampling.
• Interpretive material creation (presentations, flyers, videos, programs, etc).
• Network with FISC, CISMA, Forestry, FWC, FTA, ACT, and other natural resource management organizations/groups - attend events to represent FLCC.
• Endangered/protected species monitoring.
• Training and use of large equipment (tractors, marsh masters).
• Tool maintenance (chainsaws, trail tools, herbicide application tools, hatchets, machetes, hand saws, vehicles, ATV, UTV).
• Community outreach and interpretation.
• Hike over various Florida terrain (no, it's not all flat) and see parts of state parks not seen/open to public.
• Cultural/historical resource rehabilitation.
• Participate in prescribed fire.
• Create/maintain/improve public trails.
• Professional development.
• Introduction to federal and state policy and guidelines.
• Experience entering data and retrieving reports for progress tracking.
• Manage and/or participate in strike teams and service projects.
• Network and build relationships with natural resource professionals.
• Flyer and graphic design and development.
• Opportunity to recruit volunteers and lead volunteer projects.
• Table at community events.
• Participate in disaster response recovery efforts.
• Participate in park events (Florida Folk Festival/ Fire Fest, other).