Conservation Corps - 2025 Idaho Corps Program

Position Summary
Members of the Salmon-Challis AmeriCorps Forest Training Center will have the opportunity to deepen their passion for the environment and the outdoors through hands-on conservation service work. This program offers outdoor leadership experience and multidisciplinary training across various land management disciplines, including: participation in the Upper Salmon Restoration Landscape Initiative, fence construction and maintenance in early summer, and the creation of beaver dam analog structures during mid-late summer. Additional 2025 projects will include both front and backcountry trail maintenance, historic preservation, fuels reduction, invasive species management, habitat assessments, and more.

This unique program allows members to work in partnership with federal and state land management agencies, gaining exposure to multiple resource protection areas. The primary goal of this experience is to build a strong base of knowledge and skills, preparing members to pursue professional field positions in conservation organizations (government, non-profit, or private sector). Crew members will engage in leadership development opportunities, collaborate with agency partners, and often work independently. The program also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and cooperative living in a remote location, where members are responsible for maintaining the historic program base, managing communal spaces, and participating in local volunteer efforts.

Schedule

• Dates: May 11, 2025 – October 11, 2025

• Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, some nights and weekends

• Location: Indianola Ranger Station, Salmon-Challis National Forest

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate actively in all training and service days, and contribute to weekly chores at the program base and camp.
• Serve as Hitch Leader for at least one hitch, acting as a professional liaison with park managers, managing logistics, delegating tasks, developing emergency response plans, and completing project-related paperwork.
• Engage fully as a member of the SCA Idaho Corps, Forest and Parks, and AmeriCorps communities.
• Adhere to all SCA and AmeriCorps policies, avoiding any prohibited activities.
• Perform outdoor conservation projects (85% of role).
• Participate in training opportunities (15% of role).
• The position is physically demanding and may require evening and weekend work.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the local community through volunteer activities and engagement with non-profits and the public.
• Represent SCA in a professional and positive manner.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in outdoor environments.
• Willingness to adapt to diverse situations and outdoor living conditions.
• Desire to learn new skills and take on new challenges.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs and hike 10 miles over varied terrain.
• Willingness to learn and use hand and power tools for conservation activities.
• Strong communication skills.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Willingness to serve some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to camp outdoors for up to 10 days at a time.
• Physical capability to perform demanding outdoor work in remote locations and varying weather conditions.
• Interest in resource management, historic preservation, recreation, and public access issues.
• Must be able to walk 10 miles a day over varied terrain and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Frequent exposure to potentially harmful biotic factors, including poison ivy, insects, and ticks.
• Eligible under the Public Land Corps Authority (ages 16-30 or veterans 35 and under, U.S. citizens or permanent residents).

  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

• Previous camping and backpacking experience.
• Strong organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team setting toward shared goals, as well as independently.
• Desire to spend extended periods in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and ability to manage the physical and mental challenges of backcountry trail work.

Living Accommodations

• Members will live at the historic Indianola Ranger Station in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. Living conditions are rustic, simple, and community-focused. The station includes a 1913 Ranger Station office, several bunkhouses, a community house, shower house, and storage buildings for tools and equipment. The facility is off-grid, with no cell phone service and limited satellite internet connectivity. Members will stay in rustic bunkhouses or furnished wall tents. Recreation opportunities abound, and travel to nearby towns for goods is a 45-minute drive. Members will spend significant time camping, with some hitches lasting up to 6 weeks in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, along with camping in front-country locations throughout the season.

Compensation

• Weekly stipend: $325
• Travel stipend: $650 (half paid 1-2 weeks after season start, half paid 4 weeks before season end)
• Education award upon completion: up to $3,697.50
• Food and housing: Provided (shared living spaces at the Indianola Ranger Station, North Fork, ID)
• Transportation to and from service activities: Provided
• All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Additional Benefits

• Bear Safety Training
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• Wilderness First Aid Training
• AmeriCorps eligibility required
• Public Land Corps Certificate

Equal Opportunity Statement
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are an equal opportunity employer, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and lifestyles. SCA strives to create an atmosphere that supports the personal and professional growth of all staff members.