From Home Trail Crew Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Title:Great Smoky Mountains TrailCrew-AmeriCorpsAssistantCrewLeader

Conservation Legacy Program:Southeast Conservation Corps

Reports to:Crew Leader, Program Coordinator

Site Location:Crew will be based out of Chattanooga, TN, camping and servingwithinthe Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Terms of Service:

• Start Date:August 10, 2026

• End Date:October 9, 2026

• AmeriCorps Slot Classification:300

Status:This is a full-time,seasonal,9-week300-hourAmeriCorps National Service position

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of$1,565.08upon successful completion of the program

• Living Allowance of$480per week.

• Additional Benefit of$170per week.

Other Benefits:Wilderness First Aid Training, food &transportationprovided while in the field, uniform shirts,personalprotective equipment, and other developmental opportunitieswhenavailable.

Crew Structure:1 Crew Leader, 1 Assistant Crew Leader, 4 Crew Members

Purpose - About Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC):
Empowering youth and adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility and life skills through community service, hardworkand land stewardship.

Southeast Conservation Corps, aprogram of Conservation Legacy, is a non-profit AmeriCorps program. We engage youth (age15-17) and young adults (ages 18-30, up to 35 for veterans) in service projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC collaborates with land management agencies (United States Forest Service, National Park Service, State Parks, local municipalities, and non-profits) to host day or overnight camping crews and individual placements.

Our AmeriCorps positions provideimpactful educational and service opportunities thatbenefitboth communities and landscapes.SECC's participants reflect the population of the Southeast region, including youth, graduates, veterans, and individuals from various backgrounds.

SECC is an independent, non-residential program, andcrew membersare responsible forsecuring their own housing when not in the field.On-hitch, crews manage camp chores and prepare all their own meals, with evenings often including group discussions.Members must provide their own personal outdoor gear (e.g., tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, day pack, multi-day pack, work pants, hiking/work boots), while SECC provides group camp equipment, tools, protectivegearand transportation between SECC Office and project sites.

Description of Duties

The AmeriCorps Assistant Crew Leader (ACL)is responsible forfacilitatinga positiveCrew Memberexperience. The ACL is a full partner in the crew's leadership, helping to communicate directions, projects specifications and constructive criticism throughout the term. This position requiresan opendialog with theStaffCrew Leader; helpingthemto manageprojects, projectpartnercommunications, overalllogistics,andcrew assignments. Our program model fosters a supportive learning environment where participantscanmaximize their opportunities to grow and developwhilegaining certifications to propel them into a career in environmental stewardship. It also creates an intentional space for groups thatare under-represented to step into conservation and natural resource management.

It means more than just showingup;it means setting an example of how to persevere with great enthusiasm through all kinds of conditions while practicing good judgement and safety. It meansfacilitatinga learning experience forCrew Members, both formally and informally. This position may requireadditionalparticipation time outside of standard project and crew hours.

This position will be coached and mentored by an SECC Staff Crew Leader. ACLsare responsible formaintaining SECC'shigh standardsfor technical projects and hands-on member growth, managingprojects,and implementing feedback among crew members. The ACL Position is a key development opportunity designed toidentifyand overcome challenges in leadership through a hands-on leadership role in conjunction with close mentorship from the Staff Crew Leader. Qualified candidates willidentifygrowth plans andassistthe Staff Crew Leader in administrative functions.

Service Project:

SECCand Great Smoky Mountains National Park have partnered to host a trail crew alongside the National Park Service Trail Crew. The primary focus of the project will be the restoration ofthe BullheadTrail, withadditionalprojects in various park locations.While the crew should expect to work on the lowerportionof BullheadTrail,this project ishighly physically demanding.In addition to hiking 3-5miles round trip per day there will be timesparticipantswillhike up to Mt. LeConte-an arduous level 5-mile trek each way with an elevation gain of approximately3,000feet-along with other tough hikes, all while carrying heavy loads of tools, equipment, and a day pack.

TheGRSMTrail Program Coordinator will lead the crew andoverseerestoration efforts.Members will camp overnight in thefield and complete service projectsoutdoors in all weather conditions,performing manual labor related to conservation and restoration. Potentialtasksinclude, but are not limited to:

• Trail construction and maintenance

• Corridor clearing

• Repair or installation ofwaterstructures along trails

• Campground maintenance

• Habitat restoration

• Community Service

Crew Life:

• Crew Structure:SECCcrewsconsistsof 4crew members and 2crew leaders who will provide projectexpertise, mentorship, training, and support to ensure the success of all participants.

• Hitch Schedule:GRSM fall crewwilloperateona Mondayto Friday,5dayon2dayoff hitch schedulewith 10-hour shifts and scheduled breaks throughout the day.Travel days from and toSECCoffice (Mon/Fri).Project days on Bullhead Trail will take place Tues-Thurs.Most projects involve strenuous manual labor in all weather conditions and require hiking to and from the project sites daily, carrying tools and day packs.

• Camping:Frontcountry

• Housing:While on hitch, applicants should be prepared to campthroughout the season, with lodging provided on a case-by-case basis if necessary.Housing is not providedfromFriday-Sunday evenings. Crew membersare responsible forsecuring their own housing arrangements while not in the field.

• Food:Food is provided while in the field. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated if communicated in advance.

• Chores:Crewmembers collaborate tomanage camp chores (planningmeals, shopping, cooking, washingdishes, etc.) andparticipatein any group discussions.

• Gear:Members must supply their own personal outdoor gear (day pack, water bottle, work pants, hiking/work boots,tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack). SECC has a limited supply of loaner gear available for crew members to borrow, but it may not fit personal preferences or specific needs.SECC will provide tools, group camp equipment, and personal protective equipment

• • Transportation:SECC will provide transportation between SECCofficeand project sites.

**SECC is a nonresidential program. Housing is not provided during off-hitch (Friday-Sunday) evenings. Crew membersare responsible forsecuring their own housing arrangements while not in the field.

Requirements:

GeneralQualifications:

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

• Must be betweenages18 and 30, or up to 35 ifa military veteran.

• 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 toestablisheligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Willingness to commit fully to the program and its mission

• Physically fit and able to perform long days in adverse conditions

• Leadership experience with youth or young adults

• Excellent organizational & communication skills

• Must be able todemonstratestrong project management skills

• Strong time-management skills and ability to collaborate independently as well as with others

• Ability toeffectively and efficiently manage all aspects of crew life and productionwithin a hitch schedule

• Flexibility,adaptabilityand capacity to thrive in a fluid, changing environment

• Willingness to learn and be a part of a dynamic community of peer leaders

• Must be adaptive,patientand able tomaintaina positive perspective throughout

• Experience with backpacking, wilderness living and travel, and LNT principles

• Must be over the age of 21 OR havepossesseda driver's license for 3 or years more without any restrictions (to pass minimum insurability requirements for crew transport driving duties).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background with experiential and/or environmental education

• Experience with SECC, other conservation corps or youth corps

• Current and relevant certification in Wilderness Medicine (WFA, WAFA, WFR) with CPR/AED

• Facilitation and team-building experience

• Eagerness to take part in various conservation-based projects

• Technical trail construction and maintenance experience

• Strong conflict resolution skills

• RelevantBachelor's Degree

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities areprovidedreasonable 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-specifictoolsand 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 berequiredfor some positions. If you needassistanceand/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 toserveAugust toOctober, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch breakwill notbe counted towards AmeriCorps service

• Members maybe requiredtoparticipatein national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training onAmeriCorpsprohibited and unallowable activities.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performancewill 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.

Required Skills:

Leadership & Mentorship:

• Manage, supervise, and assist leading the day-to-day details of project tasks

• Implement skills training on project sites andfacilitateintentional discussions via informal lessons to contribute to the crew's personal growth and group dynamics

• Promote individual corps member development and a healthy, supportive community

• Must be willing to follow and enforce all SECC policies,maintainprofessional boundaries, and appropriately represent Southeast Conservation Corps. This includes creating a substance free environment, refraining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs while involved in the program

Project Management & Implementation:

• Assistin training and motivating a crew of young adults to complete conservation projects efficiently on public lands

• Delegate project tasks & investment among co-leader and crew

• Manage on-the-ground quality and quantity of service project

• Think critically to resolve issues and solve problems

• Communicate effectively & coordinatelogisticswith project partners, co-leader, & SECC staff

Safety & Risk Management

• Monitor, manage, and promote the crew's physical and emotional safety on and off the project site