Frequently Asked Questions
See below for frequently asked questions about the NCC Program.
- What is AmeriCorps?
- What do NCC members do in the field?
- What kind of training do I receive?
- What is an AmeriCorps Education Award?
- What equipment and gear will I need?
- What is the Housing Situation?
- How often and how much do I get paid?
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 75,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together these programs engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year.
Overview
Since 1994, more than 500,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing needed assistance to millions of Americans. AmeriCorps provides trained, dedicated people to help nonprofits accomplish more and make more effective use of volunteers.
Eligibility and Benefits
AmeriCorps is open to U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents aged 17 or older. Members serve full or part time over a 3- to 12-month period.
After successfully completing a term of service, AmeriCorps members who are enrolled in the National Service Trust are eligible to receive an education award. The education award can be used to pay education costs at qualified institutions of higher education or training, or to repay qualified student loans. The award currently is $4,725 for a year of full-time service, with correspondingly lesser awards for part-time and reduced part-time service. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service has ended to claim the award.
What do NCC members do in the field?
The Nevada Conservation Corps partners with public land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and Nevada State Parks to complete restoration projects throughout Nevada.
Projects such as trail building, forest thinning, invasive species removal, road decommissioning, and fence building may vary in length from one week up to several years.
Because of the remote location of these projects, members camp at or near the project site.
A typical day in the field begins with members waking up at 6:00 am to make breakfast. Members will begin service at 7:00 AM and travel to the service site on foot or in vehicles depending on the project. Here they are given an overview of the project, as well as attend a safety meeting on job hazards. Members serve in the field for ten hours per day, during which time they receive a fifteen minute break in the morning, a half hour lunch break, and a fifteen minute break in the afternoon. The service day is complete at 5:30. The service week is four days long, or eight days long, depending on how much driving is necessary to reach the project site.
What kind of training do I receive?
Members will receive training specific to the type of restoration team they are placed on. This may include chain saw certification , CPR/first aid training, and trail building training. Additional training is provided by project partners at the work site.
What is an AmeriCorps Education Award?
An AmeriCorps Education Award is a benefit Nevada Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members receive upon successful completion of their term of service. The award is issued by AmeriCorps and full details can be found Here. For information on accessing the education award please visit this site.
Come Prepared
Be sure to come prepared.
What equipment and gear will I need?
The quality of your equipment will directly impact the quality of your experience, and should not be considered lightly. NCC members are responsible for all their personal camping equipment, while NCC shall provide work uniform and personal protective equipment.
Required Summer Camping Gear
- Frame Backpack: used for storing gear during weekly excursions. Any pack designed for short overnight backpacking trips should suffice (3,000-4,000 Cubic inches). If price is a factor in purchasing a backpack, a duffel bag large enough to fit a four-day supply of gear is acceptable.
- Tent. Choose a tent that will be able to withstand strong rain and wind.
- Sleeping Bag. A bag rated to 5 degrees is advisable. This may vary from person to person. You can always purchase a fleece liner/bivy sack to add extra warmth to a sleeping bag not rated as well.
- Sleeping Pad. This is an added comfort that every crew member will appreciate after 10 hours of hard work. Sleeping on air with a Therm-a-rest type pad is better than a rubber style pad.
- Headlamp/Flashlight. Helpful on dark nights.
- Eating Utensils. Every member is required to bring their own eating utensils. Suggested items include: plate, bowl, fork, knife, spoon, and coffee cup.
- Water Bottles/Hydration Packs. You will be required to have at least one 32 oz. water bottle and/or a hydration pack while at work. Water consumption can approach 2 gallons a day, so more water bottles are recommended.
- Alarm clock. Each member will be responsible for being up every morning on time, therefore some type of alarm clock is recommended.
Required Work Gear
- Work Pants. Each member will be required to purchase one pair of Carhartt work pants, specifically the Duck Work Dungaree-Double Knee, sometimes referred to as Carhartt Duck Dungaree Jeans style work pant in Carhartt Brown. This color choice is important, as you must match your peers in your work uniform. You can view these at sierratradingpost.com or getz.com. It is very important that you save your receipt and bring it with you to Reno, as the NCC will reimburse you for your purchase, but only for the pants listed above. Carhartt pants do shrink around the waist upon washing and drying, so plan on going one inch larger than your actual best fit.
- Work Boots. Each member will be required to have a work boot that is made of leather and has good ankle support (usually ¾ height). This boot should be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time and be able to withstand heavy wear and tear. Steel toe boots are beneficial to protect your toes from dropped rocks and logs, however are not required. Most hiking boots will suffice, if you have any questions please contact the office.
- Rain Gear. A rain jacket and pants are recommended, although a poncho will suffice. You may be required to work in the rain for extended periods of time.
Provided Work Gear
- NCC Shirts: NCC will provide each crew member with work shirts for the appropriate seasons and projects (i.e. long sleeve, short sleeve).
- Personal Protective Equipment: NCC will provide all safety gear needed to accomplish daily tasks (i.e. hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, ear plugs, chaps). You will be issued one set of PPE at the beginning of the season. You will be responsible for this set, and be required to purchase replacements should these items be lost.
What is the Housing Situation?
GBI/ NCC is currently pursuing housing options for the summer program. The most likely option would be camping with showers at a local campground. We will update this posting with more information as we make progress.
A vehicle or transportation is necessary if staying at a campground or other facility.
All other Nevada Conservation Corps restoration and intern members are responsible for locating their own housing, and signing a lease directly with the property owners. The NCC does not provide housing or sign leases for its members, as the NCC is not a property management organization, and cannot be held liable for property damage that may be caused by its members. Additionally, most members are between the ages of 20 and 25, and are well equipped to handle this responsibility.
This summer we will have crews located in Reno, Ely, and Las Vegas. We will try to post specific housing information for each of these regions as it becomes available.
How often and how much do I get paid?
All AmeriCorps members are paid on a bi-weekly basis on Fridays. Upon accepting a position your contract will detail the pay schedule and amounts.
Pay for AmeriCorps members is considered a living stipend, and not be be confused with a wage or salary. This model is based on the Peace Corps, which pays a fixed wage regardless of hours served.
