Recreation Technician Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Position Title: Recreation Technician Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina

Site Location: Ranger District offices and field sites across the Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger District 

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 01/12/2026
• End Date: 01/15/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

Purpose:

About Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) 

Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) partners with public land managers to engage youth, young adults, and veterans in meaningful conservation service projects. Through hands-on work in the field, CCNC members develop skills in natural resource management, outdoor leadership, and community engagement while improving trails, restoring habitats, and enhancing recreation areas. CCNC is an AmeriCorps-affiliated program dedicated to building the next generation of conservation leaders through service, education, and teamwork. 

About the Cheoah/Tusquitee Ranger District 

The Cheoah/Tusquitee Ranger District is a zoned Ranger District consisting of two separate offices, each with unique attributes. 

Tusquitee Ranger District: Features three large lakes (Hiwassee, Chatuge, and Appalachia) offering boating, water skiing, fishing, swimming, and other recreation opportunities. Recreation resources include Jackrabbit Mountain Campground and mountain bike trail system, Fires Creek Recreation Area, Southern Nantahala Wilderness, 120 miles of hiking trails (including portions of the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails), a shooting range, and several day-use and dispersed recreation sites. 

Cheoah Ranger District: Includes three campgrounds, two mountain bike trail systems, a shooting range, over 225 miles of hiking trails, 17,000 acres of designated Wilderness (including Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest), 29 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and portions of the Bartram National Recreation Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail. The district also manages the Cherohala Scenic Byway, more than 70 miles of trout-supporting cold-water streams, and four lakes with over 14,000 acres of warm-water fishing opportunities. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park borders the Cheoah District to the north. 

For more information, visit: 

• Cherokee County, NC: www.cherokeecountychamber.com
• Clay County, NC: www.claycountychamber.com
• Graham County, NC: https://grahamcountytravel.com/
• National Forests in North Carolina: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc

Position Summary 

These AmeriCorps positions will support the Cheoah/Tusquitee Ranger District’s recreation and trails program, ensuring public lands remain safe and well-maintained. These roles include visitor engagement, trail and facility maintenance, safety monitoring, and conservation stewardship.  

This position has the option to be extended for multiple terms, as funding is currently secured for up to five years. Please note that while the position itself may be extended, AmeriCorps members are only eligible to receive a Segal Education Award for up to two terms of service. 

Description of Duties:

Site and Facility Maintenance 

• Perform maintenance and landscaping at developed and dispersed recreation sites.
• Maintain and rehabilitate recreation areas, trails, and facilities in accordance with Forest Service standards.
• Clean and naturalize roadside and backcountry dispersed sites.
• Install and maintain signage for recreation sites, trails, and safety messaging.
• Assist with removal of hazard trees and with maintenance or construction of trail and wilderness bridges
• Perform routine maintenance and care of assigned vehicles and field equipment.

Safety and Compliance 

• Conduct safety hazard analyses of recreation areas; take or recommend corrective action.
• Patrol and monitor sites to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
• Inspect and report on facility and site conditions, including visitor safety concerns.
• Maintain regular contact with Campground Hosts, ensuring compliance and reporting violations.

Visitor Engagement and Partnerships 

• Engage with visitors to share information on recreation regulations, opportunities, and safety.
• Support and coordinate with volunteers and partner groups involved in recreation or trail activities.
• Represent the Forest Service and CCNC professionally while maintaining a positive and helpful attitude.

Planning and Implementation

• Assist in development and implementing operations and maintenance plans.
• Monitor trail conditions and usage to support sustainable recreation (basic data collection, photos, GPS points, etc.)
• Work safely in varied conditions, including inclement weather, with minimal supervision after training.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has 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

Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

• Interest in conservation, public land stewardship, and outdoor recreation management.
• Strong communication skills and professional public contact.
• Valid driver’s license; insurable for agency/CCNC vehicles.

Preferred 

• USFS B Sawyer certification (or ability to obtain) for hazard-tree work.
• Wilderness First Aid/CPR (WFA/WFR preferred where applicable).
• Experience with hand tools, trail maintenance, or outdoor labor.
• Familiarity with GPS/mobile data collection; GIS exposure a plus.
• Trailer/UTV experience (training provided).

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.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• Typically 40 hours/week; some weekend or holiday work during peak seasons.
• Government/CCNC vehicles may be used for field travel; valid license and insurability required
• Frequent field days with hiking over uneven terrain while carrying tools/equipment; exposure to heat/cold, precipitation, insects, and remote settings.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $320 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Reimbursement of up to $150 for medical certification (First/Aid CPR or above).

On-the-job training provided – including obtaining US Forest Service Chainsaw Certification. 

• AmeriCorps Orientation, including training on prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Exposure to natural resource career paths and opportunities.
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements.
• Members may be eligible for student loan forbearance.
• Accrue hours towards the Public Land Corps Certificate that offers hiring authority when applying for future federal positions.

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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For questions, contact: Stephanie Dunton, sdunton@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.