Trail Crew Member – Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Overview

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking ONE Trail Crew Member to contribute to trail projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: ASAP

Estimated End Date: 11-weeks after start date

*an 11-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unique among America’s National Parks; located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for its rich diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of the ancient mountains and forests, and its preservation of the Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

This member will be stationed in Gatlinburg, TN

For more information about Great Smoky Mountains National Park please visit the parks website.

Position Overview:

The Great Smoky Mountains Trail Crew will train and mentor the ACE EPIC member to prepare them for a future career in trail work or a related field in conservation. As recreation and hiking increases in popularity, there is a growing need for skilled trail workers to enter the workforce. This position will provide members with the skills needed to start a career in trail work or a related field in recreation or conservation.

ACE EPIC members will be led and trained by NPS Trails Staff on a variety of trail maintenance and construction tasks. Maintenance Tasks include clearing trail drainages, clearing trails of fallen trees, mowing trail sides to keep trail corridors open, cemetery maintenance (blowing leaves, mowing), and other cyclic trail maintenance tasks such as widening and outsloping the trail surface, trail surface repair, and maintaining erosion control structures. Trail construction tasks include assisting NPS Staff with building trail structures such as foot logs, staircases, retaining walls, and turnpikes.

The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations” Work accomplished by the members will be directly contributing to hiker safety and hiker access to the most popular trail destinations in the Park. Trail improvements and erosion control measures will improve trail sustainability and better protect natural resources. The purpose of these positions is to offer training and mentorship to interns while completing trail maintenance and trail projects. Following the completion of the position, participants will have a wide array of training and skills to be able to seek employment with land management agencies and organizations seeking skilled trails staff. These same land management agencies and organizations will benefit with having more skilled trails workers available.

Tagged as: Trail Supervisor, Crew, and Leaders

Qualifications:

Qualifications

Required:

Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.

Required Skills:

A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term