Individual Placement-Alaska- Developed Recreation Placement

Student Conservation Association•Ketchikan, AK

About The Position

Placement will serve with the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan Misty Fjords Ranger District to help maintain recreation sites and trails. The placement will work with Forest Service staff on various projects throughout the district. Interns should be prepared to fly, boat, but mostly drive and hike to work sites on a regular basis. The position requires being outdoors in a cool, wet environment each day as well as daily hiking, lifting, and carrying heavy loads. There isn't any computer work involved in this position. The Developed Recreation program is concentrated at the Ward Lake Recreation Area. It consists of three campgrounds, day-use picnic and shelter areas, and numerous trailheads. Driving and using power tools is required. Tasks may include trash removal, cleaning outhouses, sweeping, pressure washing, painting, splitting and delivery of firewood, educating public on rules and etiquette, support of campground hosts, brush removal, culvert maintenance, digging, raking, fencing, bridge building, construction, and carpentry projects. The Trails program consists of about 90 miles from in town to back country. Intern would accompany Forest Service staff to maintain trails which brush typically consists of clearing brush, digging drainage ditches, constructing tread using native materials as well as milled lumber and gravel, constructing and/or repairing bridges, and may involve working around heavy equipment. Work typically involves hiking with a heavy pack and carrying and using hand and power tools. Work schedule is typically 10-hour days beginning at 7am, M-Th or T-Fri, but will be flexible as some trips will involve overnights at remote sites. The placement may be asked to assist the Cabin Crew on one or more work assignments at remote public-use cabins and possible stay of up to several nights at the cabin. Tasks vary and may include solid waste removal, trash removal, cleaning outhouses, digging a new outhouse hole, cleaning the interior and exterior of cabins, sanding and painting, brush removal and landscaping, sweeping, pressure washing, construction and carpentry, patching boats, and assorted other maintenance tasks.

Requirements

The work requires flexibility to adapt to various situations that may arise.
Safety is always a priority within the scope of work.
The placement will read and sign a Job Hazard Analysis for each activity.
The placement will work with a Forest Service crew leader for more complex projects but will also work independently once comfortable with basic day-to-day tasks.
This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority.
All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger.
Participants must also be a citizen or 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.