Young Adult AmeriCorps Camping Crew Leaders

At the start of the season, crews leave the VYCC campus with a trailer full of tools, camping gear, and food. With everything they need all packed up, they will camp close to their worksite so they can get up every morning and jump into action.

During the work day, Camping Crew Leaders guide the crew through their project. They support as members figure out how to build the next section of bridge, identify invasive plants for removal, or assess the quality of drainage on the trail they just built.

Back at camp once the workday is over, Crew Leaders help members figure out whose night it is to cook dinner and which member is going to lead a game after the meal.

During the season, Crew Members and Crew Leaders will have scheduled time-off where they will get to recharge and can either travel somewhere on their own or camp at VYCC.

Fall AmeriCorps Camping Crew
Dates: August 15- October 23
Break Week: September 25- October 2
Schedule: Work together Monday-Friday, camp together on weekends
Compensation: $650-695/week

Position Description Leader Application

Pro Crew Leaders

Pro Crew Leaders join because they want to apply their existing skills and experience to projects that have a valuable impact, like constructing a new backcountry hut for hikers or removing target species to improve forest health.

During the season, Pro Crew Leaders coach members to build their own skills. Pro Crew Leaders manage the project during the day and have the option of camping with the crew, depending on the project site.

By the end of the season, Pro Crew Leaders and members have a list of accomplishments and connections with projects partners they’ve worked alongside.

Pro Forest Projects
Location: Camping and projects throughout the state
Dates: May 30-October 30 or August 22- May 30 (dates flexible)
Schedule: Hitch schedule, either 5 days on, 2 days off OR 9 days on, 5 off
Compensation: $740-785
Application deadline: applications accepted on a rolling basis until positions filled.

Pro Stewardship
Location: Camping and projects throughout the state
Dates: August 22-October 30
Schedule: Hitch schedule, either 5 days on, 2 days off OR 9 days on, 5 off
Compensation: $740-785
Application deadline: applications accepted on a rolling basis until positions filled.

Position Description Leader Application

Project Leads- filled for 2022

Project Leads serve on the farm from freezing March mornings, through sweaty July days, until crisp October evenings. They serve out in the fields, in greenhouses, work with livestock, and jump in to problem solve the daily challenges of the farm. Project Leads bring their adaptability, commitment, and passion for food & farming to the farm program.

Project Leads focus on one aspect of farm operations for the duration of the season and take on significant responsibility in their specialty role. 

Crew Leaders- filled for 2022

Farm Crew Leaders roll up their sleeves to serve on the farm and inspire young people to do the same.

Farm Crew Leaders’ responsibilities shift across the season. Spring is for learning and doing: tending crops in greenhouses and planting the fields; working with volunteers. In summer, they lead either a youth or young adult crew. In fall, they harvest mountains of vegetables in support of Health Care Share project.

There are two types of Crew Leader positions- leading a crew of youth or young adults. Regardless of age, crews work in all areas of the farm; they plant and harvest, care for livestock, and explore how to cook with what they’ve grown.

Youth Crew Members spend their time learning about all the work of the farm and getting hands on, putting that learning into practice. For many youth crew members, serving on the farm is their first job. Leaders help them navigate the experience and support a positive crew culture.

Young Adult Crews focus on tackling their tasks with quality and efficiency. These production crews will keep veggies growing and flying out of the field. Leaders help their crews excel at their work every day.

Assistant Crew Leaders- filled for 2022

Assistant Crew Leaders support Crew Members in the daily work of food production and livestock care. They work closely with the same crew of 6-7 members for each summer program session, demonstrating for their members how to do great work, and guiding them through challenges and successes. 
Location: Richmond, VT
Dates: May 23- August 19
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:45-4:30 (Friday ends at 2pm)
Living Allowance: $437/week
Education Award: $1678.57 upon completion of service
Application deadline: accepted on a rolling basis until crews are filled

Position Description Leader Application

Affinity Crews

Some of our Young Adult Camping Crews are Affinity Crews. On an Affinity Crew, Members and Leaders choose to join a crew that is specifically made up of others that share an aspect of their identity. Affinity Crews are intentional spaces that foster connections between members and leaders who share and can relate to each other’s lived experiences. These crews provide opportunities for supportive relationships.

In 2022, there will be two Affinity Crews: Women’s Crew and Queer Crew.

Curious about joining an affinity crew? On the application, you’ll see a question where you can share which affinity crews interest you!

As a team, we work hard, outdoors, on projects that matter to our communities. And we grow.

Let’s talk about that a bit….

· As a team – Circle up at the start of each day – what tools do we need, which farm field or section of trail are we working, who is cooking, who is planting, who has a great game to play? “Honestly, my biggest accomplishment was making some truly incredible friends. The people I worked with at VYCC are strong, funny, passionate folks, and I am so grateful to have them in my life.” – Bex

· We work hard – We sure do! We move large rocks to build trails, harvest thousands of potatoes in a morning, dig holes to plant trees along our rivers, pack boxes of food for hundreds of families, and clean our tools at the end of a long day. “I’ve come to appreciate hard work, dirty hands and sore muscles, as these stand as a testament to the things we create.” – Alyssa

· Outdoors — On our beautiful farm in Richmond, in state parks, on trails, and on the lake. All day. Will there be rain, bugs, hot days, cold mornings, and mud? Yes, there will! Will there be Vermont beauty, songbirds, sunrises, overlooks, and the energy of being outside all day every day? Oh yeah, that too! “I’m passionate about showing people how powerful, wholesome, beautiful, and healing the outdoors can be…. Oh, and I love being SILLY!” – Andy

· On meaningful projects – that matter to our communities! We build trails that increase access to the outdoors, create backcountry infrastructure that supports our state lands, grow fresh food for Vermonters in need, and improve the health of our forests and waterways. “the town’s excitement reminds us that our work is more than cutting wood or pounding posts; we are creating access to a unique habitat, and the community’s support fuels our own interests.” – Thomas

· And grow personally— When we dig in and work together on meaningful projects, we believe in ourselves and each other, feel a strong sense of belonging, build skills, and see possibility in all directions. “My proudest moment was seeing my saw crew grow as sawyers, and see them start taking on bigger and more complex trees with confidence.” – Sable

If you are ready to dig in, with a spirit of curiosity and courage, then this is the place for you. Believe in yourself; we certainly do!

Learning together, with difference, and kindness: We are strongest when VYCC represents all members of our community, we lean into and learn from our similarities and differences, and we celebrate one another with kindness. VYCC is committed to creating an inclusive experience for our Corps Members and reducing barriers so that all people can thrive at VYCC.

For the safety of all members of VYCC, we require all staff, including all Crew Leaders and Members, to be vaccinated before their start date.  

All VYCC employees must adhere to this policy, with the exception of those with documented medical conditions that prevent such vaccination. For safety purposes, we will require Corps Members to submit proof of vaccination. This information will be kept confidential.

If you have any questions or need help finding resources to become fully vaccinated, please feel free to reach out to our Admin Manager, Kay.