Expectations and Program Information
Training:
As a job training program, SCC is committed to providing valuable training. Members will be sent to Colorado Fire Camp and earn the following certifications. These certs are nationally recognized by land management agencies.
S130 Firefighting training S190 Intro to wildland fire behavior
IS700a National Incident Management System (NIMS) S212- chainsaw
Program:
This job training program aims to use veteran’s status in congruence with 5 months of specialized experience to make members more competitive in the usajobs.gov job market. SCC cannot guarantee that member will work on a prescribed burn. This is contingent on partners and weather. However, training and service work prepares member to be “Red Card Ready”
Work Schedule:
Its best to think of the schedule in 2 week periods. Members work 8 days on, 6 days off. Rig up and De-rig will be in Hesperus, CO (about 20 minutes outside of Durango). SCC will cover the cost of food and housing for the 8 days on; members are responsible for both for 6 days off. Members work 10 hour days completing a variety of fuels work. This can range from thinning projects, invasive species removal, to mop up after a prescribed burn. SCC has also taken on a role as a part of the larger AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team, and as such, some crews may get deployed on Disaster response projects for up to 30 days.
Because this is a service program, members are requires to volunteer 9 hours during the program at our farm. 3 hours will be completed during orientation week, and the remaining 6 will spread across the program.
Compensation:
As an AmeriCorps program, members will receive a living stipend of $375/week or $750/2 weeks. Following completion of program, members will also receive an AmeriCorps education award. This is a very flexible education award and can be used towards further training such as Wilderness First Responder, Avalanche 1, community college, or traditional schooling.
Housing:
Member are responsible for food and housing during the 6 days off. In previous years members have camped at free campgrounds, traveled and stayed at hostels, or found shared housing in surrounding towns of Durango (as Durango is quite expensive).