Recreation Technician

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, is seeking three (3) Front country Recreation Technicians to contribute to the project alongside USFS Staff.

Start Date
:
June 1, 2026

End Date
:
October 16, 2026

* Start and end dates can be flexible. But the ability to work for the full season (20 weeks) is preferred.*

Location Details/

Description:

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest;
Methow Valley Ranger District, Winthrop, WA

The Forest: The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is one of the largest forests in Region 6, covering 3.8 million acres on the east slopes of the Cascade Range, with 5 ranger districts that span from the Canadian border to the Yakima River valley. There is a wide range of year-round recreation opportunities and 1.5 million acres of wilderness. The Forest is a leader in implementing a Forest restoration strategy that recognizes the role of fire adapted communities and wildlife and is involved in numerous interagency and collaborative efforts, state, county and federal.

The Methow Valley Ranger District, Winthrop, WA
, is 1.3 million acres of public land located on the east side of the Cascade Range, about two hours north of the Forest Headquarters in Wenatchee. Within the Methow Valley Ranger District are two wilderness areas – the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth, accounting for a combined 600 thousand acres. With over 300 miles of fish-bearing streams and 120 lakes, as well as the northernmost miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the wild heart of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, the Methow Valley is an engaging and rewarding location to work in support of recreation.

For more information about the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit the USFS website.

The Recreation Technicians will assist Forest Service personnel with the operation and maintenance of US Forest Service developed recreation sites, including campgrounds, Trailheads, and day use areas. Work activities will include cleaning recreation sites, infrastructure construction and repair, vegetation management, maintaining information kiosks, and providing visitor information.

• Serves as a member of a recreation site maintenance team to maintain Forest Service campgrounds, Trailheads, day-use recreation sites, and dispersed recreation sites
• Provide excellent visitor service by answering the public's questions on nearby recreational attractions, rules and regulations, Leave No Trace best practices, and general interpretative information.
• Clean recreation sites, including outhouses, campsites, and Trailheads
• Use tools such as loppers, weed whackers, and mowers to manage vegetation at recreation sites
• Use tools such as drills/drivers, staple guns, and other fasteners in install informational or regulatory signage at recreation sites
• Assist in the operation and maintenance of campground drinking water systems, including operating well pumps, taking water quality samples, and troubleshooting – under the supervision of experienced staff.
• With focused training and supervision, operate chainsaw to clear Forest Service recreation sites and access roads.
• Assist in the distribution and public communication of campfire restrictions when in effect
• Encourage recreation site fee compliance through educational contacts and providing reminders to visitors. This is not an enforcement position.
• Other manual labor tasks in support of developed recreation sites including raking or leaf-blowing detritus from campsites or accessible trails, spreading gravel, shoveling, or similar physical tasks.
• Other duties as assigned may include tasks such as helping disseminate information regarding wildfires (closure maps, etc.), supporting projects requiring heavy equipment (excavator, etc), assisting in hazard tree surveys using mapping software on USFS provided tablet.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and…