ACE Eastern

Join Us – ACE CREW, Eastern

The American Conservation Experience (ACE) is one of the nation’s premier conservation corps and provides opportunities for young adults in all 50 states and several territories.

Our ACE Crew – Eastern division has an office in Asheville, NC but we work on projects throughout the entire US Eastern region. You don’t need to be based in Asheville to join our team – we work with individuals from many states! Take a look at our project sites. 

Our CREW program is for participants ages 18-30 (35 for veterans), who are interested in making a difference while gaining valuable skills and experience. ACE offers many options – whether you are exploring a short-term outdoor-related opportunity or considering a new career path. ACE Crews work alongside industry leaders such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and a number of state agencies and nonprofit partners. Members serve in professionally supervised teams and gain hands-on experience through trail maintenance, fire hazard reduction, habitat restoration projects, historical preservation, wildlife surveys, and more. A living allowance and housing are frequently included.

ACE is committed to attaining a workforce that represents the rich and diverse experiences of the communities in which we work.

Join our team today! Learn more about our current openings below to find the ACE Opportunity that’s right for you.

Why Crew?

  • Team setting to build both technical and interpersonal skills
  • Foundational conservation work and principles
  • Housing provided in most locations
  • Opportunities offered nationwide
  • Work with staff from local and federal land management agencies
  • Broad networking opportunities
  • Food and transportation while on project
  • Biweekly living allowance
  • AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful term completion
  • Some positions are eligible for PLC noncompetitive hiring authority
  • Hands-on field projects and trainings
  • Opportunities for professional development trainings
  • Opportunities to travel regionally for projects as well as off days

Based in Asheville, NC With Eastern US Coverage

Asheville was chosen for the Eastern Division office  because of its beautiful location nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, its eclectic feel, and its close proximity to a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and State Parks. The city sits on indigenous Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee East) land, and is also near native Catawba, Tutelo, and Keyauwee lands (visit the Native Land website to learn more about indigenous lands in this region and beyond). We extend our reach beyond Asheville to include project sites throughout the Eastern US. You don’t need to live in NC to join us – we work with members from many states! Visit our interactive map showing our project sites.

What We Do

ACE is renowned for our expertise in trail construction and maintenance which forms a large percentage of the projects conducted out of Asheville. The habitat restoration program has been growing steadily and comprises our other main project focus area in the Eastern Region. Habitat restoration involves invasive species removal, planting, riparian restoration, and timber stand improvement. Recently, ACE has become more involved in historical and cultural preservation at National Historic Sites and National Battlefields which encompasses a consistent percentage of work. 

Explore the Eastern Region’s Most Iconic Locations

  • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Gettysburg National Military Park
  • Congaree National Park
  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
  • Manassas National Battlefield Park
  • Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest
  • Sumter National Forest
  • Daniel Boone National Forest
  • Cherokee National Forest
  • Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
  • And many more!

Disaster Response Teams

ACE’s Eastern Division periodically sends an A-DRT crew (AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team) to assist with disaster response and recovery. ACE has sent crews to Fort Myers to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, assisted with debris removal for survivors of Typhoon Mawar in Guam and aided wildfire victims in Maui. The team is proud to be a part of the emergency management community.

 

Additional ACE Locations

ACE offers projects in some of the nation’s most beautiful destinations. If you would like to learn more about these options, use the links below.

Mountain West – Hurricane, UT
Southwest – Flagstaff, AZ
Pacific West – Central and Southern CA
EPIC – Opportunities Nationwide

 

I served with ACE for a total of 13 months over 3 separate terms. I loved working in incredibly beautiful places with awesome people improving our public lands. I really felt I was making a difference and was having a blast doing it. There were definitely some tough days out in the field but the people and the end results of our projects made it all worth it. Asheville is a great town to be in. There is always something to do in the city and the hiking and rock climbing just outside of town are hard to beat. During my off days I was out climbing at Looking Glass Rock, Linville Gorge, Ship Rock, and Rumbling Bald. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of all the great climbing NC has. 

- Casey F.

ACE Resources

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General Resources

Looking for general ACE information on safety guidelines, JEDI info, and ACE Learns Virtual Sessions, and more? You’ll find a collection of resources compiled or produced by ACE here.
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Member Resources

Already enrolled? This is your space to connect with your primary point of contact and division and find resources to support you on your ACE journey. This space is for current members only.  
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Alumni Resources

Looking to stay connected? As an ACE Alumni we want to stay in touch with you as you start your next adventure. Share your story, connect with former members and access professional resources here. 

About American Conservation Experience

Mission

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of a volunteer labor force to help restore America’s public lands. ACE is grounded in the philosophy that cooperative labor on meaningful conservation projects fosters cross-cultural understanding and operates on the belief that challenging volunteer service unites people of all backgrounds in common cause.

Our History

Founded in 2004 in Flagstaff, Arizona, ACE was established as a local conservation corps, providing a range of service programs and opportunities for both American and international participants.

Over the years ACE continued to grow and expand its programming partnerships that include federal land management agencies and dozens of federal, state, municipal, and nonprofit partnerships. Currently ACE operates out of hubs in Flagstaff AZ, Sacramento, CA, Salt Lake City and Hurricane UT and Asheville, NC along with a robust remote workforce located across the country.

Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
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