Overview

Conservation Begins Here.
The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire students for the programs.

Training Dates: (04/07/25 to 04/27/25) (paid mandatory training)
Official leader duties start with the arrival of members on 04/27/25 and will consist of initial crew rapport building through Corps Member Training and USFS Basic 40 “Guard School” from 04/28/25 to 05/16/25.

Program Dates: Fuels Crew Period (05/17/25 to 11/01/25)

Location (City and State): TBD

Primary Responsibilities:
The US Forest Service (USFS)/Student Conservation Association (SCA) Wildland Fire Academy is an intense Fuels Reduction Training program designed to introduce leaders and members to the rigors of the Fire & Fuel Programs across the USFS.  During the program, leaders and members will train, live, and work as a cohesive and dynamic crew on the fuels mitigation and fuels reduction projects.  Leaders and their crew will be assigned to one of twenty-one priority landscapes in the wildland fire crisis strategy footprint to learn how different National Forests handle the challenges of wildfire mitigation in their respective ecosystems. 

Leaders will be expected to travel long distances between project sites and may live without electricity, running water, and/or cell phone reception for significant lengths of time.  This is NOT an entry-level position. Previous experience using chainsaws, as well as working and/or leading in the role of FFT2 is required. Firefighter Type 1 qualification is preferred, but not required for this position.

The season begins with a rigorous 6-week paid training period that includes a robust introduction into leading in the Student Conservation Association, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), several certification courses in route to obtaining a federally recognized fire qualifications card with the USFS and your Intermediate (Level B) Chainsaw Felling Card.

Every leader is expected to engage in daily tasks to achieve mission and project goals as assigned by USFS personnel. Communication is key to success and each leader has their own responsibility to continually develop themselves with positive communication strategies while advocating for safety, wellness, and crew development throughout the season.

Leader Benefits and Compensation:
-$850 weekly
-$1000 travel stipend ($500 on the first pay period, and $500 on the last pay period)
-The SCA provides a $300 boot allowance to ensure safety regulations are met. Housing will be in a communal Forest Service bunkhouse or short-term rentals, and meals will be provided and managed by the crew leader throughout the season. Training includes chainsaw operations, Basic Firefighting Training, and a Work Capacity Test, which must be passed as a condition of employment; training for the test is recommended to begin four weeks before arrival.

The SCA, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Tagged as: Trail Supervisor, Crew, and Leaders

Qualifications:

Candidates must be committed to a shared crew environment and able to work in all weather conditions. Required qualifications include a passion for the outdoors, one year of chainsaw operation experience at the A-Feller Level, and FFT2 certification (expired qualifications accepted with 90 days of active experience). Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and three years of state-authorized driving experience.

Required Skills:

Key responsibilities include monitoring project tasks like using a chainsaw and piling brush while fully engaging in work and community activities. Assist with meal planning, emergency response development, and logistical tasks, and record work totals for agency reports. Engage positively with the public, foster leadership skills, and maintain a supportive work environment, along with managing administrative duties such as budget oversight.

Preferred Skills:

Backpacking experience 
Camping experience with kitchen setup experience 
Ability to perform arduous tasks outdoors, for several hours at a time
Ability to live in a multi-gendered, multi-cultured living space, sharing common spaces and communal meal settings each day.

About Student Conservation Association

Today, SCA’s mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. Members participate in a variety of capacities and contexts. Beyond national parks, members work on marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and community green spaces in our nation’s urban centers. Members do land management, habitat restoration, trail building, disaster rehabilitation or prevention work, environmental education, public outreach, and more.

Application Instructions

Click here to apply: https://myjobs.adp.com/scacareers/cx/job-details?reqId=5001094631200?keyword=1192