Recreation Ranger

Recreation Ranger with Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Salida, CO

Service Dates:
April 16, 2026 – July 30, 2026

Average Hours per Week: 40

Days/Hours of Service: 4/10 Hour shifts:
Sunday – Wednesday or Wednesday – Saturday

Minimum # of Hours to Complete Term: 450 Hours minimum

Blue Elements Watershed Stewards are committed to increasing community resilience in the face of changing water conditions by supporting sustainable access to one of Colorado’s most valuable natural resources. Ameri Corps members will support organizations serving the water education and monitoring sectors in the Arkansas River Valley and beyond. Members may provide water education to youth and adults, complete watershed management projects, and support water quality monitoring projects.

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) is a river-based state park that encompasses 152 miles of river corridor between Leadville and Lake Pueblo State Park. The AHRA is co-managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service. The Arkansas River is the most commercially rafted river in the United States. The most common activities in the park are rafting, kayaking, fishing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and gold panning.

The Watershed Stewards position with the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) provides a unique opportunity to engage in watershed education, stewardship, and outdoor recreation management within one of Colorado’s most significant river corridors. Working in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service, the member will play an active role in educating the public about natural resource conservation and resilient recreation, while gaining hands‑on experience in river and land management.

This position offers comprehensive training in First Aid/CPR and Swiftwater Rescue and provides field experience in emergency response, swiftwater rescue operations, trail construction, and naturalist programming. The member will serve as a Recreation Ranger, conducting both land‑ and river‑based education, assisting with river stewardship and cleanup projects, and supporting the development of environmental education programs for youth and adults.

• Environmental Education for natural resources and sustainable recreation
• Conduct land and river based education as a Recreation Ranger
• Assist in emergency responses, including swiftwater rescue operations
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Support the development and delivery of naturalist programming for youth and/or adult audiences
• Public education to encourage balancing river health and human activities, including teaching visitors about proper waste removal, utilizing a fire pan, and Leave No Trace principles
• Assisting the CPW aquatics section as it relates to monitoring the fishery ○ Supporting projects that address erosion issues and noxious vegetation removal ○ Learning land management tools that promote a healthy watershed
• Supporting river clean up events

• First Aid/CPR
• Leave No Trace
• River Watch Water Quality Monitoring
• Experiential Education
• Swiftwater Rescue

• Pursuing or completed higher education in the natural resources or outdoor recreation fields
• Knowledge of outdoor recreational activities and responsible recreation best practices
• Passionate about engaging communities in watershed stewardship
• Experience with river safety and navigation helpful
• Applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a variety of teams and participants
• Comfortable using technology for communication and record keeping
• Physical Requirements:
  
  Ability to stand, squat, kneel, sit for several hours at a time. Ability to lift and move objects up to 50 lbs. Ability to safely use hand tools and other outdoor related equipment. Reasonable accommodations available

• At least 18 years old…