Youth Conservation Corps Crew Leader in Development

Read the full position description and apply here.

Position Title: Youth Crew Leader in Development (CLDP) – AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps
Site Location: Salida, CO and Alamosa, CO

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 04/27/2026
• End Date: 08/05/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hours

Purpose:

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a program of the non-profit, AmeriCorps affiliated service organization, Conservation Legacy. SCC provides youth and young adults opportunities to complete conservation projects primarily on public lands. While serving with SCC members receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Programs are developed using a step ladder approach to provide a progression of skill development based on a member’s needs. 

The SCC Los Valles (SCCLV) office serves the Upper Arkansas River Valley and the San Luis Valley: the two valleys, or los valles. SCCLV’s office is in Salida, CO, with satellite operations in Alamosa, CO. The Los Valles Youth Program engages high school youth, ages 15-18, to complete impactful conservation projects in the communities they reside in. We currently serve Chaffee, Saguache, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos, and Costilla counties. 

This is an entry level position focused on development; we welcome applications from candidates who may not have all the skills listed below. This position provides extensive training during the spring season, meant to prepare CLDP’s for leading summer youth crews. This position is an opportunity to make a difference in young peoples’ lives. CLDP’s will be mentors, educators, and facilitators for high school students, working to increase youth resiliency, build confidence, and to be positive role models for their members.  

The Crew Leader Development Program (CLDP) is an AmeriCorps Program that consists of two-phases. The first phase focuses on orientation, training, and development, the second phase focuses on implementation and continued leadership development. This AmeriCorps position will spend time in a crew leader training period, which will include a SCC orientation week, technical trails training, chainsaw training, youth crew leader training, and prep time. In June, leaders will transition to co-leading two 4-week sessions, overseeing a crew of 6 to 7 high school aged, non-AmeriCorps members. Each CLDP will be paired with a Crew Leader who will provide mentorship and support to them through a goal setting process and CLDP development plan. Crews are run county by county and complete a variety of local conservation and service projects. The typical schedule is five days on followed by two days off. Depending on proximity to the project site, crews either return to town each day, or camp at the project site (we refer to this as a “hitch”) for its duration. The day starts with a stretch circle and safety meeting, includes two fifteen-minute breaks and a half-hour break for lunch. At the end of the hitch, Crew Leaders and CLDP’s return to SCC’s base of operations in Salida or Alamosa, dependent on the county they are assigned to leading.

Description of Duties:

CLDPs are responsible for assisting Crew Leaders in ensuring the physical safety and emotional well-being of their crew. The intention of the CLDP/Crew Leader pairing is to aid in the leadership development of the CLDP AmeriCorps Member. Over the course of the season, the CLDP will gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to take on full Crew Leader responsibilities in future seasons. Crew Leaders will be responsible for helping to create a leadership development plan for the CLDP. Based on their own skills and experience, CLDP’s may take an active role with project management, help create and implement member development and educational opportunities, and assist members with completing required hitch paperwork. 

Responsibilities:
Leadership & Mentorship

• Experience or strong desire to learn and participate as an outdoor educator and mentor.
• Facilitate weekly educational lessons for the crew.
• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy community.
• Implement skills training on worksite and help facilitate intentional discussions with co-leader.
• Follow all SCC policies, maintain professional boundaries, and appropriately represent Southwest Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps. 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

• Assist in training, motivating, and supervising a crew of six to eight high school students to efficiently complete conservation projects on public lands within 8 hours of project work per day, while managing quality of work.
• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems.
• Communicate effectively and coordinate logistics with co-leader, project partners, and SCC staff.

Safety & Risk Management

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew’s physical and emotional safety on and off the work site.
• Exhibit strong situational awareness and promote a culture of safety.
• Transport crews and equipment safely in SCC’s vans or large SUVs with trailers.

Administration

• Assist with professional documentation of timesheets, daily and weekly reports, corps member and peer evaluations, performance improvement contracts, incident reports, and project related deliverables.
• Assist with management of food budget.

Environmental Stewardship

• Must have a genuine enjoyment and desire to care for the land while living and working outdoors in a variety of conditions.
• Desire to learn the technical skills needed to effectively maintain public lands.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 21 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.
• Must have had a driver’s license for 3 consecutive years with a clean driving record (insurable by SCC), and a current driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications or strong desire to grow in the following:

• Experience with SCC or other conservation corps or youth corps.
• Facilitation, team building, and conflict resolution experience.
• Desire to make a positive difference and promote leadership in others.
• Ability to speak and understand Spanish.
• Ability to effectively work on teams or with a variety of populations, including those underrepresented at our organization.

Other Considerations:

• Having a vehicle or access to a vehicle is important for this position to transport yourself between your living situation and our work base(s).
• Ability to live, work and camp in rural Colorado. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the spring and summer season.
• SCCLV will start reviewing applications on January 15, 2026. Please do not expect an interview or communication before that time.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the 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.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED Training
• Member will receive Technical Trails Training, USFS A-Faller Chainsaw Training, Mandatory Reporter Training, and Youth Crew Leader Training.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35 at Completion of Service Term.
• Living Allowance of $565 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• 3 Days Off Built into Schedule.
• Food, Uniforms, and Personal Protective Equipment Provided while in the Field.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program.

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:

Pamela Cisneros tendersglobal.net Program Manager
pcisneros@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.