Conservation Corps - John Muir Trail Wilderness Conservancy Crew

Position Summary

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

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

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.

Location

Sierra National Forest, CA

Schedule

July 21, 2025 - August 30, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities

. Must be able to attend Crew Member Training: July 21 - August 3, 2025 . Full engagement in all work projects and community activities; . Must uphold project, crew community, basecamp, vehicle, and general safety standards; . Commitment to teamwork, learning, and problem-solving; . Ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation;

Marginal Duties

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

. Must be 18 or older by the position start date; . Must have the ability to legally work in the US; . Ability to enroll in AmeriCorps Education Award Program; . Ability to pass SCA background check; . Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, hike 5 miles in a day and occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;

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

. Camping and/or backpacking experience; . Experience using hand tools; . Strong interpersonal skills and community living experience; . For driver eligibility, must be over 21 years old, possess a valid driver's license for 3 years, a Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA standards and complete SCA driver training;

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

Benefits . $650 one-time round-trip travel allowance (paid with first pay check) . $550 weekly living allowance; *All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. . Meals: Provided during fieldwork . Gear: Group camping gear, like tents, stoves, and filters, are provided

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

Personal Vehicle Information

Not needed

Additional Benefits

Bear Safety

Defensive Drive Training

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

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.