<div dir="ltr"><div>The Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) is now accepting
applications for an AmeriCorps Stewardship & Conservation Education
Associate through AmeriCorps Project Conserve (ACPC) for the 2024-25
service term.</div><div><br></div><div>AmeriCorps service with HRI
provides an excellent opportunity to interact with the local
environmental conservation and natural resources community, engage in
impactful work with a great team of professionals and members of the
public, and be out in the woods in special places in the Southern
Appalachian mountain region of Western North Carolina.</div><div><br></div><div>ACPC
members serve an 11-month term from September 3, 2024 to July 31, 2025
with a total service commitment of 1,700 hours. Compensation includes a
$31,000 living stipend (split over the term), a $7,395 educational
award, professional development opportunities, and additional benefits
outlined on the Project Conserve website. This position is based out of
HRI’s office in Asheville, NC.</div><div><br></div><div>The Stewardship
& Conservation Education Associate will educate, engage, and empower
more community members and groups to participate in hemlock
conservation. The ACPC member will assist HRI in outreach and education
efforts to spread accurate, useful, up-to-date information about
hemlocks, their importance to our ecosystems and economy, and what can
be done to save them. There will be significant face-to-face interaction
through outreach activities, which will include educational
presentations, trainings, demonstrations, hikes, tabling events, and
volunteer days. Additionally, the ACPC member will work with partners
(NC state agencies, USFS, local and regional conservation non-profits,
and volunteers) to protect more hemlock trees from the impacts of the
hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). This will primarily be accomplished using
chemical and biological control methods, but occasionally will involve
assisting with other hemlock restoration strategies as well. The member
will work closely with HRI staff and forestry technicians in the field
and office.</div><div><br></div><div>Primary duties may include:<br><ul><li>Conducting
educational programs about hemlock conservation, including
presentations, hikes, trainings, and outreach at public tabling events</li><li>Sharing
HRI and partner activities and accomplishments and other HRI-related
stories through the HRI website, Instagram, Facebook, and HRI
newsletters</li><li>Assisting with HWA management activities including
stand assessments and HWA chemical and biological control treatments on
federal and state public lands and private conserved lands</li><li>Writing and updating treatment plans</li><li>Biocontrol surveys and data collection</li><li>Maintenance of equipment and data</li><li>Email, phone, and in-person communication with partners, volunteers, and members of the public</li></ul>To learn more about the position and how to apply, visit the HRI website: <a href="https://savehemlocksnc.org/americorps-2024/" target="_blank">https://savehemlocksnc.org/americorps-2024/</a><br><br>Applications are due by May 31, 2024. All questions can be directed to Thom Green with HRI at <a href="mailto:info@savehemlocksnc.org" target="_blank">info@savehemlocksnc.org</a>.<br></div><div><br></div><div><i>The
mission of AmeriCorps Project Conserve is to serve Western North
Carolina by building stronger, more educated, and more informed
communities. Project Conserve is administered by Conserving Carolina and
funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the North Carolina Commission on
Volunteerism and Community Service in the office of Governor Roy Cooper,
and the critical support of our host sites and community partners.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>The
Hemlock Restoration Initiative’s mission is to work with a variety of
partners and existing programs to restore hemlocks to long-term health
throughout North Carolina and ensure that eastern and Carolina hemlocks
can resist hemlock woolly adelgid and survive to maturity on North
Carolina’s public and private lands. HRI is a grant-funded program
managed by WNC Communities.</i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i>WNC
Communities is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate
because of race, color, national origin, religion, gender identity, age,
disability, sexual orientation, or familial status. People with diverse
skills and experience are encouraged to apply.<br></i></div><div><i><br><br></i></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="2">Thom Green (he/him/his)<br></font></div><div><font size="2">National Forests Treatment Coordinator<br></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2">Hemlock Restoration Initiative</font></div><div><i><font size="2">A program of WNC Communities<br></font></i></div><div><i><font size="2"></font></i></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><font size="2">Office: (828) 252-4783</font><br></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><a href="mailto:info@savehemlocksnc.org" target="_blank">info@savehemlocksnc.org</a><br><a href="https://savehemlocksnc.org/" target="_blank">SaveHemlocksNC.org</a><br></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4zw-6yY2XlPnXPiAo9IOENzVeL8IMs6sIRVwbB43wN2HpvXuiLZishLnIMWg1X9MnCVhHj9vQU" width="200" height="42"><br></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>