ROCKY MOUNTAIN YOUTH CORPS
Individual Placement Position Description:
2025 Taos Pueblo Youth Stewardship-Wilderness Ranger
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.
Position Type: Seasonal, full time, AmeriCorps member
SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week February 3, 2025 - November 14, 2025 (9 months). Dates may change due to program funding or timing of applications that are received.
TERM: 1200 hour AmeriCorps Term
Compensation: AmeriCorps Stipend position: $720/week, paid every two weeks.
Education Award: Segal education award scholarship of $5,176.50 upon successful completion of term of service.
Benefits: All benefits as described in RMYC Individual Placement Handbook.
Reports to: Carson National Forest and Taos Pueblo Division of Natural Resources staff for mentorship and to Rocky Mountain Youth Corps Tribal Programs Coordinator on a weekly basis.
Location: Based in Taos, NM.
Position Overview:
This is an AmeriCorps position, working with Taos Pueblo Division of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service, and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to ensure the continued protection of Taos Pueblo sacred lands, and to engage with members of the public around sovereign tribal boundaries, wilderness ethics, cultural awareness, and trail maintenance.
The Carson National Forest and Taos Pueblo will partner with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) to ensure the continued protection of Taos sacred lands from trespass/encroachment, enable public outreach for cultural awareness and best practices for responsible recreation, and promote the professional development of Taos Pueblo youth. Work will include data collection, visitor contacts; visitor education on Leave No Trace best practices, Wilderness ethics and cultural awareness; installation of related signage, dispersed campfire clean-up; litter patrols; social trail rehabilitation; and systems trail maintenance.
While members of RMYC, the Wilderness Rangers will support the Taos Pueblo Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and Carson National Forest (CNF, Supervision will be the responsibility of RMYC. Primary service work locations will be the Wheeler Peak Wilderness, the Taos Pueblo Blue Lake Wilderness, Hondo-Columbine Wilderness, Latir Wilderness areas. Participants will work occasionally with personnel from Taos Ski Valley Inc., the Village of Taos Ski Valley, Taos Pueblo, the US Forest Service and its contractors (Trail Crews, Data Collection personnel, etc) doing a variety of jobs.
As a part of Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC), Individual Placements (IP) are also encouraged to attend the professional development and life skills training that RMYC offers regularly. In addition, the IP will have direct contact with either the Conservation Program Manager or the Conservation Program Coordinator at RMYC and have regular (monthly at a minimum) one on one meetings to ensure the IP is receiving an enriching experience and to coordinate inclusion with other IPs and RMYC as a whole.
Major Responsibilities:
Conduct sovereignty patrols and monitor the shared boundaries between Taos Pueblo and Carson National Forest.
Educate skiers, snowboarders and winter trekkers at Taos Ski Valley as part of the Carson National Forest Winter Sports Program and ‘Ski with a Ranger’ speaker series.
Monitor visitor use and make contacts along Forest Service Trails in Wilderness Areas
Install a trail registry on the Williams Lake Trail in order to better track and understand winter recreational use in the upper basin.
Engage in visitor contact in backcountry and Wilderness settings and promote responsible recreation practices among Forest users.
Educate visitors on Leave No Trace best practices and Wilderness ethics, install related signage (trailhead kiosks, no trespassing signs on shared boundaries etc.), maintain trails and advocate for Tribal sovereignty through their foot patrols.
Assist the Carson National Forest and Taos Pueblo in its annual trail closures in support of Taos Pueblo traditional doings and the cultural preservation of Taos Pueblo sacred sites and landscapes on the Carson National Forest.
Document and archive collected recreational user data.
Present project experiences, collected data, lessons learned, and constructive feedback to Carson National Forest and Taos Pueblo leadership as a public speaking exercise and as a means to inform successes going forward.
Other Support & Responsibilities:
Pursue and participate in relevant trainings to increase professional capacity and expand Knowledge
Comply with all RMYC and AmeriCorps rules and policies and not participate in any prohibited activities as described in the member contract.
Eligibility:
Pre-employment background check will be required.
Must have an insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license.
Minimum 21 years of age.
AmeriCorps members must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.
Taos Pueblo Tribal member preferred or those enrolled members of any federally recognized Tribe residing in NM
QUALIFICATIONS:
Have a High School Diploma or equivalent or agree to obtain one prior to using the Segal Education Award
If you are not capable of obtaining a High School diploma or equivalent or are enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis you may be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091)
Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check:
Must consent to the criminal history check
Be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history
Cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry
Cannot be convicted of murder
Must be able to complete entire length of service term
Strong work ethic and willingness to work within a team of diverse individuals
Able to work in supervised and unsupervised environment
Participate in service events that benefit the community
Skills:
Ability to work and communicate well with people from diverse backgrounds
Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing environment
Strong work ethic, and the ability to take initiative and work independently with periodic check- Ins
Ability to spend time outdoors for long periods of time in all weather conditions (extreme heat to winter conditions)
BENEFITS:
Healthcare coverage is available to all AmeriCorps members at no cost to the member. This is considered primary coverage and is not available as supplemental coverage.
Non-Scheduled Days (paid days off) are available depending on the length of the term of service (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award)
RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off, however RMYC reserves the right to have AmeriCorps members work or service hours on certain holidays if necessary to meet program requirements (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award)
Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for those who qualify
EVALUATION:
Members serving less than a full-time term of service (<1700 hours) will receive only an end-of-term evaluation
Preferred Experience/Education:
Previous experience with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps or other youth development/conservation organization.
Leadership experience with peers, preferably in a mentoring or instructional capacity.
Knowledge of tool use and safety.
Proficient driving trucks, and/or 4x4 SUV with trailer attachment
Wilderness medicine certification (WFA, WFR).
Familiarity with techniques and concepts of safety and risk management.
Consistent positive mental attitude.
PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
Hike into and work in a remote settings often
Lift or move up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds constantly.
Frequently traverse uneven terrain; balance, stoop, kneel, reach, push, pull, and/or grasp.
Have visual acuity and experience to operate motor vehicles in most types of weather, in diverse settings and rough terrain.
Able to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of all work assigned.
Receive detailed information through oral or signed communication; convey important instructions accurately and effectively.
Work outdoors, subject to outside environmental conditions.
Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
To apply, please submit an application at the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps website, including a resume and cover letter. https://youthcorps.org.
For more information, contact Tribal Programs Coordinator Harold LeftHand at harold@youthcorps.org .
Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is available to all and we will not discriminate or refuse services to any staff or member because of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, military service or pregnancy.
RMYC is a drug free workplace. All positions are dependent upon funding availability.
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