Field Leader- Summer 2026 Western Corps Teams

Student Conservation Association•Ridgecrest, CA

1d•$850

About The Position

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 - 8/29/26 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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

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
Assisting in Crew Member Training
Coordinate specific vehicle and gear repairs
Tool and gear maintenance

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
Meals: Provided during fieldwork
Gear: Group camping gear provided (tents, stoves, cooking supplies)
Uniform Package: Includes daypack, work shirts, water bladder and more!
Wilderness First Responder Training (completion of this certification is required for the position)
Conservation trail work skills training
Defensive driver training
Trailer driving training