Four generations of AmeriCorps are pictured here at the completion of a prescribed burn near some homes in Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Three of the members are still with Florida Park Service today as a District (regional) Biologist, Park Services Specialist, & Park Ranger; a fourth member is now a Research Assistant with Florida Atlantic University.
The AmeriCorps Program is accepting applications for Project ANT team members at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Florida.
Project ANT members at Jonathan Dickinson State Park fufill a variety of roles with regards to land management in an outdoor setting:
(1) non-native plant removal is the primary task, using mechanical (typically a machete) and chemical means (triclopyr ester & glyphosate application); includes maintenance of tools and facilities (50% of total work hours)
(2) prescribed fire management, including clean up & maintenance of tools and staging of equipment (10 to 20%)
(3) Florida Department of Environmental Protection trainings, such as Basic Fire Management class (S130/S190/L180 in early March with an NWCG certified instructor), ATV / UTV training, chainsaw training, trailer training; on the job chemical mixing training and formal herbicide training, plant identification training (as needed), OJT 4x4 off road vehicle training, site orientation, basic FDEP employee trainings (5-10%),
(4) Red cockaded woodpecker (Federally endangered birds) monitoring and associated activities (5%)
(5) Required to attend 3 in person trainings / service work projects in central and north Florida trainings (5-10%) throughout the year;
(6) Quarterly water quality sampling (1%);
(7) Removal of exotic plants off a boat and maintenance of eelgrass fences on the National Wild & Scenic Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River and clearing downed debris along the river (1-5%);
(8) Filling out monthly timesheets & 4 quarterly reports (1%);
(9) Help maintain trails as needed (vegetation clearing & possibly helping maintain boardwalks for the public to enjoy) (1-5%)
(10) Must be able to work closely with a group of 4 to 5 people and keep up professional relationships over the course of 11 months AND less intensely with with 15 full time staff and a revolving group of 10 to 20 seasonal volunteers (100% of the time);
(11) Compensation is $1550 / month x 11 months; shared, rustic housing with shared laundry, kitchen, & bathroom facilities are available (can be occupied February 1, 2023; but that is negotiable); Segal Education Award after completion of 1700 hours ($6,895) https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award
