Individual Placement-Alaska- Trails Technician

Student Conservation Association • Fairbanks, AK

4d • $600 • Onsite

About The Position

Apply now to serve a community in the heartland of Alaska through hands-on trail work! These placements will work on trails in Fairbanks, AK under the direction of Fairbanks Trails, Inc., a trails non-profit organization.

Placements will develop and practice skills in sustainable trail maintenance, including using hand and power tools to smoothen trail tread, cut brush, and remove trees. Placements will work alone and in a small team of interns and volunteers with the goals of performing much-needed and years-overdue maintenance on prominent Fairbanks-area trails.

Requirements

• Placements will work outside in variable conditions. Fairbanks is known for its sunny and long summer days, but inclement weather is always possible, and mosquitoes are always prevalent.
• Placements must have a strong work ethic, be able to manage time effectively, be able to work at times without direct supervision, and be able to work in a team as well as alone.
• Placements must be able to traverse uneven terrain while carrying up to 40 pounds of tools, personal protective equipment, and personal gear.

Nice To Haves

• Preference will be given to residents of Fairbanks, AK, to local college students, and to anyone with a familiarity of Fairbanks area trails.

Responsibilities

• Perform trail maintenance on trail systems in the Fairbanks area, including Skarland, Equinox, ADMA, Pearl Creek, Chena Lakes, Tanana Lakes, Birch Hill, Isberg, Skyline Ridge, the UAF trail systems, and others.
• Trail benching, brushing trail, building and clearing drainages for water run-off, and trail surface leveling.
• Perform light carpentry and painting on structures near trails, like warm-up huts near ski trails.
• Use chainsaws for brushing and clearing downed trees.
• Help Fairbanks Trails Inc. (FTI) lead volunteer work parties on trail projects.
• Cleaning, preparing, and transporting tools, monitoring volunteers on the appropriate use of tools and personal protective equipment and alerting the FTI volunteer lead of any issues, instructing volunteers on trail work techniques, and verbally informing volunteers on-site of the goals and details of the work party project.

Benefits

• $600/week living allowance
• $1300 one-time roundtrip travel allowance
• Placements will be provided with a three-day chainsaw training course with the SCA near Anchorage, AK, starting around May 29 to June 1.
• Air travel to Anchorage and then from Anchorage to Fairbanks will be covered by a stipend, reimbursement, or direct booking by SCA staff, as yet to be determined.
• Upon arrival in Anchorage, SCA staff will transport the placements from the airport to the training site in Indian Valley, and will transport them back to the airport when the training concludes for their flight to Fairbanks.
• While at training in Indian Valley, placements will be provided a tent and meals.
• They will be loaned a helmet, ear protection, and chainsaw chaps for the duration of the training (placements may elect to bring their own)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed