Trail Crew Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Trail Crew Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Gila National Forest

18 Ranger Station Rd, Glenwood, NM 88039 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 4/21/2025
• End Date: 11/14/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours 
• Term Length: 30 weeks

Purpose:

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

Position Summary:

The Trails Program of the Glenwood Ranger District in the Gila National Forest oversees the operations and maintenance of all trails infrastructure that resides within the Glenwood Ranger District and the larger Gila Wilderness. This program aims to provide an array of meaningful recreation opportunities to meet the diverse needs and desires of the recreating public. This district boasts many unique offerings, including the Catwalk National Recreation Trail, the rugged Gila Wilderness interior, and various developed recreation sites including Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

The Glenwood RD Trails Program faces multiple challenges that impact the district’s ability to maintain the recreation infrastructure it is charged with managing. Individually placed participants will provide instrumental support in maintaining the district’s trails and recreation infrastructure. These participants will also contribute to program goals aimed at curtailing those resource impacts which may be linked to inadequate maintenance of district trails and recreation infrastructure. These positions will largely be focused on the completion of maintenance projects in the Gila Wilderness as part of the trail crew and offer occasional support to the District’s developed recreation program, all of which provide economic opportunities for Glenwood, Alma, Pleasanton, Mogollon, and other surrounding communities.

Individual Placements will be part of the current District Recreation Organization and receive training commiserate with that of a seasonal recreation employee. Participants will be guided in daily activities by permanent district trails and recreation staff and receive additional on the job training as project needs dictate. Members will have opportunities to participate and contribute to project planning sessions, district/forest employee events, and receive exposure to multiple agency professionals/disciplines.

 
Description of Duties:

• Assist in the completion of trail maintenance activities in the Gila Wilderness
  • Work with supervisor to learn maintenance techniques for developed trail classes
  • Complete identified maintenance projects as a member of the Gila Wilderness Trail Crew
  • Participate in the identification and planning of additional trail maintenance projects as required
• Assist in the completion of recreation maintenance activities
  • Work with supervisor to learn maintenance techniques for developed recreation sites
  • Complete identified maintenance projects independently or as a member of a recreation crew
  • Participate in the identification and planning of additional recreation maintenance projects as required
• Assist in the completion of signage maintenance within the Gila Wilderness and its trailheads
  • Work with supervisor to learn maintenance techniques for primitive/wilderness trail classes and signage requirements
  • Complete identified maintenance projects independently or as a member of a trail crew
  • Participate in the identification and planning of additional trail signage projects as required

 
Qualifications:

• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• At least 17 years of age
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Position is physically arduous - ability to hike up to 10 miles in one day, carrying loads in excess of 50lbs
• Individual should be self-sufficient, insofar as their ability to adequately pack and prepare for prolonged assignments in these remote environments
• Ability to work safely and be a contributing member to a team/crew

Preferred Qualifications:

• Manual labor experience
• Hiking/backpacking experience
• Experience working in team settings
• First Aid/CPR, WFA/WFR certified
• Driver's license

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements/Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, Gila National Forest, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. 

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,826.50
• Living Allowance of $500 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority if Eligible
• Onsite housing may be provided for about $200 per month – more details will be given during interviews

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Joy Hernández Contact information:

jhernandez@conservationlegacy.org 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Salary : $200