Conservation Corps - Summer 2026 Western Corps Teams - Crew Member

Crew Member: 2026 Summer Western Trail Corps

Program Dates: 5/26/26 - 08/15/26

• Training Dates: 5/26/26 - 06/16/26

Field Season: 6/17/26 - 8/15/26

Conservation Begins Here. Are you ready to serve in one of the most rugged and beautiful landscapes in the Western U.S.? Do you want to make a tangible difference in our natural spaces while learning skills to kickstart your conservation career? Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a Crew Member for Western Trail Corps and

embark on a journey that blends purpose with adventure.

This isn’t your average 9-to-5 job. You’ll be part of a 4-6 person crew working on trail maintenance projects to promote safe recreational experiences on public lands. Projects may include clearing trail corridors, logging out trails with crosscut saws, rock work, and maintaining tread and drainage features.

Members will be assigned to their project sites after they are accepted into SCA Western Corps. Project sites in summer 2026 may include National Forests in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, or Colorado.  Previous project sites have included the Sierra National Forest, Inyo National Forest, and Sequoia

National Forest. Crews will train, live and work together throughout the season. Now is the perfect opportunity to dedicate your time and energy to a project that helps the planet and people.

What We’re Looking For

Crew members will develop skills that will make them good candidates for entry-level seasonal positions with land management agencies like the US Forest Service and the National Park Service.  Work will involve physical exertion and be performed outdoors in varying weather conditions. SCA is looking for members

open to new experiences, willingness to perform hard physical labor, and enthusiasm for sharing space with others.  Experienced candidates will have a foundation in outdoor living (hiking, camping and backpacking) and experience working outside, but these are not requirements. Eagerness to learn in challenging conditions, actively contributing to a community, and adaptability

in dynamic work environments are equally important qualities.

Conservation work is unpredictable. Crews will have to navigate inclement weather, from waking up in single digit temperatures, to extreme sun exposure. It is possible to experience thunderstorms, extreme winds, and smoke within the same workday. The most successful teams are those who can adapt as challenges

arise and continue to work effectively with their team.

Success hinges on understanding and addressing both personal and group needs. Participants must be fully invested in taking care of themselves and supporting their crew.

Western Trail Corps is a substance-free program. Consumption of alcohol is never permitted when on duty. This begins at the start of pre-hitch and ends once all post-hitch activities are completed. Marijuana and illegal substances are never permitted. Participants will adhere to this policy, along with other

expectations set by SCA.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Completion of conservation project and community tasks as assigned;

• Whether it is using a crosscut saw to cut a tree, hiking with your team to

your backcountry basecamp, doing dishes, or participating in a community meeting, full engagement is expected in all work projects and crew activities, both on and off duty;

• Assist your crew through meal shopping, camp

chores, basecamp maintenance, vehicle inspections, and other logistical and/or communal living tasks;

• Interface with the general public and partner organizations in a manner that

reflects positively upon the crew, organization, and partner agency;

• Maintain an active, solution-focused mindset to achieve crew objectives;

• Adhere to standards set through SCA’s policies;

Marginal Duties:

• Assist in travel planning, data collection, and team logistics support;

• Non-routine tool and gear maintenance;

• If eligible, may drive the SCA vehicle for team support;

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 or older by the position start date;

• Legal work status in the US;

• Successfully pass SCA’s background check;

• Successfully complete a Health Screening Questionnaire before the position

start date;

• Attend Crew Member Training from 5/26/26 - 06/16/26;

• Must uphold project, crew community, basecamp, vehicle, and additional safety

standards set through SCA’s policies;

• Commitment to teamwork, learning, and problem-solving;

• Work in challenging outdoor conditions, including extreme heat, extreme cold,

high winds, and precipitation;

• Perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, hike 5+ miles in a

day and occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;

• Live and work in a multi-gendered, multi-cultural communal environment,

sharing common spaces and communal meal settings each day;

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants that receive the PLC must be between the ages of 18 and 30, or veterans aged 35 or younger, at the start of the position. Participants must also be a citizen, national of the United States, or lawful permanent resident

alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority if eligible.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Camping and/or backpacking experience;

• Experience using hand tools;

• Strong interpersonal skills and community living experience;

• For driver eligibility, must be over 21 years old, possess a valid driver’s

license for 3+ years, a Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA’s standards, and complete SCA’s driver training;

Benefits:

• $650 one-time round-trip travel allowance (paid in first paycheck);

• $300 - $450 weekly living allowance;

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

• Meals: Provided during fieldwork

• Gear: Group camping gear, like tents, stoves, and filters, are provided

• Uniform Package: Includes daypack, work shirts, water bladder and more!

You’ll also receive:

• Conservation trail work skills training

• Defensive driver training, if eligible

• Trailer driving training, if eligible

Work Schedule

In general, members should expect to work on their project for 80 hours within a two-week span. This is subject to change based upon programmatic and field-based needs as different projects will require different schedules. Some crews work 8 10-hour workdays with 6 days off, others may work 4 10-hour days with 3 days

off.

Off-time is an opportunity to recharge before getting back on trail and activities vary from crew to crew. Some crews use off time to explore surrounding areas, like visiting local National Parks. Other crews curl up in a coffee shop to decompress. Some crews do a bit of both.  A fraction of off-time will be spent preparing for the next hitch, such

as purchasing groceries.

Living Arrangements

Living arrangements will be dependent on crew assignment. Most crews will have a mix of frontcountry and backcountry camping. Off-time housing may mean dormitories or frontcountry camping. Throughout the program expect limited access to electricity, Wi-Fi, running water and showers.

Community chores like preparing meals and washing dishes will be shared by members and leaders. SCA will provide group gear such as tents, kitchen supplies (like pots, pans, and stoves), and uniform items. Leaders and members will be expected to bring their personal items such as a sleeping bag, sleeping pad,

clothing, and mess kit. A packing list will be provided after accepting a position. To support the crew’s efforts, crews are issued an SCA vehicle and trailer for transportation and storage, and a field budget to purchase groceries, supplies, and fuel.

What Might the Season Look Like?

Service begins at Crew Member Training, where participants will gather with other corps teams to develop skills needed for the season. Training is field-based and will include a review of sustainable trail practices, tools for conflict management and proper basecamp setup. Staff will also share expectations on risk management in the field. A Wilderness First Aid course is

offered to members during training.

Upon completion of Crew Member Training, the crew will travel to their project site. The crew will work on projects aimed at making trails safe and enjoyable for recreation users. The team should expect to work on trail projects in backcountry settings during work hitches lasting between 4 and 10 days at a

time. Projects may include brushing corridor, removing downed logs with crosscut and/or handsaws, repair trail tread and drainage features, install or repair rock or timber structures, and reroute or install new trails. Off days will be spent in the backcountry. The crew will end with crews traveling

to participate in cleaning up tools and equipment at derig in Ridgecrest, CA.

Personal Vehicle:

Not required; members are permitted to bring their personal vehicles for use during their days off, but SCA is not responsible for the fuel, parking or security of personal vehicles.

Join Us. Apply Today!

Ready to lead, learn, and make a difference?

• Create a profile and submit your application through SCA’s website

[https://thesca.org/join-the-crew] For questions, reach out to scawesterncorps@thesca.org [scawesterncorps@thesca.org]

Let’s build a better future—together. ?

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.

General Physical Requirements

• Able to understand, adhere to, and communicate with others regarding hazards,

procedures, and safety policies.

• Able to stay alert and engaged for extended periods of program time.

• Able to independently manage known medical conditions with the resources

available throughout the position or program.

• Able to wear all required personal protective equipment, including internal

or external, safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, N95 or other approved face mask or shield, chaps, and appropriate footwear.

• Able to refrain from behaviors and actions that disrupt the work and safety

of others.

• Able to cooperate with others to complete daily group tasks,

responsibilities, and project work under potentially difficult conditions, variable daily routines, and with limited personal time.

• Able to self-regulate or co-regulate emotions and actions when distressed or

uncomfortable, with or without the support of others.

• Able to self-manage outdoor and environmental exposure (e.g., temperature,

wind, sun, etc.) in a variety of weather conditions.

• If using prescription medications, able to self-medicate by following the

prescribed dosage, usage, and timing without supervisor assistance (except possibly at the direction of higher medical authority in emergency situations).

• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing approximately 45% of body

weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions

• Able to lift a backpack weighing 45% of body weight with

minimal assistance from others.

• Able to grip a third point of contact for balance purposes when crossing

rivers or streams, and ascending and/or descending slopes.

• Able to independently carry a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of

body weight for a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 15 miles with adequate breaks dependent on weather, terrain, and trail conditions.

• Able to lift a backpack weighing up to or approximately 30% of body weight,

with minimal assistance from others.

• Able to move on cross-country skis or snowshoes over a variety of snow, ice,

and trail conditions.

• Able to move equipment and supplies by sled and/or backpack over a variety of

snow, ice, and trail conditions while using cross-country skis, snowshoes, or winter boots.

Working Conditions

Work schedules and projects may change on short notice or be ambiguous.;Work settings require the ability to positively interact with people of varying cultures and perspectives.;Natural environments and culturally significant locations that require respect to the land and indigenous peoples.;Inclement and severe weather conditions, including heavy

rain and flash flooding, gusty and strong winds, foggy or decreased visibility, and lightning events.;Decreased or inclement air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke or smog.;Warm temperatures and adverse heat conditions which could include temperatures in some regions up to 110°F or hotter.;Exposure to

natural and environmental hazards such as, poison ivy, oak, or sumac, tick and mosquito -borne illness, snakes, and potential for other wildlife encounters.;Exposure and potential contact to bear habitat and wildlife.