Many positions at SCA are AmeriCorps eligible and as part of their SCA experience. Most members are offered the option to enroll in the AmeriCorps program. When you choose to serve in an SCA AmeriCorps program, you become an AmeriCorps member in addition to an SCA member. All you need to do is follow a few additional paperwork and easily attainable program requirements and commit to completing a minimum number of hours for your internship.
Watch this video to see how joining the SCA AmeriCorps program demonstrates your commitment to national service.
During the position, SCA AmeriCorps members receive benefits such as:
SCA AmeriCorps members, upon successful completion of service, will receive education funds to pay towards:
Awards are good for 7 years, so even if you aren’t enrolled in school you can save it for when you need it!
AmeriCorps Education Awards are made possible by a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). SCA has a limited number of spots in AmeriCorps each year; therefore, the option to enroll in AmeriCorps is on a first-come first-serve basis. Find out more about the AmeriCorps Education Award on the CNCS website, and learn all about SCA’s AmeriCorps Education Award Program below:
To be eligible to participate in the SCA AmeriCorps Education Award Program, SCA members must:
For those who have serving in AmeriCorps previously (with SCA or another participating organization) must:
Education Awards are offered based on award availability and the length of your term of service.
Upon Confirmation of Acceptance, you are enrolled in one of the below awards (updated annually):
In order to receive your education award, you must complete the entire length of your service term and serve your minimum required hours. For details about the AmeriCorps Education Award, visit AmeriCorps Education Award FAQs on the AmeriCorps website.
In order to fulfill the requirements for SCA AmeriCorps and receive your education award at the conclusion of your position, you must complete the entire length of your service and the minimum hours agreed to in your SCA AmeriCorps Member Agreement. Most members exceed the minimum required hours.
If you don’t believe you’ll meet the hours or if you’ll be working more hours, SCA has 90 days to upgrade from start date and 30 days to downgrade from start date. SCA cannot downgrade or upgrade an AmeriCorps award size after you have finished service.
Your SCA AmeriCorps service is to be continuous, and any change in your service requires approval from your Program Manager and SCA. You are required to stay for the full length of your service and track hours up until your official end date unless you have an illness or emergency/personal compelling circumstance that results in your early departure. *Please note: Early departures may result in loss of award and are handled on a case by case basis.*
SCA uses Time Logs to track your service hours throughout your position, it is your responsibility to track your service hours to make sure that you reach the minimum required hours offered in your Confirmation of Acceptance and agreed to in your SCA AmeriCorps Member Agreement. All SCA members are expected to submit their Time Logs on a weekly basis. If backcountry service limits computer access, please update your SCA advisor. Output Logs are completed as you finish specific hitches or projects or on a regular basis to sum up accomplishments in one work category over a period of time.
Annual leave/PTO, sick leave, and holiday non-work hours are counted as zero and must still be reported as zero hours. The pay schedule will not be affected unless it passes 7 days of non-working hours, then a service interruption will be put in place. Non-working hours will affect the total hours needed for the AmeriCorps award, please plan accordingly with your site supervisor.
For more information on navigating Time Logs and Output Logs visit the Intern Resource Page.
As an AmeriCorps member you are required to have a completed and satisfactory End-of-Term Evaluation on file. Members enrolled in 1700-hr, 1200-hr, and 900-hr AmeriCorps Education Awards also need a Mid-Term Evaluation and Final Evaluation completed by their supervisor. These evaluations are completed online and are distributed to your position supervisor by email as part of the regular communications between SCA and your site. Please make sure your supervisor completes these at the end of your position.
Members enrolled in the Education Award Program will receive an AmeriCorps labeled uniform as well as an embroidered patch and AmeriCorps button. Please proudly identify yourself as an AmeriCorps member by wearing these as part of your uniform!
Looking for a way to highlight your SCA AmeriCorps service at your site? Download and post our SCA AmeriCorps Member Serves Here sign to show your support!
If you have qualified student loans, you can place your loans in forbearance during your service and have the accrued interest paid at the end of your service. This is handled directly by you, AmeriCorps, and your lender.
You will receive an official “AmeriCorps Enrollment Welcome” email with details about the AmeriCorps Education Award Program during your 1st week in the field. This email confirms your enrollment in the AmeriCorps Program, and at that time you will be able to request forbearance through your MyAmeriCorps account. Click here to learn about the process. For more information, visit the CNCS website.
AllOne Health provides members support with life coaching, legal referral, crisis intervention, medical advocacy, and work life service. Available 24/7, you can reach them at them at 800-451-1834. If logging in, use code: AmeriCorps.
Click here to view the orientation slides.
Please contact SCA with issues related to your service assignment, training, supervision, or housing as early as possible
While you are an SCA AmeriCorps member, there are some activities you may not engage in while wearing your uniform or accruing service hours. These activities include:
You are welcome to engage in any of these activities as a private citizen on your own time.
All SCA AmeriCorps members will have federal income tax deducted from their allowances, including living, housing and travel. You will be able to access your W-2 form in your PayCom account. Note: Your education award will be taxed in the year that you use the funds. AmeriCorps will mail you a 1099-Misc form in January for the preceding year.
Visit the page for Onboarding for SCA AmeriCorps Members
Visit the page for End of Term Wrap-Up for SCA AmeriCorps Members