Fall Staff Crew Leader

Title: Staff Crew Leader

Location: Based out of Swoope, VA

Dates: August 31st to November 24th, 2026

Wages: $925 – $1,125/week, depending on prior experience and certifications.  

Benefits: Health benefits available after a probationary period.

Multiple positions available. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

Purpose 

Appalachian Conservation Corps works to connect young people to critical conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, DC, and Pennsylvania. As a corps program, we partner with public land managers to identify, plan, and complete projects that improve public access, habitat quality, and economic development.  

Appalachian Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation service organizations envisioning a world with healthy lands, air, and water, thriving people, and resilient communities. We aim to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our public lands through community-based service. We welcome national applicants but also emphasize the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve. 

Position Summary

The Crew Leader II position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives while completing conservation projects on public and private lands. Leaders will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for young adults, working to promote the health and resiliency of our land, air, and water.

The standard schedule generally consists of 9-day hitches (out in the field as a crew) followed by 5 days off with some exceptions. On hitch, crews camp, prepare meals, and work together as a group to complete all projects and chores.  

The Crew Leader II position requires patience, a consistently positive mental attitude, mentorship, technical aptitude, focus on efficiency, and a high level of competence in the outdoors. It also involves an administration role, where weekly paperwork is due in a timely manner to supervisors. Finally, crew leaders must exhibit the ability to effectively work on dynamic teams and those from a variety of communities. 

Projects take place across the Appalachian Region, including partnerships with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and other land managers. These hands-on projects include habitat restoration, invasive species treatments, stream health improvement, and more. Crew members and leaders may go through trainings including USFS Developing Thinking Sawyers Chainsaw Training and Registered Technician Pesticide Training to gain necessary certifications to complete crew projects. The crew provides a supportive learning environment where members work with, learn from, and grow with one another while gaining skills to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship.  

Appalachian Conservation Corps is an independent, non-residential program. Crews are responsible for their own housing, food, and transportation when they are not in the field. In addition to providing food while in the field, we will provide group camping equipment, tools, protective gear, and transportation between Appalachian Conservation Corps offices and project sites. 

Responsibilities:  

Leadership & Mentorship 

• Mentor Assistant Crew Leader: provide valuable feedback, give opportunities for growth, delegate responsibilities, and encourage technical and leadership skill development.
• Implement skills training on worksite and facilitate intentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew’s personal growth and group dynamics.
• Promote individual corps member development and a safe, healthy, cohesive, other-centered and team-oriented community.
• Follow and enforce all policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent the program. This includes creating a substance free work environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program.

Project Management & Implementation  

• Train, motivate and supervise a crew of young adults to efficiently complete tasks and objectives outlined in conservation projects, while working long hours and managing high quality of work and crew morale.
• Think critically to resolve issues, requesting assistance when needed.
• Communicate & coordinate logistics with project partners, Assistant Crew Leader, & program staff.

Safety & Risk Management  

• Monitor, manage, and promote the holistic health of the crew, including physical and emotional (intimidation free community environment) safety.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness & promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crew and equipment safely in organizational vans or large SUVs with trailers in accordance with our driver policy.
• Manage and document incidents in the field and activate incident response system, if needed, per Conservation Legacy policy.

Administration  

• Thorough documentation of crew hours, accomplishments, disciplinary actions taken, and incident response according to Conservation Legacy policy and procedure.
• Manage food budget and credit card purchases.
• Track and submit credit card receipts for all expenses every month.

Camp Management

• Oversee, manage, and assign camp chores and tasks.
• Monitor and manage crew community needs in camp.
• Instruct crew in how to create a safe, hygienic, and tidy camp environment while mitigating crew-caused impacts to campsites, practicing minimum impact camping techniques.
• Maintain all program policies and procedures in camp environment.
• Leading a camping crew is an intensive commitment requiring a continuous physical presence. Leaders must remain physically present, and cognitively and emotionally available to support community and individual crew member needs.

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Full commitment to the program and its mission.
• Understanding of and experience with the mission and field management considerations of conservation corps and public land agencies.
• Leadership, management, and supervisory experience with youth or young adults.
• Must hold current advanced medical certification: 24 hours Wilderness First Aid with CPR/AED or higher or be willing to receive certification prior to start date.
• Ability to effectively manage all aspects of crew life and production within a 40-50+-hour work week including managing projects, camping, and programmatic policies and integrity.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.
• Willingness to participate in community-building activities and solution-oriented problem solving with peer leaders.
• Able to work long days in adverse conditions.
• Must be able to speak, understand and write English.
• Have a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a criminal history check.
• Must be over the age of 21 or have possessed a driver’s license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).
• Chainsaw or herbicide experience

Preferred Qualifications or a Strong Desire to Grow in the Following:  

• Experience with experiential and/or environmental education.
• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel.
• Experience with team-building facilitation and conflict resolution.
• Time-management skills and ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Current Virginia or West Virginia Registered Technician Pesticide certification.
• Current USFS B faller chainsaw certification.

Any questions can be addressed to:  

Eleanor Trott

Crew Program Manager

etrott@conservationlegacy.org