Field Leaders

The SCA is a national non-profit changing lives through hands-on conservation work in the outdoors. Our talented program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces at various locations across the country. After a summer working with the SCA, program participants emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.

We are looking for Field Leaders to manage and mentor junior members working outdoors at sites in various states. Help lead the way to a sustainable future by leading young people working on conservation service projects.

You won’t just supervise people. Field Leaders are outdoor professionals who make important decisions daily regarding the safety and well-being of our crew members. Along the way, you’ll gain experience and expertise in trail building, habitat restoration, fire management and outreach to park visitors.

Here’s a quick look at what our Field Leaders do:

  • Act as a Crew Supervisor, by facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, and guiding crew dynamics

  • Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environmental stewardship

  • Act as a Project Manager, by communicating with agency park partners, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA

  • Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing documentation, managing a budget, and communicating with SCA staff

Current Opportunities

SCA Team Leader – Winter Prescribed Fire (Various locations in southern U.S.)
This position leads prescribed fire teams alongside the U.S. Forest Service. Team leaders must have a current red card and 1-2 years of wildfire or prescribed burning experience. The primary objectives for this crew will be fuels reduction and prescribed burning work. The crew will prepare USFS lands for burning, conduct prescribed burning, and work on other conservation tasks as identified by the USFS. When conditions are not ideal for burning, these teams will assist site partners with other projects including vegetation removal, fire line preparation, equipment maintenance and other work duties. 

SCA Team Leader – Winter Women’s Fire & Fuels (South Carolina)
This position leads a women’s fire and fuels team alongside the U.S. Forest Service. The primary objectives for this crew will be fuels reduction and prescribed burning work. The crew will prepare USFS lands for burning, conduct prescribed burning, and work on other conservation tasks as identified by the USFS. Throughout the season, the crew may have opportunities to respond to active fires.

SCA Team Leader – Fall ATL Urban Tree House Program (Georgia)
This position facilitates outdoor environmental education, climate resilience and culturally relevant activities and games with hundreds of urban youth K-12.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Charles County Community Crew (Maryland)
This position leads a team of two high schoolers to complete field conservation projects that support long-term maintenance of native urban tree canopies at schools in Charles County’s urban heat islands.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Hancock Towpath Community Crew (Maryland)
This position leads a team of two SCA crew members to complete field conservation projects at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. 

SCA Team Leader – Fall New Jersey Community Crew (New Jersey)
This position leads a team of four to six young adults from the West Orange, N.J. area. The crew works on projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration and boardwalk and trail work at various sites at South Mountain, Eagle Rock and Watchung Reservations.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Crocheron Park (New York)
This position leads a team of three young adult crew members from New York City. The Project consists of trail maintenance, trail rehabilitation, constructing drainage structures and constructing boardwalks. There is also a focus on planting native trees and shrubs to stabilize the shoreline and prevent erosion.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (New York)
This position leads a team of eight youth crew members from New York City. The crew works on projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration and trail work at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, N.Y.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Wolf Trap National Park (Virginia)
This position leads a team of three young adults to complete field conservation projects at Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens (Washington, D.C.)
This position leads a team of four young adults to complete field conservation projects at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens. 

SCA Team Leader – Fall C&O Canal National Historic Park Towpath (Maryland)
This position supervises three crew members supporting C&O Canal Maintenance staff with routine daily activities along the Towpath.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Death Valley Recovery Team (California)
This position supervises five crew members documenting unpaved road damage using geospatial technologies at Death Valley National Park. This opportunity will directly impact the repair and future management of Death Valley’s recreation resources.

SCA Team Leader – Fall Solano County Community Crew (California)
This position supervises the East Bay Climate Resilience Corps that will work to implement projects and engage the community, assessing their needs and their knowledge of climate resiliency. Projects will be located in the City of Vallejo and City of San Leandro (tree plantings and maintenance), the Bay Ridge Trail (signage, trail stabilization), Brannan Island State Recreation Area, Solano Land Trust Rush Ranch and the City Of Hayward (trail maintenance).

SCA Team Leader – Fall Alabama Conservation Corps (ALCC) (Alabama)
This position supervises a team of 10 young adults serving to improve habitats along the coast of Mobile, Alabama. 


Contact Us

Student Conservation Association