Long-Term Conservation Crew Member

Position Title:  2026 Long-Term Conservation Crew Member– AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps  

Site Location: Los Valles Office (Salida, CO): 701 E Rainbow Blvd. Salida, CO 81201 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 06/02/2026 (Non-AC Orientation Week); Project Start 06/09/2026
• End Date: 10/29/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Multiple positions available. Open until filled. Applicant review process will begin in January 2026.   

Purpose:

The SCC Los Valles Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18 – 30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects. Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. The SCC Los Valles (LV) office is located on the ancestral lands of the Ute people, who continue to survive and thrive on these lands today. The SCC LV office is in Salida, Colorado with satellite operations in Alamosa, CO. SCC LV serves the Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or Los Valles.   

As an AmeriCorps program participant with Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews serve and camp for 8 days at a time in either front country (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), in town (collaborating with the county or municipality), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in with backpacks) locations.   

Projects may include trail construction & maintenance, habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, weeding, herbicide treatment, fencing, facility maintenance, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises.   

Schedules consist of 10-hour days that are typically 8-days on and 6-days off. There is a possibility you could serve 4 days on and 3 days off, or a variation of schedules. SCC requires that all AmeriCorps crew members demonstrate flexibility in scheduling. We will be hiring the following types of long-term crews during the 2026 season. During the interview, we will speak about the service projects that each of these crews will complete and will discuss your preferences at that time.   

Conservation/Trail Crew – A crew for young adults that serves in both backcountry and front country settings, focusing on trails and a variety of conservation service projects, with the potential to use herbicide. 

Chainsaw Crew – A crew for young adults that serves primarily in front country settings, focusing on sustainable forestry, fuels reduction, or invasive species removal (with the potential to use herbicide). Crew members will go through USFS Chainsaw Training and will earn their United States Forest Service A-faller chainsaw certification upon completion. 

Description of Duties:

In this AmeriCorps position, you will: 

• Serve effectively as a member of the crew,
• Perform strenuous physical tasks related to environmental conservation and restoration projects,
• Serve outdoors in all types of weather and successfully adapt to various climates,
• Effectively learn and apply new environmental conservation and restoration skills,
• Actively participate in environmental education activities if they are provided,
• Practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned, and
• Use, maintain and repair hand and power tools as necessary.

Qualifications:

• To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, you must
• Be a United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident
• Be at least 18 years of age by start date,
• Have received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award,
• And agree to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements 

Essential eligibility requirements for the program must be met. If you are unable to meet certain requirements, we may be able to assist you with some modification unless it alters the fundamental nature of the program, compromises the health and safety of participants or staff, or places an undue financial or administrative burden on the organization.   

Participant and Expedition Behavior 

• Serve effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of any kind.
• Appropriately represent SCC and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners at all times. 

Risk Management and Judgement 

• Follow directions by others so that you can successfully manage hazards.
• Ask clarifying questions when you do not understand a task.
• Maintain focus during workday, both while traveling and serving in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage without assistance from others. 

Environmental Ethics & Outdoor Skills 

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living skills as appropriate to the project.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for up to several weeks. 

Substance-Free 

• In accordance with a drug-free program, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and SCC activities, and while on organization property. 

Time Requirements: 

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 8 days, serving 10 hours each day, followed by 6 days off, but exact service schedules may vary. A half-hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• Members must be physically fit and able to serve 40-50 hour work weeks.

Orientation and Training:

• All crew members will participate in a voluntary crew member orientation week from 06/02/2026 to 06/05/2026. This orientation week will include Wilderness First Aid training.
• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2817.14 available at completion of service term. Award amount dependent upon length of service term.
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Wilderness First Aid Certification provided
• United States Forest Service-recognized chainsaw certification (if serving on chainsaw crew)
• Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to Employee Assistance Program provided
• 5 days off in August between the summer member season and the fall member season

Evaluation and Reporting:

• As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
• Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Other Considerations:

• The ability to live, serve, and camp in rural Colorado is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year.
• SCC-Los Valles will start reviewing applications on January 15, 2026. Please do not expect an interview or communications before that time.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Emma Karlok, SCC Los Valles (Salida) Program Coordinator: ekarlok@conservationlegacy.org

Hannah Rousseau, SCC Los Valles (Salida) Program Coordinator: hrousseau@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.