Conservation Corps - 2025 Fall Snow Mountain Wilderness Recovery Team

Position Summary

Why Join Us? This isn't your average 9-to-5 job. As a Crew Member, you'll be part of a team working on trail recovery projects in Mendocino National Forest, a land still healing from the Ranch Fire. Work with hand tools and chainsaws to rebuild damaged trails, clear debris, and restore trail structures, while building a community with like-minded individuals. Living and working outside will help you develop a unique relationship to the outdoor world. Share sunrises with giant trees and explore vast landscapes with your crew. Now is the perfect opportunity to dedicate your time and energy to a project that helps the planet and people.

Location

Upper Lake, CA

Schedule

September 29, 2025 - November 22, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Your Impact Rebuild trails – You'll play a key role in ensuring that recreation users can safely enjoy our national forests, helping them connect to the outdoors. Promote fire recovery – Keeping people and motorized vehicles on trails gives surrounding areas a chance to recover and minimizes future impact. Create community – Create and maintain a cohesive community with other participants from across the country.

Marginal Duties

What We're Looking For Crew members will develop skills that will make them good candidates for entry-level seasonal positions with land management agencies like the US Forest Service and the National Park Service. Work will involve physical exertion and be performed outdoors, in varying weather conditions. SCA is looking for members open to new experiences, willingness to perform hard physical labor and enthusiasm for sharing space with others. Experienced candidates will have a foundation in outdoor living (hiking, camping and backpacking) and experience working outside, but this is not a requirement. Eagerness to learn in challenging conditions, actively contributing to maintaining a welcoming community, and adaptability in dynamic work environments are equally important qualities we are seeking in candidates. Conservation work is unpredictable. Crews will have to navigate inclement weather, from waking up in single digit temperatures, to all day sun exposure. It is possible to experience thunderstorms, extreme winds, and smoke all within the same workday. The most successful teams are those who can adapt as challenges arise and continue to work effectively with their team. Success hinges on understanding and addressing both personal and group needs. Participants must be fully invested in taking care of themselves and supporting their crew. Western Trail Corps is a substance-free program. Consumption of alcohol is never permitted when on duty. This begins at the start of pre-hitch and ends once all post-hitch activities are completed. Marijuana and illegal substances are never permitted. Participants will adhere to this policy, along with other expectations set by SCA.

Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications Must be 18 or older by the position start date; Must have the ability to legally work in the US; Ability to pass SCA background check; Must be able to attend Crew Member Training: 9/29/2025 - 10/12/2025; Full engagement in all work projects and community activities; Must uphold project, crew community, basecamp, vehicle, and general safety standards; Commitment to teamwork, learning, and problem-solving; Ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation; Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, hike 5+ miles in a day and occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications Camping and/or backpacking experience; Experience using hand tools and/or chainsaws; Strong interpersonal skills and community living experience; For driver eligibility, must be over 21 years old, possess a valid driver's license for 3+ years, a Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA standards and complete SCA driver training;

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

Participants should be prepared to camp in frontcountry and/or backcountry conditions throughout the program, both on hitch and days off. This means more chances to connect with nature, and limited access to electricity, running water and showers. Community chores such as preparing meals and washing dishes will be shared by members and leader. SCA will provide group gear such as tents, kitchen supplies (such as pots, pans, and stoves), and uniform items. Leaders and members will be expected to bring their personal items such as a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothing, and mess kit. To support the crew's efforts, crews are issued an SCA vehicle and trailer for transportation and storage, and a field budget to purchase groceries, supplies, and fuel. What Might the Season Look Like? Service begins at Crew Member Training, where participants will gather with other corps teams to develop skills needed for the season. Training is field-based and will include a review of chainsaw use, tools for conflict management and proper basecamp setup. Staff will also share expectations on risk management in the field. A Wilderness First Aid course is offered to members during training. Upon completion of Crew Member Training, the crew will travel to their project site in Mendocino National Forest. The crew will work on projects aimed at making trails safe and enjoyable for recreation users. Priorities include Bathhouse and Deafy Glade Trails. The crew will end with crews traveling to Ridgecrest, CA to participate in cleaning up tools and equipment at derig. Work Schedule In general, members should expect to work on their project for 80 hours within a two-week span. This crew will work 8 10-hour workdays with 6 days off. Members and leaders are expected to share community tasks, like cooking meals and shopping for food, outside of working hours. Off-time activities vary from crew to crew. Some crews use off-time to explore surrounding areas, such as visiting local National Parks. Other crews curl up in a coffee shop to decompress. Some crews do a bit of both. Time off is an opportunity to recharge before getting back on trail.

Compensation

$650 one-time round-trip travel allowance (paid with first pay check) $400 weekly living allowance; *All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Meals: Provided during fieldwork Gear: Group camping gear, like tents, stoves, and filters, are provided

Additional Benefits Wildlife Safety Training US Forest Service Chainsaw Training Defensive Driver Training Wilderness First Aid Training, mental health service

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Not needed

Additional Benefits

Bear Safety

Defensive Drive Training

First Aid/CPR

Wilderness First Aid Training

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.