Trail Data Steward Individual Placement - AmeriCorps

Position Title: Trail Data Steward Individual Placement – Ameri Corps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina

Site

Location:

Appalachian Ranger District, Pisgah National Forest

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 01/19/2027
• End Date: 12/17/2027
• Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

Purpose:

These Ameri Corps positions will serve with the U.S. Forest Service in the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. These Ameri Corps positions support ongoing disaster recovery from Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread trail damage, and contribute to long-term sustainable recreation management.

The Trail Data Stewards will conduct field-based trail assessments, collect geospatial data, and help prioritize maintenance and restoration needs across the districts. Data will directly inform USFS trail planning, safety mitigation, and funding allocation for high-priority projects.

Description of Duties:

Fieldwork

• Conduct systematic trail condition assessments to evaluate tread, drainage, signage, accessibility, and safety hazards.
• Monitor Trailheads, bridges, culverts, and other infrastructure for storm-related damage.
• Track and document Hurricane Helene impacts to trails and support disaster recovery planning.
• Occasionally assist with volunteer or agency trail maintenance days to understand and ground-truth data findings.

Data Collection & Analysis

• Collect GPS and GIS-based field data to support digital trail inventories.
• Enter, clean, and manage trail data in agency databases and spreadsheets.
• Assist with mapping and analysis in ArcGIS or other geospatial tools.
• Produce summary maps, graphics, and reports for district staff and partner presentations.

Planning & Prioritization

• Help prioritize maintenance projects by rating condition severity and safety risks.
• Identify reroute opportunities to improve trail sustainability and reduce erosion.
• Contribute to evaluating trail accessibility (grades, surfaces, barriers) to inform ADA compliance improvements.
• Support grant compliance by preparing site monitoring documentation and condition reports.

Volunteer & Partner Engagement

• Provide data summaries to inform volunteer trail work projects and support partner coordination.
• Collaborate with partner groups (e.g., local trail clubs, nonprofits) by sharing findings that guide work priorities.
• Occasionally assist with volunteer trail days, gathering field data or guiding project priorities.

Public Contact & Education

• Interact with trail users in the field to share information on closures, hazards, or reroutes.
• Support development of educational materials such as updated maps, signage, or condition reports for public distribution.
• Represent CCNC and the U.S. Forest Service professionally in all interactions with the public and partners.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has 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
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Interest in conservation, public land stewardship, and outdoor recreation management.
• Valid driver’s license; insurable for agency/CCNC vehicles.
• Ability to work outdoors in rugged conditions and inclement weather.
• Strong communication skills and professional public contact.
• Self-motivated; able to work independently while following safety guidelines.
• USFS B Sawyer certification (or ability to obtain)
• Wilderness First Aid/CPR
• Experience with hand tools, trail maintenance, or outdoor labor.
• Familiarity with GPS/mobile data collection; GIS exposure a plus.

Our Commitment:

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 requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable…