Field Leader- Summer 2026 Western Corps Teams

Field Leader: 2026 Summer Western Trail Corps

Program Dates: 4/5/26 - 8/22/26

• Training Dates: 4/5/26 - 5/8/26

Field Season: 5/9/26 - 8/22/26

Conservation Begins Here. Are you ready to lead 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 and communities? Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a Field

• Leader for our Western Trail Corps and embark on a journey that blends

purpose with adventure.

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

• Leaders 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. Join SCA for an immersive opportunity to build,

• manage and inspire a community of like-minded individuals — while completing

meaningful service.

What We’re Looking For

If you're passionate about making a real difference and leading with purpose, this role is for you. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors. Since this position will be backcountry, leaders should have solid experience managing camps and projects in

rugged conditions. In addition to these technical skills, strong leader candidates are also able to stay organized, practice accountability, possess good judgement, promote belonging, and maintain an open perspective.

Effective crew leadership revolves around building trust, problem-solving, and cultivating resilience within the team. We're seeking leaders who prioritize emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to guide others through challenges.

Success for our teams depends on understanding and addressing both individual and group needs. Leaders must be fully invested in supporting their crew - through everything from community meetings to one-on-one check-ins - even outside of project hours. The leader will need to establish effective communication strategies with their team and work with their

crew’s senior member to manage project and member well-being.

Conservation work is unpredictable, and the best leaders are those who can adapt, communicate, and bring out the best in their team under any circumstances.

Navigating inclement weather and other environmental challenges, from waking up to frozen water tanks in single digit temperatures to extreme sun exposure, are conditions crews may face. Thunderstorms, extreme winds and smoke can be experienced within the same workday.

There may be opportunities for leaders to work together, during trainings or at project sites. Leaders must be comfortable collaborating with other leaders while maintaining responsibility for their assigned members.

Western Trail Corps is a substance-free program. Consumption of alcohol is never permitted when on duty, which 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:

• Act as a Crew Supervisor, by

guiding community dynamics, managing and participating in basecamp and equipment tasks, tracking member well-being, and upholding SCA’s policies;

• Serve as an Advisor, by training members in technical conservation work

skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environmental stewardship;

• Act as a Project Manager, by preparing gear and project before members

arrive, ensuring successful and timely completion of conservation work projects, communicating with agency partners, and upholding a positive representation of SCA;

• Perform tasks as a Program Administrator, by organizing logistics, completing
• documentation, managing crew budgets, and communicating with SCA staff;

Marginal Duties:

• Assisting in Crew Member Training;

• Coordinate specific vehicle and gear repairs;

• Tool and gear maintenance;

Required Qualifications:

• 21+ years old;

• Legal work status in the US;

• Successfully pass SCA’s background check;

• Valid driver’s license (3+ years) and Motor Vehicle Record that meets

SCA’s standards;

• Successfully complete a Health Screening Questionnaire before the position

start date;

• Attend Leader Training: 4/5/26 - 5/8/26;

• Obtain a Wilderness First Responder Certification during training;

• Leadership experience in the outdoors (outdoor education, conservation work,

or leading peer groups);

• Must understand, enact and uphold project, crew community, basecamp, vehicle,

and additional safety standards set through SCA’s policies;

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

a day, exposed to the elements, and must occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;

• Camping, hiking, and backcountry experience;

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

high winds, and precipitation;

• Full engagement in all work projects and community activities;

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

• 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:

• Current Wilderness First Responder Certification;

• Experience with trail work, habitat restoration, or conservation projects;

• Chainsaw or Crosscut Certification (Bonus points for B-Faller and B-Bucking

certifications);

• Trailer Driving Experience;

Benefits:

• Pay: $850/week

• Travel stipend: $1,000 (split into two payments: half with your

first paycheck, half with your last paycheck)

• Phone stipend: $45/month

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

• Meals: Provided during fieldwork

• Gear: Group camping gear provided (tents, stoves, cooking supplies)

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

You’ll also receive:

• Wilderness First Responder Training (completion of this certification

is required for the position)

• Conservation trail work skills training

• Defensive driver training

• Trailer driving training

Work Schedule

In general, leaders 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?

To start familiarizing yourself with SCA’s standards, leaders will be required to complete pre-program online course work. On your start date you will travel to Leader Training, where participants will develop leadership and conservation skills needed for a conservation corps team. Training is field-based and will include a review of sustainable trail practices, tools for

• building an inclusive crew and proper basecamp setup. Staff will also share

administrative and risk management expectations. A Wilderness First Responder course is offered during training. If applicable for an assigned project,

• leaders may also participate in advanced courses, such as crosscut. Leaders will

then travel to Ridgecrest, CA to prepare for their crew, collaborating with local staff to prep gear, outline project logistics, contact members, and other tasks to ensure a successful start to the season.

• Leaders will meet their team during Crew Member Training. Leaders will
• help assist with training and set key foundations for members. Upon completion

of Crew Member Training, crews will travel to their work project site in Sierra National Forest for their summer season. Crews will wrap up in Ridgecrest, CA where they will derig, and leaders will review their season with staff.

Personal Vehicle:

Not required; Leaders 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. Throughout the season, leaders are responsible for coordinating the travel logistics of the work vehicle.

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.