Wilderness Permit Member - Inyo National Forest

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Inyo National Forest, is seeking ONE Wilderness Permit Member to work alongside Forest Service Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date:

May 18, 2026

Estimated End Date:
October 16, 2026

* a 22-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/

Description:

Forest Supervisor's Office, Bishop, CA

The Inyo National Forest is a large, complex forest, encompassing about two million acres in California and Nevada. It contains several natural features of national and international interest. There are nine wilderness areas and six research natural areas, as well as the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and Mt. Whitney - the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.

Diverse geologic features, combined with the elevational extremes and attendant wide range of climatic conditions, results in tremendous floristic diversity on the Forest, with vegetation communities ranging from desert scrub, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon woodland, to Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine, and alpine habitats.

Lone Pine, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop are all premier locations for outdoor recreation in California. These opportunities include backpacking, fishing, hunting, hang gliding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, cycling, mountain biking, photography, rock climbing, trail running, off-highway vehicle exploration, and horseback riding.

If you want to spend the summer in one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in America, if you enjoy outdoor activities in your free time, and if you are interested in learning about recreation careers in the Forest Service, then this is the job for you!

For more information about the Inyo National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service website.

• Manage commercial and administrative wilderness permit reservations.
• Develop an understanding of the complex quota system and wilderness regulations to help ensure that permits we issue comply with wilderness management objectives.
• Assist with closures and other changes to wilderness permit quota inventory.
• Work closely with other visitor information and recreation staff to provide current and accurate information.
• Evaluate inquiries to provide the most useful and appropriate information.
• Help run reports, compile and analyze data, and provide other information to help with management decisions.
• Regularly scheduled days at Forest visitor centers to develop stronger connections with other staff and the public we serve.
• Administrative work including computer work, paperwork, filing, and answering phones.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule:

8:00am - 5:00pm, willingness to work Saturdays during high season is required.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~80 hours/biweekly and will receive a living allowance of $900/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: ACE members will have access to up to $200/week to be used for eligible housing expenses. Space in government barracks may be available.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history check.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Experience and enthusiasm for backpacking, hiking, or riding in National Forest wilderness.

• Physical Demands:
  Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer…