Tahoe Basin Youth Conservation Team Lead

The Great Basin Institute (GBI), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), is recruiting (1) crew leader to lead the 2024 Generation Green summer youth crew. As a crew leader, the successful candidate will lead several youth crew members to accomplish 2024 seasonal goals. Crew leader will work with the assistant crew leader, USFS staff, GBI staff and volunteers to determine work projects.

Although surrounded by nature’s beauty, many young adults in the Lake Tahoe area are disconnected with the outdoor environment. Generation Green is an innovative work-study program of the US Forest Service and the Great Basin Institute. Targeting low-income, diverse and youth-with-a-barrier students, this program provides job opportunities while building work ethics, job skills, leadership, and teamwork experience. Young adults are shown a variety of jobs found in the natural resource fields and connect with US Forest Service and GBI staff mentors. Local high school students throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin are building their futures and life-long love of the environment during this eight-week program.

The job is physically arduous with work being done outdoors every day. Job responsibilities include recreational projects such as trail building, noxious weeds removal, talking to the public about the basin, painting picnic tables, and cleaning campgrounds. Resource projects can include wildlife surveys, soil monitoring, historic site maintenance, forest care and maintenance, and other miscellaneous work or educational events that arise. The job requires the use of safety equipment such as gloves, goggles, long sleeve shirts, and hardhats. Crew leader will be responsible for ensuring the entire Generation Green Crew adheres to the methods, procedures, and safe work practices necessary to carry out job responsibilities. Crew leader will also be a guide and mentor for the youth members by acting as a positive role model. The lead will make sure that technicians conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property with which entrusted.  

Responsibilities:

• Utilize hand tools or other necessary equipment to perform trail construction and maintenance on identified project sites;
• Utilize handsaws and loppers to perform hazardous fuels reduction & habitat restoration;
• Perform tasks associated with exotic & invasive species removal, native plantings, and riparian restoration;
• Using hand tools to perform tasks associated with illegal road decommissioning, fence/barrier construction or decommissioning;
• Adhere to all AmeriCorps, GBI, and agency sponsor policies while on project sites or at camp locations;
• Maintaining a positive and professional attitude at all times while providing service;
• Communicating effectively with crew members, assistant crew lead, GBI staff and agency project staff;
• Complying with both production and quality standards established by GBI administration, crew supervisors and project partners
• Contributing to basic duties at the campsite including cooking, cleaning and organizing crew equipment;
• Show respect when interacting with other members, leaders, staff, project sponsors and community members;
• Lead young adults on a variety of challenging conservation projects and in-field education sessions;
• Ensure all safety protocols are followed;
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude at all times; be able to boost crew morale;
• Teach, instruct and support members in trail building and other project/GBI specific tasks;
• Engage members in an active crew life;
• Transport crew and equipment safely in GBI or agency trucks;
• Manage and maintain crew gear, tools and other various GBI/agency equipment;
• Complete weekly reporting of accomplishments and send to both GBI and USFS staff;
• Maintain constant communication with USFS staff and their GBI coordinator;
• Uphold GBI and AmeriCorps standards of production and quality, and;
• Any other duties as assigned

Position will require 2 – overnight camping trips up to 5 days (all gear provided besides personal items). Crew Lead (along with assistant crew lead, USFS staff, and GBI staff) will help plan the backpacking trips including but not limited to gathering food, testing out gear (sizing for each member), route management, and more.

Contract Timeline:

• 13-week appointment [June 3rd, 2024 – August 30th, 2024]
• Full time, 40 hr/week: Monday-Friday 8 AM – 430 PM
• Some weekends will be required

Location:

The Team Lead will be based in South Lake Tahoe, CA and will report to the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Supervisor’s Office.

Any direct inquiries or questions can be relayed to Kaelyn Hadel – khadel@thegreatbasininstitute.org

Compensation and Benefits:

• Wage: $26.00/hour
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available at no cost
• Holidays and Personal Leave Accumulation
• Housing may be provided in the South Lake Tahoe region

Job Qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years old;
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, and otherwise maintain good physical condition;
• Knowledge of western ecosystems and tree species desirable;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals and communicate effectively;
• Previous experience working with youth;
• Interest in the mission of and services offered by the U.S. Forest Service;
• Has worked with Generation Green previously (Preferred);
• Be comfortable camping in remote backcountry settings for multiple nights at a time;
• Possess backpacking skills to lead a group of unexperienced hikers; and
• Possess a valid, clean, state-issued driver’s license with the ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on or off paved roads.