Entry Level Conservation Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Description
Position Title: Conservation Crew Member - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps Four Corners
Site Location: Durango, CO
Terms of Service:
Start Date: 08/24/2026 (Voluntary Non-AC Orientation Week)
Project Start 08/31/2026
End Date: 11/6/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 Hours
Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.

• Additional Benefit of $120 per week.

• Loan forbearance if Eligible

• Interest Payments if Eligible

• Wilderness First Aid Certification provided

• Food provided while in the field, uniforms, protective equipment, access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Purpose:
Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization, whose mission is to engage future leaders who protect, restore, and enhance our nation's lands through community-based service. The SCC Adult Program engages motivated young adults, ages 18-30, to complete challenging and impactful conservation and service projects throughout Colorado and Northern New Mexico. SCC operates out of the Four Corners office in Durango, CO, and out of the Los Valles office in Salida, CO.
SCC crews serve in a variety of National Parks, National Forests, and other public areas. Selected members are placed on an 8-person crew which will collaborate to complete projects
Description of Duties:
As an AmeriCorps program participant with Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! The Crew Member position is an entry-level role. During your time in the field, you will perform heavy manual labor to complete conservation and restoration projects. Most projects require extensive hiking to remote project sites for the day with tools, equipment, and a day pack. Some projects will require overnight travel into the backcountry. While prior experience outdoors can be helpful, it is not a necessity for this position. We ask that crew members embrace learning opportunities, face challenges, and build community with their crew.
Our Fall Conservation Crews will be based out of Hesperus, CO and will conduct conservation-based service projects throughout the Four Corners Region. This season will begin with a week-long orientation where crew members will camp with their crew and receive training on Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace, and SCC policies. Chainsaw crews will spend the following week at Chainsaw Training. The remainder of the season will consist of 4- or 8-day hitches where crews will camp and complete conservation-based service projects as a crew. The types of projects your crew could be serving on include:

• Trail Construction/Maintenance/Clearing

• Fuels Reduction/Fire Mitigation with the use of Chainsaws
  
  • Crews will go through a USFS Chainsaw Training and certification process

• Invasive Species Removal/Treatment with the use of Herbicide
  
  • Crews will go through the Colorado Pesticide Technician Training

• Developed Recreation Infrastructure Maintenance/Construction

• Mapping or Inventory/Data Collection

• Fencing for Area Preservation or Wildlife Management

• Noxious Weed Removal

• Anything associated with Recreation, Conservation, Habitat Restoration, or Cultural Preservation, and beyond

While not expected, it is possible that any SCC crew could be called to respond to a natural disaster. SCC is a part of the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team (ADRT) and deploys crews on 30-day disaster deployments throughout the country. SCC will do our best to communicate deployments to the crew in advance, but we ask for flexibility and enthusiasm.
Crew Life:

• Crew Structure: This day crew model consists of 6-7 crew members and 2 crew leaders who will provide project expertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants.

• Hitch Schedule: SCC operates on a hitch-based schedule in which crews camp and serve in the field for extended periods. Hitches are typically 4 or 8 days long, followed by rest periods:
  
  • 4-day hitch - 3 days off
  • 8-day hitch - 6 days off

During a hitch, members serve 10 hours per day, generally from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Field days include project time as well as shared camp responsibilities. Mornings and evenings are dedicated to communal living, including cooking, cleaning, and maintaining camp.
While this schedule is the standard, flexibility is essential. All AmeriCorps crew members are expected to adapt to changing conditions and support the team as schedules shift.

• Food: SCC will provide breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and water each day while on hitch.

• Gear: SCC will provide tools, program vehicles for project travel, uniforms, and personal protective equipment. Additionally, we have borrow gear available, free of cost, upon request for the following personal outdoor gear: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking pack, day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots.

• Transportation: Participants will be responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the base location of Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, CO for the first day of hitch. SCC will provide transportation between the base location and project and camping sites.

• Housing: SCC is a nonresidential program. Crew members are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements during days-off.

Requirements:
While SCC is required to use certain language to ensure compliance with Federal and other programing, we acknowledge that language can convey negative connotations and our values do not always align with language we are required to use in application and screening materials.
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident status

• At least 18 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.

• No previous experience is required, but a general comfort and previous knowledge of spending time in an outdoor setting is helpful.

Time Requirements:

• Members typically serve 4- or 8-day hitches. Service days are 10-hour days, typically from 7am to 5:30pm. 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.

• Members must be physically fit and able to serve 40-50-hour service weeks.

Orientation and Training:

• Orientation Week (August 24th-27th) - members will receive training on Wilderness First Aid, Leave No Trace Principles, and SCC Policies and Procedures. Members will also receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps policies, procedures, and prohibited and unallowable activities.

• Depending on crew model, members will receive training on chainsaw, herbicide, and use of trail tools.

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.
Other Considerations:
The ability to serve in rural Colorado is necessary. Weather can be extreme and variable throughout the year.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
Greta Binzen, SCC Four Corners (Durango), Senior Adult Program Coordinator: gbinzen@conservationlegacy.org
Sol Bochner, SCC Four Corners (Durango) Adult Program Coordinator: sbochner@conservationlegacy.org
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 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.
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.