AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team

As part of our 46-Member Emergency Response Team (ERT), you will gain experience and training in the fields of environmental stewardship, wildland fire, and disaster response over the course of an 11-month AmeriCorps National Service term. The ERT functions as a conservation corps that assists partner organizations with vital natural resource management and restoration projects, including trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and prescribed burning. The ERT also acts as a multi-functional rapid deployment group able to respond throughout the country to floods, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, and other disasters. The service term operates from September through August, with ACSTL operating as many as eight crews at a time throughout Missouri, Illinois, and/or on disaster deployment. Teams complete projects in partnership with non-profit, local, state, and federal agencies. Members frequently travel for week long, overnight projects across the state.

No prior experience is necessary, and all experience is welcome. Through the program, Members receive training and certifications in a variety of skill sets including chainsawing, wildland firefighting, and emergency incident management. Additional opportunities to develop leadership experience through the Assistant Team Lead program are available later in the service term. These experiences and certifications leave Members well qualified in related career fields after their service.

ACSTL provides a challenging and fun opportunity to explore the conservation, fire, and disaster fields; serve the environment and local/state/national community; meet people from different backgrounds; enjoy an outdoor office; earn money for education; and be a part of a supportive, welcoming community.