AmeriCorps Environmental Education Steward

UNITED SOUTH END SETTLEMENTS 

The mission of United South End Settlements (USES) is to harness the power of our diverse community to disrupt the cycle of poverty for children and their families. USES believes families have the best chance of reaching their potential when they have long-term, holistic support. Our goal is to empower families in the South End and the surrounding areas to stabilize, achieve economic mobility, and become more resilient through access to resources and connections to a diverse social network. We have integrated our programs and implemented new initiatives to support the whole family, providing children and youth with early childhood education, club48 after school programs, and Camp Hale, a summer camp on Squam Lake in New Hampshire. We also support parents and caregivers to identify and pursue goals important to their family through one-on-one coaching and provide job training, placement, and career development. We value diversity in every setting and are committed to building diverse social networks of individuals with various backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives who share our vision for disrupting the cycle of poverty. To learn more, please visit our website at www.uses.org. 

USES Core Values  

·       Community: We believe in engaging the entire community as a catalyst in our model of service that helps children and their families build strong, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships. 

·       Diversity: We believe that we achieve the greatest positive impact on children and their families when we include people from various backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives in disrupting the cycle of poverty. 

·       Opportunity: We believe that all people have potential and deserve access to top quality educational and economic opportunities. 

USES Organizational Norms and Behaviors 

·       Collaboration: Finding ways to Work Together with each other and across our departments and positions  

·       Positivity: Having a “Can Do” Attitude even when things are tough or stressful 

·       Transparency: Having Open Communication by sharing successes, challenges and ideas with each other 

·       Excellence: Doing the Best We Can all the time with everything we do                                

Summer 2022 Lakes Region Conservation Corps-Camp Hale members must be available from May 16, 2022 through October 19, 2022 

The location of this service opportunity is Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. 

Camp Hale provides room and board. 

Camp Hale AmeriCorps Members 

Established in 1900, Camp Hale is a sleepaway summer camp for Boston-area youth ages 5 to 17 years old to experience a range of outdoor activities in the scenic environment of Squam Lake located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Camp Hale transforms youth into resilient leaders as they discover the wonders of nature, build a diverse community, and embrace challenging experiences. The camp operates on the belief that all youth benefit from opportunities for physical, mental, and social growth and development. The goal is for campers to leave with an enhanced sense of well-being, improved social skills, and awareness of personal potential.  

Under the supervision of the Camp Hale Director and other designated staff (Assistant Director, Program Director, etc.) members live with campers and participate in all daily routine activities. AmeriCorps Members’ primary focus is to provide guidance, leadership and support; creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere that enhances campers’ physical, social and emotional development. When not working with campers, members are responsible for planning activities, trail building and maintenance and other environmental based projects as assigned.  

COVID-19 Policies and Precautions  

We take COVID-19 precautions with the utmost seriousness at Camp Hale and USES.  As a member of our staff team, you can expect we will do our best to keep our community safe throughout the summer.  At this time, we are committed to hosting our staff training on site, maintaining social distancing parameters at all times.  As things shift regarding COVID, we commit to providing you with timely and ongoing notification.  

 In order to join us as staff, at this time, you must agree to the following:  

·       Obtaining a COVID test within a few days of arrival at camp and sharing your negative results (specific time of test TBD)  

·       Filling out an attestation form upon arrival that indicates your lack of symptoms for COVID  

·       Getting regularly tested for COVID at camp throughout your time as staff  

·       Adhering to all COVID regulations as they develop and are enforced.  Guidelines may change between time of hire and start date, or throughout the course of your position. 

What you will do: 

·       Help each camper adjust to life at camp, while providing a nurturing environment for campers. 

·       Plan and lead cabin-group activities, whole-camp activities and both day and overnight trips out of camp. Plan and lead environmental education programs on terrestrial invasives, local ecology, and conservation initiatives. 

·       Assist with trail building and other nature-based activities around camp. 

·       Assist each camper with meeting personal goals and those established by the camp for camper development. 

·       Actively participate in staff training, meetings, etc. 

·       Maintain established health, safety and cleanliness standards of Camp Hale and ACA. 
Demonstrate/teach Camp Hale values of community, diversity and opportunity to all campers and staff. 

·       Follow all camp rules, regulations and policies and enforce them among peers. 

·       Maintain positive relations with parents, visitors, and the general public at all times. 

·       Visually and audibly identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to assigned activities. 

·       Respond appropriately to emergencies and situations requiring first aid and/or CPR. 

·       Ability to lift up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or a 20 pounds of force constantly. 

What we are looking for: 

·       Must be at least 18 years of age and have a high-school diploma or GED and possess a high level of maturity.  

·       Preference will be given to candidates with youth-related work experiences, camping experience or one year of college.  

·       The ability to work successfully with a diverse group of campers and other camp personnel. 

·       Must have health insurance for the duration of the program. 

·       Must meet the Corporation for National Community Service’s minimum requirements: 

·       Must clear all required National Service Criminal History Checks 

·       Must be a US citizen, US national, or legal permanent resident of the US 

·       Must be high school graduates, GED recipients, or must be working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service. 

What you will love:  

·       An opportunity to draw on your own experiences, as well as learn and teach new skills, that will enhance your professional development. 

·       Members will receive:  

·       Free meals, lodging 

·       NH Commercial boating license 

·       Wilderness First Aid & CPR certification 

·       Loan forbearance on qualifying loans 

·       $534 bi-weekly (before taxes), total of $6,215.75 over the course of the term, first pay received on Friday, June 3 

·       AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,172.50 (subject to tax upon use) upon successful completion of program  

Important Camp Dates: 

·       Staff Orientation: (June 6- June 18 mandatory for all staff).  

The above statement reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal function of the job identified and shall not be considered a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job. 

How to apply:

Interested candidates should apply at https://www.lakesregionconservationcorps.org/apply-now. Select Camp Hale as choice host site.