Conservation Corps - Summer 2026 Western Corps Teams - Senior Crew Member

Student Conservation Association•West Bishop, CA

8h•$450 - $550

About The Position

Senior Crew Member: 2026 Summer Western Trail Corps Program Dates: 5/26/26 - 08/15/26 Training Dates: 5/26/26 - 06/16/26 Field Season: 6/17/26 - 8/15/26 Conservation Begins Here. Are you ready to grow your leadership skills and explore iconic landscapes in the Western U.S.? Do you want to make a tangible difference in our natural spaces while learning skills to kickstart your conservation career? Join the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as a Senior Member 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 be part of a 4-6 person crew working on trail maintenance projects that promote safe recreational experiences on public lands. Projects may include clearing trail corridor, logging out trails with crosscut saws, rock work, and maintaining tread and drainage features. Senior members will work under the guidance of a Field Leader to support the logistical and community needs of your crew. Senior members 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. Now is the perfect opportunity to dedicate your time and energy to a meaningful project that prepares you for a future in the conservation world. What We’re Looking For This position is designed to give the senior member hands-on leadership experience by supporting conservation crew management duties. Use what you learn from this position to apply for crew lead positions in the future. Work will involve physical exertion and be performed outdoors in varying weather conditions. SCA is looking for candidates open to new experiences, willingness to perform hard physical labor, and enthusiasm for sharing space with others. Senior Members of trail crews wear many hats - worksite manager, reporter, community organizer and cheerleader are just a few. We are looking for candidates with applicable experience that can grow under the guidance of their field leader and program staff. Some candidates will have a strong foundation in living and experience working outdoors. Others may excel in fostering team dynamics, navigating interpersonal relationships, or creating a strong sense of community. SCA wants to identify your individual strengths for this role and help you develop additional necessary skills. Our senior members must have an enthusiasm to learn in challenging conditions, actively contribute to their community, and be able to adapt to dynamic work environments. Conservation work is unpredictable. Crews will have to navigate inclement weather, from waking up in single digit temperatures, to extreme sun exposure. It is possible to experience thunderstorms, extreme winds, and smoke within the same workday. The most successful teams are those who can adapt as challenges arise and continue to work effectively with their team. Success hinges on understanding and addressing both personal and group needs. Senior members will need to establish effective communication strategies with their team and work alongside their Crew Leader to accomplish project and team goals. Senior members must be fully invested in supporting their crew, through everything from community meetings to individual pep talks. Expect to offer support even outside of project hours. Western Trail Corps is a substance-free program. Consumption of alcohol is never permitted when on duty. This 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

Must be 18 or older by the position start date;
Legal work status in the US;
Successfully pass SCA’s background check;
Successfully complete a Health Screening Questionnaire before the position start date;
Must be able to attend Crew Member Training from 5/26/26 - 06/16/26
Previous corps, outdoor living or leadership experience;
SCA realizes that senior members, are here to gain experience to become future conservation leaders, and we ask that you come with one of these three skills for us to build from;
Must uphold project, crew community, basecamp, vehicle, and additional safety standards set through SCA’s policies;
Commitment to teamwork, learning, and problem-solving;
Work in challenging outdoor conditions, including extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation;
Perform manual, physical labor for up to 10 hours per day, hike 5+ miles in a day and occasionally lift and/or move 40 pounds or more;
Live and work in a multi-gendered, multi-cultural communal environment, sharing common spaces and communal meal settings each day;

Nice To Haves

Camping and/or backpacking experience;
Experience using hand tools;
Strong interpersonal skills and community living experience;
Current Wilderness First Aid Certification;
Experience with trail work, habitat restoration, or conservation projects;
Chainsaw or crosscut experience;
For driver eligibility, must be over 21 years old, possess a valid driver’s license for 3+ years, a Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA’s standards, and complete SCA’s driver training;

Responsibilities

Completion of conservation project and community tasks as assigned;
Whether it is using a crosscut saw to clear a tree, hiking with your team to your backcountry basecamp, doing dishes, or participating in a community meeting, full engagement is expected in all work projects and crew activities, both on and off duty;
Lead your crew through daily tasks like basecamp chores, vehicle inspections, tool counts and other logistical tasks;
Lead your crew through meal shopping, camp chores, basecamp maintenance, vehicle inspections, and other logistical and/or communal living tasks;
Manage pre and post hitch tasks;
Promote community development by facilitating teambuilding activities;
Support member well-being;
Participate in meal preparation, camp chores, and other communal living tasks;
Interface with the general public and partner organizations in a manner that reflects positively upon the crew, organization, and partner agency;
Maintain an active, solution-focused mindset to achieve crew objectives;
Adhere and promote standards set through SCA’s policies;