Field Leader- 2025 Lake Clark National Park Maintenance Action Team

Position Summary

Members of the crew will spend 3 months on service projects with the National Park Service at Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Lake Clark is located in southwest Alaska, across the Cook Inlet from the Anchorage area, and is only reachable by boat or plane. This team will be based out of Pt. Alsworth, and camping on Kontrashibuna Lake. The projects for this crew will include trail maintenance on the Kontrashibuna Lake trail as well as others for 12 weeks.
Service projects may include: construction of new trail using hand tools, maintenance of current trails including drainages, boardwalks, timber bridge building, invasive plant removal, or brushing.

Duration of projects will vary. A variety of projects will be performed with various partners across Alaska. Service will be outdoors and will typically require demanding physical labor. Members will use hand tools and may have the opportunity to use equipment such as chainsaws. Team members will be supervised in the field by an SCA Project Leader. All team members are expected to be respectful, punctual, hardworking, and committed to creating a safe service environment.

Schedule

April 13, 2025 - August 30, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Each team will camp for the duration of the program and eat meals together. During training leaders will hone their outdoor living skills, trail work skills, and teamwork skills, which they will be expected to pass on to their members during the season. The team will work with each other to resolve conflict and build relationships in remote areas, where they may go hours or days with minimal contact with people outside of the crew, depending on the project and work location.

Leaders are responsible for overseeing the team's workday, making sure camp tasks are completed, providing leadership in conflict resolution, and mentoring young adults in outdoor living and trail building skills. They are also responsible for completing administrative tasks throughout the season such Emergency Response Plans, Job Hazard Analysis, Incident Reports, budgeting, meal planning, food purchasing, expense reconciling, and end-of-season reporting.

During days off, leaders are expected to ensure that members are, minimally, in a safe location with access to communications and transportation services. Depending on how remote the location is, this may mean the team spends days off together, or are at least in the same location. To be safe in bear country by traveling as a group, the team will usually recreate together as well. SCA teams work in remote, tight-knit communities and are expected to maintain a positive representation of SCA during days off.

While working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, members and leaders will be able to network with professionals in natural resources and recreation management. Crews may have unique opportunities to learn about different career paths in recreation and natural resources and see first-hand what their work consists of.

Leaders will travel to the Project Leader Training location in April (location TBD), then to Anchorage for further training and preparation before Corps Member Training in Indian, AK. Each leader will receive $1,300 for this travel. Leaders will have about two weeks before members arrive to prepare for their season by coordinating with their project partners, buying food and supplies for their members, and coordinating travel and project details with their SCA Program Coordinator.

Marginal Duties

Potential for using landscaping equipment and power tools, invasive plant removal, bunkhouse cleaning, after hours member check-ins, equipment maintenance, brushing, and any other assistance needed by agency partners.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with young adults (especially 18-25 years old); teaching or environmental education a plus
• Experience with conservation work skills or related skills– i.e., trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, chainsaw, carpentry, landscaping, and gardening
• Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more
• Wilderness First Responder certification or ability to obtain one before 4/12/25
• Must be able to attend the entire Crew Leader training and entire duration of the season. Travel outside of Alaska will not be possible during the season for leaders or members due to remote locations of crews
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age • Must have the ability to legally work in the US
• Must have a valid driver's license for 3 years and MVR that meets SCA standards
• Must be able to meet SCA's criminal background check standards

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

Carpentry, tool maintenance, WFR or WEMT; Leave No Trace Trainer; Experience working and/or living in Alaska preferred but not required; Alaska Residents preferred but not required.

Hours

40 - 50 hours per week

Living Accommodations

Tent camping and/or bunkhouse accommodations in Port Alsworth, AK near Lake Clark National Park headquarters.

Compensation

• $800-900 DOE weekly salary *
• $1300 travel stipend *
• Food & Transportation provided for duration of program
• Cell phone reimbursement

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

Additional Benefits

• Bear Safety
• Defensive Drive Training
• First Aid/CPR
• Wilderness First Responder Training

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.