Facility Data Collector (Spike Camping)

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with California State Parks is seeking one Facility Data Collector to support inventory and assessment projects alongside California State Parks Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit https://www.usaconservation.org/.

For more information about California State Parks Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division, please visit their website here: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=795

Start Date: October 2025. 

Estimated End Date: February 2026. 

Duration: 20 weeks. 

Location Details/Description: This position is based out of the California State Parks’ Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division, 715 P Street, Sacramento, California and will require travel to various California State Parks. 

Transportation to and from the various work locations will be provided, but the intern must be able to provide their own transportation to the base site in Northern Sacramento. 

Position Overview: 

This position will inventory and assess state park facilities such as buildings, structures, and systems as well as roads and trails throughout the California State Parks system. This inventory process will use Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware and software to collect data for storage in the State Parks Geographic Information System (GIS) database. This position will frequently work in both public and remote, backcountry outdoor locations to efficiently complete task assignments. This position is required to work nights, weekends, odd hours and overtime in accomplishment of assigned tasks. This position will spike camp (i.e., outdoor tent camping) at campgrounds and remote locations at work sites throughout the State. Spike camping will be required every night for all work assigned shifts. 

Additional office-based duties may include: 

• Conducting transcription and quality control on relevant data to ensure proper data quality and attribution.
• Using ESRI GIS and other software to generate reports based on field-collected GIS data related to California State Parks’ roads, trails, and infrastructure.
• Data entry and conversion into compatible formats.
• Creating maps and analyzing data using ArcGIS Online and ESRI ArcGIS Pro software, Microsoft Access, Excel, Word and other programs.

Office based duties are limited for this position and would likely not exceed more than six weeks of the internship.  Working hours for office work would be adjusted to Monday-Friday 8-hour days. This would likely be during the winter season. 

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: This position requires a 8 day on, 6 day off “spike” schedule. The intern will work Wednesday through Wednesday from 7am – 5:30pm with 6 days off afterwards. 

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the California State Parks and ACE and is not flexible.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or California State Parks. 

Per Diem: Per diem is available for camping/field days (AKA being on spike) only. When spiking, the intern would be reimbursed for food expenses at a rate of $48 for first and last day and $63 for all days in between. Per diem is not available for office related work at the reporting location. 

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include instruction using ArcGIS online software, FieldMaps GPS application,  and identification and evaluation of state park facilities and infrastructure.

Qualifications 

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and California State Parks in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.usaconservation.org/epic-faqs/.

Preferred:

• Readiness to spend time outdoors under varying weather conditions.
• Experience spending long periods of time outdoors either professionally or recreationally.
• Enthusiasm for working with a professional crew in backcountry and frontcountry locations for long durations of time.
• Ability and willingness to work limited manual labor, extensive walking on trails and unpaved roads, hot summer temperatures, exposure to noxious plants and insects (e.g. poison oak, ticks, mosquitoes) cold winter conditions including work in rain and snow conditions, and work in high altitude, desert and coastal environments.
• Deep interest in spending time outdoors.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 20 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. Work will include limited manual labor, extensive walking on trails and unpaved roads, hot summer temperatures, exposure to noxious plants and insects (e.g. poison oak, ticks, mosquitoes), cold winter conditions including work in rain and snow conditions, and work in high altitude, desert and coastal environments.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety:  If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the CalState Parks or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the CalState Parks. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the CalState Parks, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to CalState Parks and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.