Wildland Restoration Crew Leader

Gain professional career skills, become an effective leader, and launch your natural resource career!

Montana Conservation Corps believes that through conservation service and authentic connection, you can sharpen your ability to create change and join the next generation of leaders for a better world. At MCC, we focus on the growth of our participants, positively impacting our public lands, and transferable career skills.

MCC participants join our program as Ameri Corps Members serving a term of service with Montana Conservation Corps. Ameri Corps is an independent agency of the United States government that engages over 5 million Americans in National Service across various programs. MCC is a service oriented organization that provides career skills training alongside personal development.

Location:

Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula MT

Ages: 21 or over

Program Dates: 02/22/2027-10/21/2027

Living Allowance: $1,360 biweekly ($2,720 p/month) before taxes are taken out

Ameri Corps Education Award: $5,176.50 upon completion of the program

Health Insurance:
Provided at NO COST

Member Assistance Program:
Free 24/7 access to confidential behavioral health counseling, financial assistance, medical/legal advocacy, and more!

Supportive coaching staff invested in your success.

Community Cohorts:
We offer community spaces to build community, connection, and support during the season. The groups meet regularly and are open to all participants who identify within the respective community.

Food Per Diem while on Projects

Access to Pro Deals

Housing options may be available in specific regions; talk with a Program Manager to learn more!!

Learn More About Adult Conservation Crews (view full position descriptions)!

As a Crew Leader (CL), you will oversee 3-5 adult crew members on 4-9 day overnight conservation projects on some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Some crew leaders will lead a crew solo, some will lead with a co-leader, and some will have an assistant crew leader. The crew you will oversee will be made up of adults who come from a variety of backgrounds and locations throughout the country.

Crew Leaders will be responsible for helping to facilitate crew member growth, manage conflict on their crew, and support the crew in completing quality project service in the field.

Crews will camp for the full duration of a hitch (i.e. 4-9 day project assignment), oftentimes in remote locations on varied terrain and in all weather conditions. Camping accommodations vary, including car-camping and remote backcountry settings away from a vehicle. Not all CLs will serve on all types of projects. Crews may be deployed for natural disaster relief. Projects & Crew types may shift during the season.

Wildland Restoration Teams collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders (private, government, and non-profit) in order to achieve large scale land conservation efforts with rural communities throughout the state of Montana.

Wildland Restoration Teams (Bozeman, Kalispell, & Missoula) participate in the identification, treatment and inventory of invasive plant species. Utilizing chemical, mechanical and biological treatment techniques. Projects may include chainsaw use. Wetlands and habitat restoration projects: including managing invasive plants through herbicide application, seed collection, and/ or various stream restoration techniques listed below such as building beaver dam analogs (BDAs), which are hand-built, temporary human-made structures designed to mimic the form and function of natural beaver dams.

Projects are often rigorous, requiring participants to carry a heavy backpack sprayer in hot weather across rugged terrain while wearing protective gear.

Wildland Restoration Teams - Mesic/Stream Restoration (Helena) participate in stream restoration utilizing low-tech process-based restoration techniques (LTP ). LTP  implements a variety of in-stream structures, for a simple, effective, and non-invasive approach to riparian restoration. One of the common structures MCC builds are beaver dam analogs (BDAs), which are hand-built, temporary human-made structures designed to mimic the form and function of natural beaver dams.

This effectively slows down and spreads water over the landscape to expand critical habitat, mitigate wildfire, reduce invasive species and increase water availability in traditionally parched times of year. In addition to in-stream restoration, crews may also…