P-CREW Youth Corps Crew Leader

Unless posted on USAJobs.gov, the positions and organizations linked to here are in no way affiliated with or sanctioned by the Peace Corps or the United States government.

The views, positions, and priorities expressed by the posting organizations are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Peace Corps or the Government of the United States.

ABOUT SIERRA INSTITUTE:
The Sierra Institute supports rural communities by promoting healthy forests, watersheds, and natural resource management. Located in Taylorsville, CA, within Indian Valley, the organization focuses on initiatives that benefit the environment, economy, and equity. Surrounded by public lands like Plumas and Lassen National Forests, the area offers a uniquely rural lifestyle.

ABOUT P-CREW Youth Corps:
Sierra Institute’s P-CREW Youth Corps is an immersive, five-week, experiential work opportunity designed to offer employment on Northern California’s public lands to youth from rural and urban areas around the state. In 2026, P-CREW Youth Corps will fi eld four 14-person youth corps crews to complete conservation projects such as: trail maintenance and building, invasive species removal, aspen and meadow restoration, and hazardous fuels reduction.

Crews will spend their weekends playing in the mountains through activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, swimming, and more! P-CREW is uniquely capable of providing a formative and unforgettable experience for youth through immersion in the culture and communities of the Sierra Nevada’s largest watershed. Students will forge unexpectedly strong friendships, develop leadership and job skills, explore diverse and wild forests, and build pride and confidence in themselves.

We purposefully design crews to be balanced across geographies and gender identities to foster opportunities for exposure to a variety of backgrounds, stories, and cultures among crewmates.

POSITION OVERVIEW Youth Crew Leaders are integral to ensuring the success of the transformative P-CREW program. P-CREW Crew Leaders will have the unique opportunity to develop leadership and stewardship skills while supervising and mentoring a youth crew. This position was designed to empower P-CREW leaders to deepen their connection to nature, build trusting relationships with support staff, and feel confident building the next generation of natural resource stewards.

Crew leaders will be provided 2-3 weeks of in-fi eld training to prepare for the P-CREW summer session. Once P-CREW begins, crew leaders will train, supervise, and mentor their youth crews 24/7 for two five-week sessions. Crew Leaders are responsible for managing eleven, 10th-12th grade teenagers while supporting restoration efforts on the Plumas and Lassen National Forests and adjacent lands in the Northern Sierra.

Participants do not go home during the five weeks. Thus, the Crew Leader position is very similar to a camp counselor role and includes facilitating safe and sustainable recreation with the crews on weekends. Crew Leaders will be part of a team of three fi eld staff, which includes two Crew Leaders and an Alumni All-Star Assistant. The Alumni “All-Star” Assistant is someone who has successfully completed a P-CREW session and is returning to gain leadership experience.

Following the completion of the 10 week P-CREW program, Crew Leaders will assist with season wrap up: organizing paperwork, project accomplishments, and media; gear and tool maintenance and inventory; and end of season evaluations. Crew Leaders are passionate about youth stewardship and outdoor enthusiasts with the skills and interests to be excellent role models. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of youth through meaningful landscape stewardship under the umbrella of a growing, transformative, and innovative program.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participate in pre-season 2-3 week training (if training interferes with college finals, please reach out to discuss possible accommodations).
• Mentor and co-lead a crew of 11 crew members (ages 16-18) and one Alumni All-star Assistant for 10 weeks including day to day activities at the project site, at camp, and recreational activities on the weekends. This includes providing physical, social, and emotional support to the crew.
• Provide guidance, leadership opportunities, and camp operations responsibilities to the Alumni All-Star Assistant to foster personal and professional growth.
• Educate and train youth crew members in camp set up, camp and personal hygiene, Leave No Trace principles, and camp safety.
• Supervise and complete conservation projects for 40 hours per week in a variety of outdoor settings.
• Lead recreational trips on the weekends (backpacking, swimming, hiking, etc.).
• Navigate and transport crews to and from work, camp, and recreational sites safely while pulling a trailer on both paved and dirt roads.
• Submit written, digital, and oral reports on project…