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Field Leaders: Current Openings

SCA Field Leaders at work, leading, motivating and inspiring young people in environmental work

< SCA Conservation Service During the Covid-19 Pandemic >

Field Leader positions are open to those 21 and older who have strong field experience and a desire to lead, motivate, inspire and guide. Below are some of the field positions that will become available over the next few months. Please view the Field Leader Position Types linked to the right of this page for an explanation of our various leader opportunities. To Apply: Click Login or Sign Up. Create a profile, complete the basic application, and then select the Leader Application when prompted. Please be sure to upload your cover letter, resume & 3 references. Once your application is complete, please email [email protected] with the position of interest listed in the subject line so we may review your application.

Apprentice Crew Leader positions are open to candidates who are under 21 (and at least 1 year out of high school) and are interested in learning leadership and field management skills in order to prepare for an SCA Field Leader position in the future. See below for Apprentice Crew Leader positions that will be available in the coming summer season, or visit the Field Leader Position Types page for more details. Details on how to apply are included in the information for specific positions.

Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps Crew Leader

Program Dates:  Tuesday July 5th-August 5th

Training Dates: SCA June 20th-23rd Local Training Dates: June 24th, June 27th-July 1st

Primary Responsibilities:

Co-lead, supervise, transport, and mentor a team of 10 high school youth, ages 14-19 for five weeks (Mon-Fri, 35 hours/week). Complete an assortment of hands-on conservation and restoration projects within different areas in the Forest Preserves of Cook County and plan and lead weekly educational field days. Communicating with Forest Preserve staff to complete and track projects. Administrative and reporting duties are required as they relate to data management, photo documentation, and youth assessments. Crew leaders will also be expected to facilitate a provided environmental education curriculum, as well as complete a summer final report on the program.

Fall 2022 Pacific West Fire Corps Project Leader

Position Length: 9/4/2022 – 12/31/2022

Project Leader Training and Planning Period: 9/4/2022 – 10/1/2022

Corps Member Training Period: 10/2/2022 – 10/15/2022

Field Work Hitches: 10/16/2022 – 12/23/2022

Position Summary: Project leaders are responsible for daily management and supervision of a Fire Corps project in either backcountry or a front-country site with members 18 & older. Project Leaders coordinate with agency partners to plan and implement projects, and with SCA staff to manage crew safety, performance, and logistics in the field.  Leaders are required to perform the administrative tasks to track project outcomes, approve members’ timesheets, and manage a field budget.  

Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps Crew Leader (Patapsco Valley State Park)

Location: Patapsco Valley State Park

Training Dates: Early-Mid June 2022 (mandatory paid training, exact dates TBA)

Program Dates:  June 27, 2022 – August 12, 2022 (dates estimated within one week, exact dates TBA)

Primary Responsibilities:

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps is a six-week employment opportunity for local youth and young adults that provides opportunities for skills training, empowerment, and employment while working to restore natural and recreational resources in Maryland State Parks and public lands. Crew Leaders work to guide and inspire a team of underserved youth or young adults through conservation projects in Patapsco Valley State Park such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, landscaping, light construction projects, and trail work. Each Leader is based out of a specific State Park for the duration of the program and utilizes a rental vehicle provided by SCA to transport Members to and from project sites. Crews will consist of up to five Members and one Leader. Depending on the status of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to conclude the season with a graduation ceremony and camping trip that Crew Leaders will help facilitate, to celebrate the crews’ accomplishments!

2022 Voyageurs Alumni Team

Leader Dates: 8/1/22 - 9/30/22

Leader Position Compensation and Benefits: $700 per week (paid bi-weekly); $200 uniform stipend; field-based meals; $650 roundtrip travel stipend.

Alumni Teams (previously called “Leader Teams”) provide professional development opportunities to SCA leaders and qualified members through the completion of high-priority or technical work for partners. Alumni Teams consist of members and leaders who have previously served on an SCA team. These four- to six-person crews typically serve for two to ten weeks on public lands across the country.

C&O Canal National Historic Park Towpath Crew-Leader

Training Dates: September 6 – September 9, 2022 (mandatory paid training)

Program Dates: September 12, 2022 – May 5, 2023

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 3:30pm (A Week), Monday - Thursday 6:00am - 3:30pm, Friday off (B Week). Up to five hours per week of administrative work outside of normal work hours.

Program Location: C&O Canal National Park. This position will be based out of Oldtown, Maryland. Leader will report to the maintenance shop located at; 18907 Green Spring Road SE Oldtown, MD.

Chattahoochee Trail Corps Team

Program Dates:  _9/5/2022 – 12/23/2022

Training Dates: _8/22/2022 – 9/2/2022_ (mandatory paid training)

Primary Responsibilities:

As the sole Project Leader you will manage the Team as they assist Chattahoochee NRA staff with a variety of high priority Conservation Projects. Projects will largely be focused on trail maintenance and rehabilitation. But additional projects may focus on invasive species removal, historic structure preservation, public structure construction, projects related to deferred maintenance, and increasing recreation access as time allows.

Fall 2022 Western Trail Corps Project Leader

Conservation Begins Here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire teams for the 2022 Summer Western Trail Corps Season.

Fall Season Dates

Position Length: 9/4/2022 – 12/31/2022

Fall 2022 Desert Restoration Corps Project Leader

Conservation Begins Here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire for the Desert Restoration Corps program.

Fall Season Dates

Position Length: 9/4/2022 – 12/31/2022

Female Fire & Fuels Crew Leader

Program Dates:  Oct 3, 2022 – May 19, 2023

Training Dates: TBD, tentatively Sept

AL Conservation Corps- Coastal Crew Leader

Program Dates:  Aug 2022 – May 2023 (exact dates, TBD)

Training Dates: Aug 2022 (exact dates, TBD)

Compensation: $675/week total salary

Housing and food stipend are not included.

As an AL Conservation Corps - Coastal Crew Leader, you will work with a co-leader to guide and inspire a team of ten young adults from the Mobile, AL area. With funding from multiple sources, this crew works to improve inland habitats along the Alabama coast. The crew will be working on projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, boardwalk repair, and trail work at various sites along coastal Alabama. Project monitoring and data collection will also be required throughout the season. Strong work skills (chainsaw, herbicide application, invasive plant removal, carpentry), experience with habitat monitoring (data collection, GPS, GIS), and experience leading teams are requirements for this position. For more about the GulfCorps program, visit https://www.thesca.org/serve/program/gulfcorps-conservation-crew.

CANYON DE CHELLY 2022 SUMMER CREW LEADER

Conservation Begins Here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire 8 students while working at Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

Program Dates: 7/1 to 8/7 (Crew Member Dates: 7/5 to 8/1)

HGB BridgeUp Externship 2022 Youth Crew Leader

Conservation Begins Here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire high school students for the community programs.

Program Dates: 7/5-8/12

NPS Historic Preservation Crew #2 - Morristown NHP

Conservation Begins Here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire high school students for the community programs.

Program Dates: 7/11/2022 - 8/19/2022

Minuteman National Historical Park - Summer High School Historic Preservation Crew

Program Dates:  July 11 – August 16, 2022

Training Dates: June 5-8 or June 18-22 (mandatory paid training)

Compensation: $800/week total salary, paid training

NYC 2022 Summer Community Crew Leader

Program Dates: 6/27/2022 - 8/19/2022

Training Dates: 6/5/2022 - 6/15/2022 (mandatory paid training)

Compensation: $820/week, paid training $600

Primary Responsibilities:

As Crew Leader, responsibilities include guiding and inspiring a team of 10-12 youth, ages 15-18, in projects at designated locations around Upper Manhattan and the Bronx . The crew will be working on projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, and trail work. Project monitoring and data collection will also be required throughout the season.]

NJ 2022 Summer Community Crew Leader

Program Dates: 7/05/2022 - 9/9/2022

Training Dates: 6/5/2022 - 6/15/2022 (mandatory paid training)

Compensation: $800/week, paid training $600

Primary Responsibilities:

As Crew Leader, responsibilities include guiding and inspiring a team of 4-6 youth, ages 1518, in projects at designated locations around New Jersey . The crew will be working on projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, and trail work. Project monitoring and data collection will also be required throughout the season.]

Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps Crew Leader (Seneca Creek State Park)

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire youth and young adult participants in the Summer 2022 Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps program at Seneca Creek State Park.

Location: Seneca Creek State Park

Training Dates: Mid-June 2022 (mandatory paid training, exact dates TBA)

Program Dates: June 27, 2022 – August 12, 2022 (dates estimated within one week, exact dates TBA)

Primary Responsibilities:

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps is a six-week employment opportunity for local youth and young adults that provides opportunities for skills training, empowerment, and employment while working to restore natural and recreational resources in Maryland State Parks and public lands. Crew Leaders work to guide and inspire a team of underserved youth or young adults through conservation projects in Seneca Creek State Park such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration, landscaping, light construction projects, and trail work. Each Leader is based out of a specific State Park for the duration of the program and utilizes a rental vehicle provided by SCA to transport Members to and from project sites. Crews will consist of up to five Members and one Leader. Depending on the status of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we hope to conclude the season with a graduation ceremony and camping trip that Crew Leaders will help facilitate, to celebrate the crews’ accomplishments!

Massachusetts Conservation Corps Project Leader

Position: PO-00732495

Location: Western MA

Leader Dates: As soon as possible - 10/28/2022

2022 Summer/Fall Alumni Team Opportunities

Locations, dates, and projects (note: dates subject to change):

Voyageurs National Park, MN (member dates: 8/18/22 – 9/24/22). The team will camp at front and backcountry sites. Projects include rehabilitating trails, removing blown down, installing boardwalks and signs, and reopening trail corridors.
Catoctin Mountain Park, MD (member dates: 9/11/22 – 11/11/22) The team will be staying in partner provided housing. Projects can include rebuilding pedestrian foot bridges, tree removal, and the installation of water bars and check dams to reduce erosion. There are also numerous stone culverts that need replaced in order to direct spring run-off water. These will come along with usual trail maintenance tasks such as trail blazing and signage, tread work, and corridor clearing. The park has begun blazing a new trail system that needs to be continued in the western portions of the park.

Position Compensation and Benefits: 

Leader pay: $600 - $700 per week (dependent on experience, paid bi-weekly)
Member pay: $300 - $350 (paid bi-weekly)
$200 uniform stipend; field-based meals;
$650 roundtrip travel stipend.