Recreation Technician

Position Title: Recreation Technician

Partner Organization: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

Website: www.fs.usda.gov/okawen

Project Location: 2108 Entiat Way, Entiat, WA 98822

Service Dates: June 23, 2025 to October 24, 2025 (685-hour position)

Position Summary:

In partnership with the Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), Entiat Ranger District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will host a Land Stewards AmeriCorps Intern to serve as a Recreation Technician. The Intern will have the opportunity to support Recreation projects across the district, including in program areas such as developed recreation, backcountry education, trails, and the off-highway vehicle program. will spend The Intern will spend the season maintaining recreation sites and trails while educating hikers on best use practices, regulations, and Leave No Trace principles in the rugged Cascade Mountains. The district is responsible for the maintenance of 13 land based developed campgrounds, 11 boat in campgrounds, 21 trailheads, hundreds of miles of trails, and numerous dispersed sites. Opportunities may be available for mountain bike and motorbike logout depending on skill and comfort level.

This position is ideal for a person who has a passion for being in the mountains. The project locations vary from established administrative buildings to mountainous wilderness areas, with ninety percent of the service and related travel performed outdoors. Backcountry travel experience and skills are a plus for this position, but training will be provided. The position requires strenuous physical exertion, including walking in steep or uneven terrain, heavy lifting, and carrying backpacks up to 50 pounds or more. Exposure to extreme weather and temperature is expected. Schedule varies, but 10-hour days are common.

Benefits Include:

• Free bunkhouse housing
• Monthly AmeriCorps living stipend
• Education award (qualified student loans and/or education expenses)
• Loan forbearance
• Child care reimbursement
• Live and work in a beautiful setting with many opportunities for outdoor recreation
• Professional development, trainings and networking opportunities

Essential Functions (to include, but not limited to):

• Serve with Forest Service employees as part of a recreation/trails crew.
• Maintain developed recreation facilities including campgrounds, picnic areas, and trailheads.
• Maintain and improve the condition of hike, bike, horseback, and off-highway vehicle trails using various specialized tools. Tools include handsaws, axes, hoes, loppers, shovels, picks, crosscut saws, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and power brushers. Training is provided.
• Participate in special projects such as bridge building, campground facilities repair, heavy trail maintenance projects, and hunter education or other tasks as assigned to achieve district recreation program goals.
• Demonstrate and educate visitors on rules, regulations, tread lightly, Leave-No-Trace ethics, and proper backcountry practices during multi-day trips. Training is provided.
• Clearly communicate with members of the public, volunteers, and Forest Service employees in a friendly and non-confrontational manner.
• Keep a daily log of service activities, visitor contacts data, trail survey data, and trail conditions.

Position Requirements (to include, but not limited to):

• Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record and ability to provide documentation.
• First Aid/CPR certified or willing to get certifications during program.
• Be physically fit, able to walk long distances (5-15 miles/day) carrying heavy loads ( 55 pounds) with steep elevations gains.
• Must travel, serve, and live safely in mountainous wilderness settings and/or remote community settings, including proper and safe use of backpacking/camping equipment during trips.
• Possess cut resistant or leather work/hiking boots with 4-8” tops, which are a necessary requirement for chainsaw operations. Boots should be comfortable to hike in for long distances on a daily basis.
• Must be able to serve long hours outdoors. Schedule can range from 4 days a week working 10-hour days to 8 days working 10-hour days with 6 days off.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance. Must be able to consistently show up on time and fit for duty.
• Communicate professionally with many diverse people (land managers, other Forest Service trail crew employees, volunteers) in both an office and field setting.
• Have a willingness to serve alone or in small teams and the ability to perform duties with minimal supervision.
• Able to maintain physical health and a positive attitude while performing physical labor in extreme conditions (heat, cold, rain); season will start with snow on the ground and end with snow on the ground, in between it will be hot and dusty.
• 21-30 (up to 35 for military veterans) years of age at beginning of service term.
• U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent, or commit to earning one prior to receiving education award.
• Ability to commit to the full 25-week term of service.

Please visit the Land Stewards webpage for a full position description: mtadamsinstitute.org/land-stewards

Questions: Contact Erica Bingham, Manager--- erica@mtadamsinstitute.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $1,800.00 - $2,250.00 per month

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Application Question(s):

• Briefly describe your experience working or hiking/camping in a back-country/Wilderness setting, and why you are interested in this position. Your application will not be considered if this is left blank.
• This is an AmeriCorps internship position and grant compliance for this position requires that all participants are between the ages of 21-30 (up to 35 for military veterans). Are you in this age range? Your application cannot be considered if you are not within this age range at the start of the program on June 23, 2025.
• Do you live within 1 hour of Entiat, WA or are you willing to relocate for the position?

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $1,800 - $2,250