Alaska Corps Teams

Alaska Corps Program currently has two types of teams: Trail Crews and Female Fire Teams.

Trail Crews: APPLY HERE!

Female Fire teams: APPLY HERE!

TRAIL CREWS PROGRAM

The SCA Alaska Corps is a 14-week AmeriCorps program focused on leadership development, completing trail work projects and building a sense of community. As a member of a 5-person crew you will be led by one SCA Project Leader. Alaska Corps teams live and work together for the duration of their program. SCA emphasizes the importance of community building and growth in interpersonal skills throughout the program.

*Please note: This is considered an entry level position in trail work.

The Student Conservation Association’s Alaska Corps team is focused on providing young adults opportunities to grow competitive skills in the field of conservation trail work to prepare them to move into jobs with our project partners after their term of service. Members of the crew will spend 3 months on service projects with various federal, state and local agencies across Alaska. Skills will include hands on conservation service experience, professional development training, and nationally recognized certifications.

Service projects will may include trail work projects:

• construction of new trail using hand tools
• maintenance of current trail including drainages
• boardwalks
• brushing
• fuels reduction work (felling and bucking dead trees)
• pulling invasive species

Federal Partners include:

• National Park Service
• US Forest Service
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• Alaska State Parks

**This position is part of a specialized SCA AmeriCorps program and if you are selected, you will be serving as an SCA AmeriCorps member. **

Duration of projects will vary. A variety of projects will be performed in partnership with various federal, state, and local partners, on numerous conservation projects across Alaska. Teams may operate with partner staff or on their own to produce the outputs of the project. Service will mostly be outdoors and will typically require heavy lifting (~50 lb). 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, on-time, hardworking, and aware of conditions to ensure a safe service environment.

Due to the geography and logistics in Alaska, applicants must be able to commit to the full duration of the season.

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ALASKA FEMALE FIRE TEAM PROGRAM

The SCA Alaska All Female Fire Corps is a partnership between SCA and the National Park Service.

The SCA Alaska All Female Fire Corps is a 14-week AmeriCorps program focused on leadership development, completing critical fuels reduction and fire mitigation service projects, and building a sense of community. As a member of a 4-person crew you will be led by one SCA Project Leader. If you’ve ever wanted to learn the hard and soft skills of being a conservation leader, come join this community of like-minded, service oriented individuals and help us tackle one of the nation’s most pressing conservation issues.

Alaska Female Fire Corps crews live and work together for the duration of their program. SCA emphasizes the importance of community building and growth in interpersonal skills throughout the program. Preference will be given to female-identifying applicants: cis and trans females, as well as non-binary and gender non-conforming people, are welcome to apply for this position.

*Please note: This is considered an entry level position in wildland fire fighting. Those who apply for this position should have interest in wildland fire fighting as a career though previous experience is not necessary*

Members of the fire crew will spend 3 months on service projects with the National Park Service in Alaska. Service projects will include fuels reduction work: using hand tools and chainsaws for felling and bucking dead trees, thinning overgrown tree stands, and hauling fuels off site and away from vulnerable structures. The crew may be deployed on a live fire with federal fire teams and will pause their AmeriCorps service term with SCA during that time, becoming NPS employees. Service will mostly be outdoors and will typically require heavy lifting (~50 lb) and using chainsaws and hand tools.

Members of this team will go through additional Fire Academy Training with the National Park Service.  This will include courses S130, S190 to obtain the Red Card and S212 Chainsaw training. Members will need to pass a fitness test, known as the “pack test”, where they must walk 3 miles carrying 45 pounds in under 45 minutes on a flat surface.

During the season and upon successful completion of Fire Academy Training, the crew will pause their service work projects with SCA and NPS will hire them directly for 2 weeks of work under local NPS fire team guidance. During this time members and leader will be paid as NPS employees at approximately $19.72/hour. Members should expect to work 12-16 hour days for two weeks while on fire assignments though the schedule may vary depending on the project.

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Hours
Corps members serve approximately 40 hours a week for the duration of the program.  Members must achieve a minimum of 450 hours of service within that 12 weeks of service. Service does not follow a typical Monday-Friday schedule often. The general schedule is from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm but may vary by project.

Leadership development

Leadership development is an important component of the SCA Alaska Corps program. Members will go through intentional leadership and communication training to prepare them to excel as leaders in the field. Responsibilities include self-leadership and group participation; cooking meals, critically thinking about hazards and risk on the project, and reporting outputs and timesheets related to member service activities. SCA Alaska field staff will be assigned to support the crew to provide technical on-the-ground support/training and additional leadership training and guidance (as needed).

Crew Housing  

Members should expect to camp throughout the program. Housing will be provided during work projects “hitches” of the program in the form of shared tents or shared communal bunk houses. Members will provide their own sleep system (sleeping bag and pad).

Transportation

Program vehicles will be provided for the daily commute to the work site, and they will be driven by the SCA Project Leader and any AmeriCorps member who is 21+ and successfully completes SCA’s Drivers Training.  During field season, members should expect to be traveling with their crew to project sites throughout Alaska, which may include ferry or plane travel.

About Alaska

You’ve probably heard about the awe and beauty of Alaska. But have you heard about the variety of ecosystems across the state? Be sure to do some research so you know if you are going to a coastal temperate rainforest or the hot and dry interior.

Alaska is a vast area not all of which is connected by a road system. What does this mean? Some areas are only accessible by airplane or boat. Even if a community is on the road system, services may be limited. There is often spotty cell service and limited shopping centers.

For those looking to stretch their comfort zone, an Alaska Corps Team position offers a unique opportunity for connection to the natural world and personal growth. Members are expected to bring a strong work ethic, flexibility, a sense of adventure, and a desire to contribute to a small team.

Member Benefits Corps member compensation amounts:

• $1,120 – round trip travel allowance
• $250/week living allowance

• Lodging through the duration of the program
• Food provided during service hitches
• AmeriCorps award 300 or 450 hours upon successful completion of the program.
• Trainings provided: Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace outdoor living skills, SCA Leadership Development Training
• Group gear provided

Member Qualifications (Essential Functions)

• Interest and investment in leadership development and teamwork is required

• Commitment to living and serving within an intensive crew environment; interpersonal skills and community living experience are pluses.
• Commitment to service in environmental conditions that will include: cold/heat, smoke, bugs, high winds, and precipitation.
• Must be willing to learn how to use hand tools and power tools to accomplish service activities.
•  Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member:
• Be a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States;

• Be at least 18 years or older;
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent or actively working to obtain one;
• Be willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender and FBI checks;
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, for 5 miles, physical work for 8-10 hours per day
• Ability to pass SCA’s background check.

View Packing List (PDF)