The 24-year-old Florida Conservation Corps (FLCC) AmeriCorps program is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Members are required to work 35 to 40 hours a week to complete 1,700 hours in 11 months. FLCC members serve under one of three programs:

• Project ANT (AmeriCorps Nonnative Plant Terminators) focuses on habitat restoration by managing invasive plants. Members reduce invasive plant infestations through various land management techniques (herbicide use/manual removal), recruit volunteers and educate park visitors about invasive plants in natural ecosystems.
• Project ROAR (Regional Outreach Awareness Recruiters) members are placed regionally throughout Florida and work directly with DEP staff to identify parks in need of volunteer recruitment and outreach. Members may create outreach material while learning manage DEP’s volunteer tracking systems. Additionally, these members work with FLCC’s two other project areas to assist members with volunteer and outreach goals. Members are encouraged for cross-project collaboration.
• Project TREC (Trail Restoration and Enhancement Corps) is a traveling team based in Gainesville. Members are scheduled for various trail restoration and awareness projects in Florida State Parks. Members are required to work 5-8 days at a time depending on project and must have a positive attitude. These members are also required to participate as the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team for the state of Florida, which may deploy for 30 days at a time.

Requirements

• Must complete an FBI/FDLE background check (free of charge) before start date
• Must attend orientation week in March
• Must commit to a half term (900 hours of service over sixth months) or full term (1,700 hours of service over 11 months)
• Must be at least 17 years of age. (Under 18 requires have a parent/guardian note approving participation in the program.)
• Must have obtained at least a high-school diploma or equivalent
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to tolerate extreme and adverse conditions of Florida
• Understand that this is not employment, but is national service through an AmeriCorps program
• Must have a positive attitude