Field Leader- JMT Wilderness Conservancy Team

Conservation Begins Here.

Are you ready to serve in one of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes in the Western U.S.? Do you want to make a tangible difference in our natural spaces and communities while learning skills to kickstart your conservation career? Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a Crew Member for our 2025 Summer CA Backcountry Roving Corps Team and embark on a journey that blends purpose with adventure.

Schedule

Leader Training Start and End Date: July 7, 2025 - July 20, 2025

Program Start and End Date: July 21, 2025 - August 30, 2025

Corps Member Arrival Date: July 21, 2025
Corps Member Training: July 21, 2025 – August 3, 2025
Sierra National Forest Project: August 4, 2025 – August 27, 2025 (tentative dates)
Program Close Out and Wrap Up: August 27, 2025

Location

Truckee, CA

Why Join Us?
This isn't your average 9-to-5 job. As a Crew Member, you will be working on backcountry trail projects in Sierra National Forest. Projects may include clearing trail corridors and logging out trails, installing rock structures, and maintaining tread and drainage features.

On the Sierra National Forest, the crew will work on a 25-day extended backcountry trail project. The crew's primary project is intended to be a trail re-route, where the crew will be establishing a new section of trail that avoids sensitive alpine habitat. The crew will hike into a backcountry campsite and should expect to remain in the backcountry for the entirety of this 25-day project. Working closely with our partners at the John Muir Trail Wilderness Conservancy and the US Forest Service, the crew will coordinate both project tasks and camp logistics such as the occasional resupply from a string of pack mules. Backcountry living in this project is rugged and members should expect to be without cell service, running water, and power for the duration of this project.

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

The team should expect to camp in the backcountry for the entirety of this project. They will have no access to cell phone or internet service, electricity, and running water during their field hitch. The team will hike into the the backcountry to a backcountry campsite that they will use for their project. The team is expected to be resupplied halfway through the project from US Forest Service pack mule string and packers. Members will work with their leader to plan logistics and will share in camp chores while they are in the field.

Compensation

• Pay: $800/week
• Travel stipend: $1,000 (split into two payments: half with your first pay check, half with your last pay check)
• Phone stipend: $45/month
• Health insurance
• Meals: Provided during fieldwork
• Gear: Group camping gear provided (tents, stoves, cooking supplies)

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

General Physical Requirements

• Able to understand, adhere to, and communicate with others regarding hazards, procedures, and safety policies.
• Able to stay alert and engaged for extended periods of program time.
• Able to independently manage known medical conditions with the resources available throughout the position or program.
• Able to wear all required personal protective equipment, including internal or external, safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, N95 or other approved face mask or shield, chaps, and appropriate footwear.
• Able to refrain from behaviors and actions that disrupt the work and safety of others.
• Able to cooperate with others to complete daily group tasks, responsibilities, and project work under potentially difficult conditions, variable daily routines, and with limited personal time.
• Able to self-regulate or co-regulate emotions and actions when distressed or uncomfortable, with or without the support of others.
• Able to self-manage outdoor and environmental exposure (e.g., temperature, wind, sun, etc.) in a variety of weather conditions.
• If using prescription medications, able to self-medicate by following the prescribed dosage, usage, and timing without supervisor assistance (except possibly at the direction of higher medical authority in emergency situations).
• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing approximately 45% of body weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions
• Able to lift a backpack weighing 45% of body weight with minimal assistance from others.
• Able to grip a third point of contact for balance purposes when crossing rivers or streams, and ascending and/or descending slopes.
• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of body weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions.
• Able to lift a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of body weight, with minimal assistance from others.

Working Conditions

Work schedules and projects may change on short notice or be ambiguous.; Work settings require the ability to positively interact with people of varying perspectives.; Natural environments and regionally significant locations that require respect to the land and local peoples.; Inclement and severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flash flooding, gusty and strong winds, foggy or decreased visibility, and lightning events.; Decreased or inclement air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke or smog.; Warm temperatures and adverse heat conditions which could include temperatures in some regions up to 110°F or hotter.; Exposure to natural and environmental hazards such as, poison ivy, oak, or sumac, tick and mosquito -borne illness, snakes, and potential for other wildlife encounters.; Exposure and potential contact to bear habitat and wildlife.

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.