USDA Forest Service Recreation Technician Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

                                                                     

 

Position Title: USDA Forest Service Recreation Technician - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps - Four Corners, Durango

Site Location: Gunnison Ranger District, 216 N. Colorado St. Gunnison CO, 81230

 

 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 05/04/2026 (Ideal start May 4^th, but flexible for the right candidate)
• End Date: 10/02/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours
• Position is dependent on grant funding

 

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps program partners with the USDA Forest Service staff at local field offices throughout southern Colorado. This AmeriCorps position is under direct mentorship and technical guidance of the Gunnison Ranger District with additional management, support, and administration from Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC). The U.S. Forest Service works in collaboration with local communities and partners to carry out its mission to sustain the health, multi-use, and productivity of the Nation’s forest and grasslands to the meet the needs of present and future generations. The values instilled through this mission are service, interdependence, conservation, and safety. Individual Placements (IPs) will be a part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest, Recreation Program. The Recreation Program is tasked with managing over three million acres of development and dispersed recreation opportunities, including but not limited to visitor centers, campgrounds, non-motorized and motorized trails, scenic by-ways designated wilderness and other public recreation opportunities. The GMUG is divided into five ranger districts, Grand Valley, Paonia, Ouray, Norwood, and Gunnison.

 

This AmeriCorps position focuses on enhancing the implementation of the Forest Service mission by improving trails, campgrounds, and facilities for safer and more reliable public recreation experiences. Individual Placements (IPs) located across all five ranger districts will assist with maintaining infrastructure such as roads, bridges and recreation sites. These field-based service projects will ultimately contribute to local economic growth and job creation, personalizing and expanding visitor access through on-site staff volunteer engagement and promoting safe, healthy and responsible outdoor experience for current and future generations on our public lands.

 

 

Description of Duties:

• Perform trail corridor maintenance
• Hike, ride, utilize ATVs, and camp in backcountry settings
• Utilize train maintenance tools such as chainsaws, crosscut saws, axes, pulaskis, shovels, etc. to complete trail maintenance projects
• Assist in/ provide stock handling to support backcountry trail activities
• Restore downed and broken trail and informational signs
• Assist in organizing volunteer trail maintenance days
• Assist in recruiting and outreaching volunteers 
• Monitor Dispersed and developed Recreation sites
• Perform site rehabilitation as prescribed by existing management plan 
• Close and re-habilitate sites that are non-compliant with management plan
• Perform recreation facility maintenance including cleaning and restocking vault toilets, removing trash, painting and/or staining structures, removal and installation of new facilities
• Initiate contact with public users to offer information and assistance as well as educate public on resource concerns and low-impact user techniques 
• Assist USFS personnel with potential non-compliant public contacts by providing back-up and communication 

 

 

Potential Environmental/Human Risks:

• Slips, trips, falls with uneven, remote and rugged high elevation terrain that can change rapidly and become inclement weather
• Hiking for long distances with heavy packs
• Wildlife encounters and time spent around stock 
• Operation of motorized equipment 
• Encountering illicit public activity 

 

 

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident 
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Current and valid U.S. Driver's License for at least three years 
• Per grant funding requirements, candidate must be 18-30 years of age, up to 35 years of age if veteran status 

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ability and desire to hike up to 10 miles per day and camp in backcountry settings
• Interest in/ability to operate off-road equipment
• Interest in natural resource management career
• Ability to serve independently in remote wilderness areas
• Bachelor's degree or pursuit of bachelor's degree
• Experience with backcountry travel and camping for extended periods
• Horse experience/exposure
• ATV/off road vehicle experience

 

 

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager. 

 

 

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve a four tens schedule Monday to Thursday but is subject to change at any point in the term. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service 
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

 

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an in-depth orientation provided by Southwest Conservation Corps that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. 
• Partner will provide appropriate orientation and training(s) for field activities including Developing Thinking Sawyers Chainsaw and crosscut certification, First Aid/CPR, ATC and UTV certification, defensive driving and 4x4 vehicle operation, horse and mule (stock) training and certification 

 

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Additional Benefit of $150 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Professional development and networking opportunities with both SCC and the Forest Service
• Two SCC field shirts
• Forest Service bunk housing is available - nightly rate $6.37-$8.37, paid to the Forest Service monthly 

 

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

 

 

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Individual Placement Program Manager - Niki Antonio (she/her)

Contact Information: nantonio@conservationlegacy.org

 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager. 

 

Non-profit managing conservation service and youth workforce development programs.