Frequently Asked Questions

All openings are posted on the website. The application can be completed online. Click any “Apply Now” button.

All positions are also listed here: Current Open Opportunities

Once we receive the application, it will be reviewed by hiring staff.  If you are selected for an initial interview, staff will reach out within a few weeks via email to schedule a time for this initial interview. 

If you are selected to move forward after the initial interview, you will be notified of a connection with a Host Site with whom you will have a second interview. It is ultimately up to the Host Site who will be hired, and onboarding will take place from there.

Yes. To reduce our paper consumption, we prefer applications that are completed online. Please email apply@mtcorps.org if you require accommodations.

All of our positions are open until filled and the hiring process is competitive. Early applications are encouraged.

The Open Opportunities page will list when applications are open. The timeline from when you apply to when you’re offered a position will vary. For most positions you should hear from Individual Placement staff within a few weeks- either if you’ve been invited to interview for a position or if you are no longer being considered. If you’re offered a position, it’s extremely important for you to remain in contact with MCC staff to complete the AmeriCorps enrollment process. 

AmeriCorps members must be:

• A U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Age requirements are 17 - 30, and up to 35 for military veterans
• Have obtained (or be willing to obtain), a high school diploma or GED 

Please fully take into account the dates for the term of service. If you cannot commit to the full duration of the program dates, please look at another one of our programs.

Those seeking a position with Big Sky Watershed Corps must also have a college degree or equivalent, preferably in watershed, environment, or an education related field.

Of course! Many of our members are college students. Please check that your availability coincides with our program dates. Some students find it necessary to take off the fall school semester to complete our program. 

While MCC doesn't drug screen prior to hiring new members, we do reserve the right to test if there is valid reason. MCC is a drug and alcohol free workplace. Drugs and alcohol are not permitted on MCC time while serving.

Individual Placement Program candidates are matched with Host Sites for second interviews based on the Host Site’s qualifications and the candidate’s interests and goals, as determined by staff through the application and interview process. The more thorough you are during this process, the more information staff will have to make a match that fits your goals.

Individual Placement Program candidates only interview with one host site at a time. This is due to the competitive nature of our programs. It is not guaranteed that you will have an opportunity to interview with multiple host sites.

It is extremely rare to have members start later than the established start dates. Our programs are highly contingent on you attending the in-person orientation at the beginning of your term of service.

No. AmeriCorps is centered around place-based service, and, as such, all AmeriCorps hours must be served within the state of service. This includes all members’ end-of-term training.

AmeriCorps positions  are open to all US Citizens, Nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents

The stipend is adequate to meet your basic needs for housing, food, and routine needs. You may find it difficult to meet other financial obligations such as a car payment or credit card payment, so please consider your needs and determine whether you would be able to budget appropriately.

The living allowance amount is posted for each specific position- check the position details for amounts.

Things to consider that may be helpful:

• You may be able to defer your student loan payments during your term of service. Talk to your lender for more information.
• Many participants qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or "food stamps" to help with purchasing food while not on projects
• Many participants utilize resources in their community, like food banks
• MCC provides uniforms including a T-shirt, sweatshirt, button down, and hat for your term of service.

We enroll all of our participants in the AmeriCorps Member Assistance Program (MAP), which provides FREE 24/7 behavioral health resources to our participants.  In addition, this also provides access to life coaching, financial planning, legal assistance, and more.  More information here.

Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority allows qualified AmeriCorps alumni with adequate hours served on public lands to apply for federal jobs (Forest Service, Park Service, Bureau of Land Management) as a "merit candidate." This means eligible members can apply for federal positions in the same applicant pool as other federal employees and may not have to compete with the general public. It greatly increases the chances of being hired.

To qualify for this benefit, members must serve a minimum of a 675-hour term, with 120 being served on public lands. Members must also be under the age of 30. Other stipulations may apply.

We currently offer two community spaces, Corps Members of Color and LGBTQIA2+ Corps Members, to build community, connection, and support during the season. The groups come together for an annual campout and are open to all participants who identify within the respective community.

All American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native members serving in one of our AmeriCorps programs are eligible to receive this award. For those eligible, you can opt into the funding during your onboarding process. The award comes as taxable income and is dispersed in one of your first two paychecks once the program starts.

MCC’s programs offer limited gear and housing assistance and we manage a temporary relief fund should members encounter unforeseen circumstances throughout their term.

Members who complete a term of service will also receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which can be used to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

In the Individual Placement Program, schedules can vary widely from Host Site to Host Site. Flexibility is an essential part of a successful term of service. Your schedule will fluctuate to meet the needs of project partners. Some Host Sites operate on a traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday, some operate on the weekends to meet the recreational needs of public lands, others operate on a hitch schedule, with roughly 9 days on in the backcountry and 4-6 days off in town. This is an excellent question to ask during a second interview with a Host Site partner.

In the Individual Placement Program, the nature of the work greatly varies from Host Site to Host Site. Past projects include climate resiliency, habitat restoration, K-12 programming, rangeland science, soil monitoring, invasive species treatment, developed recreation management, GIS mapping, stream and wetland restoration, cave and karst feature surveys, conservation education and outreach, volunteer management, and more. We encourage you to express your interests in your application and during an initial interview. We also encourage you to ask about the nature of the work during a second interview with a Host Site partner.

Learn more about past member projects here!

Members serve at partnering federal/state agencies, nonprofits, tribal offices, and other community-based conservation organizations across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. These organizations all vary greatly in size and location.

Here are some of the many agencies that host members:

• The National Park Service
• US Forest Service
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Bureau of Reclamation
• US Fish & Wildlife Service
• Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
• Montana State Parks
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council
• Soil & Water Conservation Districts of Montana
• Many local & national conservation non-profits

Host Sites are located in communities across Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. These communities could range from rural towns with less than 1,000 people and limited amenities to cities with 100,000 people. Individual Placement Program members should be prepared to interact with rural communities in their terms of service.

In general, members are responsible for securing housing. The stipend is adequate to meet your basic needs for housing, food, and routine needs. While some host sites can provide bunkhouse space or other accommodations, it is not guaranteed and often still requires members to pay a nominal monthly rent. However, all Host Site Supervisors are committed to bringing members to their communities, and can provide guidance and assistance in securing housing within their communities.

For Individual Placement Programs, it is a requirement that you have personal transportation and a valid driver’s license. This is due to the lack of public transportation in most Host Site communities, the need to be able to report to the Host Site and required trainings, and the possible requirement to drive vehicles owned by the Host Site.

You are responsible for your transportation costs to and from Montana.  Please communicate with your Program Manager if this is a major issue. There may be ways in which we can accommodate you.  We also have a Temporary Relief Fund to assist some participants with portions of the financial cost associated with a term of service with MCC.

Many of our positions can count as an internship!  This is up to you to discuss with your academic advisor or professor(s).  MCC will help look over work plans and assist in signing off on any hours that could be counted toward an internship.

We have seen many members receive scholarships through their universities to participate in our programs. Reach out to your school administration and advisors to inquire about opportunities at your institution.

Native Corpsmember Award: All American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native members serving in one of our AmeriCorps programs are eligible to receive this award. For those eligible, you can opt into the funding during your onboarding process. The award comes as taxable income and is dispersed in one of your first two paychecks once the program starts.

Temporary Financial Assistance: MCC’s programs offer limited gear and housing assistance, and we manage a temporary relief fund should members encounter unforeseen circumstances throughout their term.

MCC does not offer any other funds that you may apply for; however, we have seen many members receive scholarships through their universities to participate in our programs. Reach out to your school administration and advisors to inquire about opportunities at your institution.

Much of this depends on your interests. Many members return the next year as Big Sky Watershed Corps members or find work with the Forest Service, Park Service, or other natural resource agencies and organizations. Some of our MCC alumni come back to work for us in our regional or state offices as staff members. 

Our Conservation Interns, Fellows, and Big Sky Watershed Corps members have even written grants to fund a staff position and stay on with their Host Site. 

The lifelong skills you build with MCC are transferable to countless other careers as well!

Take a look at our alumni resource page for tons of post-MCC career resources, job boards, and other opportunities.