Acoma Ancestral Lands Farm Corps - Summer VISTA Associate - AmeriCorps

Position Title:

2026

Acoma Ancestral Lands Farm Corps Summer VISTA Associate Conservation Legacy Program:

Stewards Individual Placement Site Location:

Acoma Senior Center 70 Pinsbaari Drive Acoma

NM 87034

Terms of Service:

Start date: June 29, 2026 End date: Sept 4, 2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification:

Minimum-time Age Requirement:

21-25

Schedule:

Weekdays Monday through Friday 8-hour days 8 am to 4:30 pm Application closes May 21, 2026 Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) engages motivated Indigenous young adults, ages 21- 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout the western United States. Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, historic preservation, and local environmental service projects. ALCC provides opportunities for members to learn about and connect with the environment, issues surrounding conservation, and local Indigenous values. ALCC crews work in a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and other public areas. Selected members are placed on a crew which will then collaborate to perform project work. ALCC is a non-residential program and does not offer housing. Gear and equipment rental is available upon request.

Position Summary:

The vision of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Farm Corps is to catalyze a movement to restore our local food systems through agriculture, seed sovereignty, and traditional knowledge. By fostering intergenerational community and intertribal connections between youth and elders, and empowering future generations through mentorship and immersive farmer training, we aim to protect and revitalize our seeds, ensuring the resilience of our cultural and agricultural heritage for generations to come. The Farm Corps began in 2011 as a summer youth program in Acoma Pueblo, offering participants a hands-on experience in cultivating crops with traditional landrace seeds and flood irrigation farming. Over time, the program has evolved into an immersive experience through core areas, which include ancestral Pueblo agroecological approach to cultivation and land stewardship, the regeneration and rematriation of indigenous landrace seeds, and fostering community and intertribal peer relationships. Throughout the growing season, participants receive a living stipend while engaging in every stage of cultivation—from soil conservation and regeneration practices, seed-saving techniques, traditional and modern irrigation methods, to seed processing and traditional food preparation. The Ancestral Lands Farm Corps model has expanded to serve the communities of Zuni and Isleta Pueblo. Our community growing efforts support continuity and resilience by providing seed access and educational resources, rooted in the regeneration of indigenous seeds uniquely adapted to the Southwest's climate, soils, aridity, and agroecological techniques. Many of these seeds, displaced over time through well-meaning conservation efforts, are now being returned to their ancestral lands, waters, and caretakers through our rematriation work. These propagated seeds are stored in our Community Seed Bank, freely available upon request to Acoma Pueblo and other Southwest tribal communities. The Ancestral Lands Farm Corp Summer Associate assist with curriculum development, internal education materials, grant research and writing support, outreach and storytelling efforts, and general program capacity building. Responsibilities may include documenting program activities, assisting with social media and communications planning, gathering information for reports and proposals, and supporting the development of training materials for corps members and community participants. Participants will receive hands-on training and exposure to: Seed saving and plant propagation Traditional and sustainable agricultural practices Traditional culinary knowledge and food preservation practices Community-based food systems and Indigenous food sovereignty initiatives Educational curriculum and program development The Summer Associate may also assist with seasonal farm and field activities in support of the Acoma Farm Corps Program. Work may occur both indoors and outdoors and includes exposure to varying New Mexico weather conditions, including heat, wind, rain, and other seasonal environmental factors. Members are expected to communicate with staff regarding safety concerns or stand-down situations related to weather or field conditions.

Responsibilities:

Curriculum Development and Grant Writing Aid the Farm Corps Staff with developing curriculum related to our agricultural initiatives Assist our staff grant writer with creating and drafting proposals to support the Ancestral Lands Farm Corps Safety & Risk Management Promote the crew's physical and emotional safety on and off the work site Communicate and manage field incidents with ALCC staff Transport crew and equipment safely in ALCC vehicles with trailers

Essential Skills:

Strong and holistic situational awareness Strong time-management skills Willingness to learn and be a part of a community of peer leaders.

Essential Functions:

Frequently required to walk, hike, sit and talk or listen Required to use hands to operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms Required to drive an ALCC vehicle; must have an insurable driving record Must be able to speak, understand, read, and write

English Note:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

Other Considerations:

Minimum Experience and Qualifications:

Experience in facilitating and building community with diverse groups of people Must have a High School diploma or High School Equivalency Degree Must be 21 or over, have a clean driving record and a current driver's license M ust successfully complete a criminal history check. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of criminal history check process.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications:

Demonstrated project management experience in Farming or Farm corps program Familiarity with Leave No Trace (LNT) principles Current Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, and/or CPR certification Experience with ALCC or other conservation corps or youth corps Experience with experiential and/or environmental education Leadership experience with youth and/or young adults Experience working with the vulnerable population of people, i.e. children and the elderly

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

Weekdays, Monday through Friday 8-hour days 8 am to 4:30 pm

Orientation and Training:

Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Benefits:

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08 Living Allowance of $957.46 (taxable) every other week. Healthcare Coverage if Eligible Childcare Coverage if Eligible Loan forbearance if Eligible Interest Payments if

Eligible Recreational Opportunities Professional Development Opportunities Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, performance will be evaluated on whether the Summer Associate has completed their term of service, whether the Summer Associate has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the Summer Associate has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service. Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Erin Adams eadams@conservationlegacy.org 330 Harper Park Drive Beckley, WV 25801 (304) 860-0578

Host Organization Contact:

Aaron Lowden (Kuuwai) (he/him/his) Ancestral Lands Food Systems Program Manager 505-360-8581 aaron@conservationlegacy.org Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.