Do you love the Sierra? Want to help restore and protect the Range of Light, while gaining valuable environmental professional experience? Apply today to become a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Half Term AmeriCorps Member working with Eastern Sierra Land Trust!

Earlier this week, ESLT summer intern Jessie O'Dell joined Ali and Sara - ESLT's AmeriCorps members - for some fun in the field, removing invasive Bull thistle from the Benton Ponds.

We’re looking for an AmeriCorps member to join our team and help protect Eastern Sierra landscapes by leading ESLT’s restoration efforts in 2015!

We are seeking an enthusiastic, conservation-minded individual to commit to 6 months of service to protect Sierra natural resources and sustainable communities by serving as ESLT’s Restoration and Education Coordinator.

During the term, you will gain skills and technical training, workwith outstanding environmental leaders, and receive an education award at the successful completion of your service term.

The service term for this position starts on April 13. Interviews will begin soon, so apply today by clicking here!

Learn more about the Sierra Nevada Alliance‘s SNAP program by clicking here.

Background:

ESLT has hosted talented SNAP members for 6- and 11-month terms since the program began in 2007. These AmeriCorps members have conducted education and outreach within the region, helping to inform and inspire our communities about land preservation and habitat restoration.

ESLT is a nationally-accredited organization established in 2001 to work with willing landowners and the public to protect vital lands in the Eastern Sierra for their scenic, agricultural, natural, recreational, historical, and watershed values. ESLT has partnered to permanently preserve almost 10,500 acres of prime ranch and farmland, critical habitats, and iconic scenic vistas.

Our new AmeriCorps will help lead educational activities this summer to help teach local 4-H kids about life in the garden.

Our new AmeriCorps will help lead educational activities to help teach local 4H kids about life in the garden.

Position Overview:

ESLT’s Seasonal AmeriCorps member will lead and collaborate on restoration, education, and outreach projects that connect the public with the wild and working lands of the Eastern Sierra. Restoration and enhancement of preserved lands are a priority for ESLT and will also be a focus area of ESLT’s AmeriCorps member. ESLT’s half term AmeriCorps member will work with our current full-term AmeriCorps member, Sara Kokkelenberg, on a variety of interesting projects with a high level of responsibility and creative freedom.

Responsibilities & Projects:

As ESLT’s Restoration and Education Coordinator, our AmeriCorps member will be involved in community outreach and watershed restoration and enhancement projects, including:

  • Planning and implementation of wildlife migration corridor restoration and enhancement project, especially in light of the recent Round Fire that burned 7,000 acres in the wildlife migration corridor.
  • Assistance with easement monitoring and land stewardship programs, especially those impacted by the recent Round and Van Dyke fires.
  • Design and coordination of habitat restoration projects in the burn area.
  • Development and implementation of youth and adult environmental education programs.
  • Collaboration with local organizations and other AmeriCorps members in the area.
  • Recruitment and management of program related volunteers.
In 2013, ESLT's half-term AmeriCorps member Elise Robinette (left) went to work with ESLT Board of Directors member Tim Bartley (right) and other volunteers to remove invasive plants from the Benton ponds.

Monitoring and restoration are vital components of the stewardship work ESLT completes to help protect our cherished Eastern Sierra landscapes. In 2013, ESLT’s half-term AmeriCorps member Elise Robinette (left) went to work with ESLT Board of Directors member Tim Bartley (right) and other volunteers to remove invasive plants from the Benton ponds.

Required Qualifications:

Applicants should possess a high level of energy and passion for ESLT’s preserved lands and the region’s important watersheds. Excellent communication skills, interest in biology and botany, good physical conditioning, and ability to navigate and travel in the outdoors are required qualifications. GIS and map-making knowledge a plus. Tolerance and appreciation for various viewpoints are also necessary for living in a remote rural environment. Sense of humor and team player orientation is always a plus.

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
  • Must have a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED (higher education degrees are highly recommended)
  • Must be a minimum of 18 years or older
  • Must not have a criminal history that precludes the applicant’s ability to serve as an AmeriCorps member
Oh, and we have a ton of fun too!

Oh, and we have a ton of fun too!

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Monthly stipend of $1,254 per month
  • Standard health insurance
  • Up to 170 hours of technical, ecological and skills-development training throughout the year
  • AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,250 will be granted upon completion of the program for use on existing qualified student loans or future higher education expenses
  • Other: ESLT staff and board will assist with the assimilation process and introductions to Eastern Sierra living for our AmeriCorps member. Living in a safe and small town surrounded by awe-inspiring scenery and endless outdoor recreational opportunities is a priceless and unequaled benefit!

How to Apply:

  1. Download the SNAP Member Application Packet with detailed application instructions.
  2. Fill out the online SNAP Member application by clicking here.
  3. Email your resume and a one-page cover letter stating your interest in the SNAP Member position and your best qualifications for the position to: . Be sure to title your email subject: “SNAP Application Half Term 2015”.

For any questions regarding the SNAP program and its application process, please contact Lynn Baumgartner, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Program Director: 530-542-4546 x 705 or .

For additional information about Eastern Sierra Land Trust, please contact Kay Ogden, ESLT Executive Director: .

All submissions are confidential. The Sierra Nevada Alliance and AmeriCorps are equal opportunity employers.

Life in the Eastern Sierra: The ESLT office is located in Bishop, the largest town in Inyo County with a population of 8,000 (there are 18,000 residents in Inyo County). Bishop is in a deep valley, nestled between the majestic Sierra Nevada and the intriguing White-Inyo Mountains. People treasure Bishop and the Eastern Sierra Nevada for many reasons – the awesome vistas, the working farms and ranches, the thriving fish and wildlife – reasons that inspire them to want to protect these values for future generations. Bishop is renowned for its outdoor recreational opportunities and offers access to world class rock climbing, bouldering, backpacking, hiking, trout fishing and skiing in the winter, with Mammoth Mountain Ski Area only 40 minutes away. Bishop also offers quick access to the John Muir Wilderness, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Death Valley National Park. The closest large airports are Reno, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, with limited air service out of Mammoth Lakes.

Sara Kokkelenberg, our current full-term AmeriCorps member who has served with us since November 2013, feels "incredibly lucky to be part of an organization that works to encourage this particular community of outdoor enthusiasts and to safeguard the beautiful open spaces of the Eastside for generations to come." Our new half-term member will team up with Sara to help complete vital restoration work in our region.

Sara Kokkelenberg, our current AmeriCorps member who has served with us since November 2013, feels “incredibly lucky to be part of an organization that works to encourage this particular community of outdoor enthusiasts and to safeguard the beautiful open spaces of the Eastside for generations to come.” Our new half-term member will team up with Sara to help complete vital restoration work in our region.