BSWC Host Site Application Form

Big Sky Watershed Corps (BSWC) Program Focus

The Big Sky Watershed Corps is an AmeriCorps program that invests in Montana’s watershed communities to make a measurable difference in local conservation efforts while strengthening the experience of young professionals. The Big Sky Watershed Corps is a partnership among the Montana Conservation Corps, the Montana Watershed Coordination Council, and the Montana Association of Conservation Districts.

MCC values diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We affirm the dignity and value of all human beings. We celebrate the diverse backgrounds and identities of our corps members and staff. It is our priority to create a culture of safety, belonging, and validation for everyone, especially those facing marginalization. Social justice is both a process and a goal. We are focused on identifying and interrupting oppression and prioritize partners that uphold these values.

Host Site Selection Criteria & Expectations

Designate an on-site Supervisor who will attend Supervisor orientation in January, and provide a minimum of 5 hours of supervision/direct contact time per week. Supervisors are responsible for regular meetings with the Member to monitor and ensure result-based progress. Supervisors will also sign member time sheets, participate in conference calls and complete all necessary program reporting.
Provide the Member with adequate office space, telephone, computer and internet access, and financial support for travel expenses incurred.
Clearly identify projects and goals that will fulfill an unmet local conservation need, positively affect the community and provide a valuable experience for the AmeriCorps BSWC member.
Help recruit potential Members and complete interviews and reference checks of prospective Members.
Provide the Member with a thorough orientation to the community and organization’s philosophy, program, policies, board members and staff. Include the Member in appropriate meetings, retreats, and community events to help connect to community partners.
Encourage and support professional development opportunities for the Member, such as conferences, trainings, workshops and other opportunities to network with watershed professionals in Montana.
Share success stories and help promote and support the program as appropriate.
Allow Member to attend four required program trainings: Orientation in January (3 days), Education and Outreach in February (3 days), Service Symposium in March (4 days), and Technical Skills training in May (4 days). All travel costs will be provided for these trainings, but please know that Members will be away from host sites during these trainings.
Site Supervisors will provide immediate oversight and complete two written member performance evaluations over the course of the year; one at mid-term and one at the end of the term.
Focus member efforts on community-identified natural resource priorities

There is an expectation that the BSWC Member is supervised and mentored by MCC AND the host site supervisor. Are you able to meet the supervision requirements outlined above?

Salesforce Static Fields - Change Yearly!

Start Date

AC Term/Type

End Date (Anticipated)

Age Category

Cost Share Amount

Driving Status

Eligible Host Site Projects

During their term of service, Members work on a variety of activities that should fall into one or more of the BSWC programmatic goals described below, but they may focus on specific areas as well. Applications able to address all program goals, connect with local communities and focus on local natural resources will be given priority in site selection.

Watershed Health and Protection: Members develop projects to protect local water resources. Their activities may include: watershed inventories; restoration; drought planning; water quality/quantity monitoring; soil health; stream, habitat and riparian restoration; re-vegetation projects; riparian fencing; local river clean-up efforts; abandoned mine reclamation; irrigation infrastructure improvements; aquatic invasive species; and more. Host sites directed by Watershed Restoration Plans or that incorporate aspects of the State Water Plan and State Drought Plan may be given priority. Members are required to track the miles of restored streams, data points collected and/or projects implemented.
Watershed Education and Outreach: Members play an integral role in helping to promote watershed health and natural resource conservation through outreach and education. They may reach out to Montana watershed communities through lessons in elementary and high schools, community field days, workshops, and trainings. Members may develop curriculum; focus on local issues with local solutions; implement outreach campaigns, newsletters, websites and media for communities; and organize public meetings and events for community stakeholders. Members track the number of students and community members (beneficiaries) who receive and benefit from these education and outreach efforts.
Volunteer Generation and Capacity Building: Members may host volunteer trainings and events that relate to watershed health and protection. They may focus on engaging volunteers for major community events as well as recruiting a long-term, skilled, and influential volunteer base. Members may help create dedicated volunteer stream or snow monitoring teams; design and lead youth-focused volunteer events to get young people involved in experiential, field-based activities, and inspire a new generation of local landscape stewards. Members track participation through volunteer satisfaction surveys for every event they organize and implement.

There is an expectation that the BSWC Host Site Projects fall into one or more of the BSWC programmatic goals described above, connect with local communities and center on local natural resource concerns. Are your projects able to meet the requirements outlined above?

AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities

AmeriCorps prohibits their members from participating in several activities (see below). Not all prohibited activities are listed. For more information, please review the BSWC Site Supervisor Handbook.

Participating in religious activities or, partisan political activities during designated service hours
Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials
Engaging in any efforts to influence legislation, including state or local ballot initiatives
Administrative work, unless it directly relates to the member’s approved direct service activities
Assignments that displace employees
Remote Work/Teleservice -- AmeriCorps members should generally be providing service directly to the people and in the communities where they serve rather than performing service remotely. Therefore, teleservice should be rare, if ever, and involve appropriate documentation, supervision and oversight. Teleservice is appropriate only when the activity can be meaningfully supervised and the hours verified independently and should only be a small portion of the member's total hours.

Roles and Responsibilites

Selected BSWC Host Sites will be asked to sign a Memorandum of Agreement that identifies the roles and responsibilities of each organization.
Designated Site Supervisors and Members must pass a criminal background check.
MCC will provide a monthly living allowance, health insurance and workers compensation for approved Members.
Program partners will provide orientation, training and ongoing professional technical support and guidance to Members and Supervisors.

I have read and agree to the above terms.Electronic Signature agreeing to terms.

Host Site Information

Organization Name

60 character limit

Organization Type

Physical Address

City

State

Postal Code

Mailing Address

City

State

Postal Code

Primary Supervisor:

First Name

Last Name

Title

Email

Phone

Is there more than one Host Site/Organization collaborating to host a member?

YesNo

Secondary Host Site

Secondary Organization Name

Physical Address

City

State

Postal Code

Organization Type

Mailing Address

City

State

Postal Code

Secondary Host-Site Supervisor

First Name

Last Name

Title

Email

Phone

Host Site/Member Location (community where office/Member is located):

Additional partners that may be involved in project(s), support or oversight:

Host Site Organization

How many staff members are currently employed at your organization?

What is your organization's mission? How do you fulfill this mission and meet community natural resource needs?

Do you have the work space and required support items (telephone, computer and internet access, and financial support for travel expenses)?

If no, please explain.

What professional development opportunities will be available to a BSWC Member through your organization?

Do you anticipate any difficulty for the BSWC Member to find affordable housing in your community, given income of approximately $2,400/month pre-tax? (There is an option to add funds to the cost share to increase the member living stipend)

If yes, please explain.

Would you be willing to assist the BSWC Member in finding housing?

Housing Stipend Options

Do you plan to host more than 1 member?

YesNo

Do the Member Expectations change from member to member?

Yes, they change. No, member expectations will be the same for all members.

Use the 'Add Another Position' button to add your second "position" for the other members with different expectations. For example, one or two members might be doing Education and Outreach in the community and the other two are doing ArcGIS work.

Position

List the top three specific skills and qualifications that will best suit the project and host site needs.

Preferred Skill 1

Preferred Skill 2

Preferred Skill 3

Number of Members desired for the position with these skills?

Project Description

Describe the project(s) your organization will have the BSWC Member work on.

If you plan to host more than one BSWC member, please specify the differences in project descriptions for each member.

Give at least one example of how the work plan project(s) will serve your community.

Supervision and Funding

Description of the supervisor’s position within your organization

How many hours per week does this person plan to spend supervising the Member?

Do you have any concerns about raising the $16,000 cost share, plus additional funding for travel, etc.?

YesNo

If so, please describe.

Site Supervisor Understanding

Required for submission.

I understand if selected, our organization will sign a Memorandum of Agreement and Site Assurances that details the roles and responsibilities of each entity and commits our organization to a $16,000 cash cost share.

I have read and understood the Eligibility and Selection Criteria and have aligned our project with the goals and objectives of the BSWC program.