Pacific West Conservation Crew Assistant Team Leader; ATL- Northern California

Pacific West Conservation Crew Assistant Team Leader (ATL) - Northern California

Join American Conservation Experience in California and enjoy free housing, skills training, and other benefits while helping to restore public lands from the Pacific Coast to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Multiple term lengths, locations, start dates, and other options are available.

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a non‑profit conservation corps with branches in Sacramento, Ridgecrest, and Coachella Valley, CA.
ACE Pacific West crews serve in Yosemite National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, the Pacific Crest Trail, coastal State Parks, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and various other locations. This role is for those who want to use their leadership skills to advance their career while working among like‑minded young professionals from across the country.

• 4/20/2026

• 10/21/2026

• Sacramento, CA

• Typical 8 days on / 6 days off or 4 days on / 3 days off.
• Off‑days are closer to the project location during remote assignments.
• Remote projects often span multiple project‑schedule cycles.

• Living Allowance: $520/week, paid bi‑weekly.
• Education Award: $3,697.50 for 900 hours of service.
• Free food on project days; members provide their own food on off‑days.
• Free housing during the term: hostel‑style housing in Sacramento for on‑site projects, tents and campsites for remote assignments.
• Potential child‑care coverage and federal loan forbearance.
• Possibility of qualifying for discounted Pro Deals via Outdoor Prolink after offer.
• Transportation provided to and from worksites; personal vehicles not required.

• ACE provides a tent.
• Members provide sleeping bag, sleeping pad, rain gear, and hiking boots.
• Additional packing list provided upon acceptance.

ATLs serve in professionally supervised teams, learning practical field skills and developing confidence as emerging leaders in conservation. ATLs assist Crew Leaders in crew work and life, leading portions of crews independently, stepping in as interim Crew Leader when needed, setting a positive example, and performing other duties as assigned.

• Habitat restoration
• Trail construction and maintenance
• Dry and wet stone masonry
• Reforestation
• Forest thinning
• Plant identification
• Fencing
• Invasive species removal
• Swamping
• Leading safety discussions
• Discussing rules and regulations
• Instructing members
• Driving vehicles
• Keeping living spaces clean and in good order

• Trail maintenance tools: pick mattocks, Pulaskis, shovels, single/double jacks, McLeods, single bit axes, rock bars, chisels, crosscut saws, and grip hoists.
• Restoration equipment: herbicide backpack sprayers, spray bottles, GPS units, and measuring tools.
• Power tools and gas‑powered equipment: chainsaws, brush‑cutters, drills, saws, and compressors.

• U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
• Ability and willingness to work in a group and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Strong physical fitness: capable of hiking moderate distances in rough terrain, carrying tools and equipment, and working 10‑hour days.
• Willingness to undergo and pass a required federal criminal history check.
• Experience in a conservation corps setting (3–6 months) is preferred.
• Experience or interest in hiking and navigation in steep terrain.
• Strong desire to enter the conservation field as a natural resource professional.
• Experience or interest in volunteering in local communities.
• 21+ for driving ACE vehicles.

• Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, and manual dexterity for tool use.
• Must stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• Ability to hike over rough terrain and camp overnight.
• Vision requirements: close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted:
  Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., can move up to 60 lbs.
• Outdoor and indoor exposure; conditions vary with weather.
• Moderate to high noise from gas‑powered tools and hand tools.
• Domestic travel required.

• Potential hazards:…