The Onondaga Earth Corps (OEC)

A youth development and employment program for young people on the South and Near West Sides of Syracuse. As youth work on community and environmental service projects, they learn valuable job and life skills, community based problem solving skills, civic engagement, an environmental ethic and technical skills in urban forestry and other urban
green infrastructure.

Onondaga Earth Corps members restore urban forests and beautify their own neighborhoods.  The work of OEC is hard and technical but it is also rewarding.  Corps members make a difference!
OEC members will work as a team under the leadership of a crew supervisor and perform a variety of environmental service projects in their community including planting and caring for street trees, providing quality lawn care and beautifying vacant lots.  Corps members attend a three-day overnight orientation and receive training on leadership, environmental education, technical and life skills.  Projects are almost exclusively outdoors and involve strenuous physical labor in all weather conditions.  Corps members will also be required to identify and complete a volunteer project.  The Corps will go on field trips to state parks, forests, and other natural habitats throughout Central New York to increase their knowledge about and interest in the natural environment and environmental careers.  Your crew will participate in setting goals for how much work you will accomplish during the summer.  You are expected to work hard and to give feedback to make the program better. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Must be between 15 and 17 years old
Must be actively working toward completion of a high school diploma or G.E.D.
Ability to work effectively as a team member and work well with other corps members, staff, and the general public
Ability to perform heavy manual labor for extended periods of time and under adverse weather conditions Must want to attend work, be ready to learn about trees and the environment, and enjoy working outdoors
Ability to listen, understand and carry out oral and written instructions
Ability to effectively learn and apply new work skills including presenting to the public
Ability to maintain optimal physical health and drug-free lifestyle while enrolled

Typical Duties:

Works effectively as member of the team
Performs heavy manual labor related to improving soil conditions around trees
Capable of working outdoors in all types of weather and can adapt to various climates
Effectively learn and apply new technical skills related to urban forest and landscape management
Actively participates in educational, training and development activities
Practices appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned
Educate the public about the work of the Onondaga Earth Corps

Other Requirements:

Corps members must maintain a positive, constructive attitude for a good team dynamic
Corps members must maintain good physical health and a drug-free lifestyle while enrolled
Corps members must attend all trainings, educational workshops and meetings as scheduled
Corps members are REQUIRED to arrive to the work place on time and be prepared to work
Corps members are required to wear the Onondaga Earth Corps t-shirt.

Time Frame & Pay

The Earth Corps currently runs three sessions:

Summer (July- late August)
Fall (early September to mid-November)
Spring (May to mid June)

During the summer session, corps members will work a 25-hour workweek. In the fall and spring sessions, corps members will work four hours once a week on Saturday mornings.

Pay is $7.25/hr.

The tentative deadline for receiving applications is
Summer session                  April 15th
Fall session                August 15th
Spring session                February 15th

Jobs/Opportunities:

For further information about joining the corps or collaborating with us, please contact:

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County
Urban and Community Forestry
Community Educator
Gregory Michel: gsm54@cornell.edu
315-424-9485 ext 231

SouthSide Neighborhood Action Group
Director: Amanda Pascal
ssideaction@gmail.com