Tonto National Forest Recreation Technician Crewmember

Title: Tonto National Forest Recreation Technician Crewmember (6 openings)

Start/End Date (anticipated): March 24, 2024– September 19, 2024 (anticipated)

Living Stipend: $400 per week living stipend + $200 housing stipend +Education Award.

Term: 26-week term

Reports To: Daniel Bray (District Recreation Program Manager, Tonto National Forest)

Location: Mesa Ranger District: 5140 E. Ingram Street, Mesa, AZ 85205

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorps Service Term, full-time, temporary

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,247.50; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the service term. Health insurance eligible through The Corps Network

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the member begins their term of service.

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC):

Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff, Tucson, and Pinetop. 

Tonto National Forest:

At over 2.9 million acres, the Tonto National Forest is the largest national forest in Arizona, and the seventh largest national forest among 154 USDA National Forests.  The Tonto features some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the country. Sonoran Desert cacti and flat lands slowly give way to the highlands of the Mogollon Rim. This variety in vegetation and range in altitude — from 1,300 to 7,900 feet — offers outstanding recreational opportunities throughout the year, whether it’s lake beaches or cool pine forest.

Position Summary:

The Mesa Ranger District of Tonto National Forest is seeking 6 temporary, full-time Recreation Technician Crewmembers. The primary focus of these positions will be monitoring and controlling access to highly developed recreation sites and boat launching facilities, in addition to conducting vehicle patrols and fee enforcement, at Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake and along the Lower Salt River during weekends. Other duties include light maintenance at recreational facilities, painting, installing signage, vegetation control, and patrolling recreation areas. The crewmembers may also have the opportunity for involvement with larger maintenance projects and special events, such as those with agency partners (Arizona Game & Fish Department, Natural Restorations, Maricopa County Sherriff’s Office, etc.). Extending term up to a total of one year may be possible for those that are interested, after 60 days of service in the internship.  

 Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Act as representatives of the Forest Service.
• Assist the public with questions about recreation sites, alternative sites, and overall forest information.
• Continually check on and maintain the facilities, including parking lots, bathrooms, and Forest Service equipment.
• Assist with day-to-day operations and maintenance of recreation facilities as directed by a supervisor.
• Assist with developed and dispersed recreation sites in the recreation areas of the Mesa Ranger District.
• Perform light facilities maintenance, vegetation control, traffic management, issuing of recreation passes, making public contacts, cleaning bathrooms, picking up trash, and leading volunteers.
• Perform frequent public contacts with a diverse public in a high use, urban forest setting to provide information and gain compliance with federal regulations. Must be able to work efficiently, independently, and sometimes with minimal daily supervision.
• Survey and inspect trails and roads. Sign, brush, and maintain where necessary in both developed and dispersed recreation areas.
• Work with volunteers to complete various project work.
• Work will be in the outdoors in adverse conditions and terrain. Must be able to work while standing with exposure to high temperatures and under constant direct sun exposure for extended periods of time.

Required Skills:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Interest in recreation, natural resources, or a related field.
• A self-starter that can easily work as a team or alone.
• Ability to communicate via radio while in the field.
• Demonstrate professionalism, both in demeanor and appearance.
• Applicants must pass a criminal history background check and possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Valid driver’s license with 3 year driving history required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4×4 or off-road driving experience.
• Previous experience with public lands agencies.
• Customer service skills as it pertains to interacting with the Public.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.
• Ability to hike and work in extreme weather/heat, uneven terrain, and poorly maintained roads and trails.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements:

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all agency/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Appropriately represent the Arizona Conservation Corps, Tonto National Forest, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
• Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ outdoor living techniques.

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crisis.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Substance Free:

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

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit www.azcorps.org. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.