Short Term Conservation Crew Member Southwest Conservation Corps

Job:
Short Term Conservation Crew Member

Position Title: 2026 Short-Term Summer Conservation Crew Member–Ameri Corps

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 06/02/2026 (Voluntary Non-AC Orientation Week);
  Project Start Date
  : 06/09/2026
• End Date: 08/13/2026
• Ameri Corps Slot Classification
  : 300 Hours

Purpose:

The SCC Los Valles Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 - 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, Ameri Corps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to Engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. The SCC Los Valles (LV) office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, who continue to survive and thrive on these lands today.

The SCC LV office is in Salida, Colorado with satellite operations in Alamosa, CO. SCC LV serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or Los Valles.

As an Ameri Corps program participant with Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews serve and camp for 8 days at a time in either front country (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), in town (collaborating with the county or municipality), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in with backpacks) locations.

Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, weeding, herbicide treatment, fencing, facility maintenance, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.

Schedules consist of 10-hour days that are typically 8-days on and 6-days off. There is a possibility you could serve 4 days on and 3 days off, or a variation of schedules. SCC requires that all Ameri Corps crew members demonstrate flexibility in scheduling. We will be hiring the following types of crews during the 2026 season. We will speak about the service projects that each of these crews will complete during the interview and will discuss your preferences at that time.

• Conservation/Trail Crew – A crew for young adults that serves in both backcountry and front country settings, focusing on trails and a variety of conservation service projects, with the potential to use herbicide.
• Chainsaw Crew – A crew for young adults that serve primarily in front country settings, focusing on sustainable forestry, fuels reduction, or invasive species removal (with the potential to use herbicide). Crew members will participate in USFS-recognized Chainsaw Training and will earn their United States Forest Service A-faller chainsaw certification upon completion.

In this Ameri Corps position, you will:

• Serve effectively as a member of the crew,
• Perform strenuous physical tasks related to environmental conservation and restoration projects,
• Serve outdoors in all types of weather and successfully adapt to various climates,
• Effectively learn and apply new environmental conservation and restoration skills,
• Actively participate in environmental education activities if they are provided,
• Practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned, and
• Use, maintain and repair hand and power tools as necessary.

To qualify for this Ameri Corps position, you must

• Be a United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident
• Be at least 18 years of age by start date,
• Have received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an Ameri Corps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award,
• And agree to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical…