American Conservation Experience: Lake Tahoe Trails and Cleveland Fuels
Crew Internship
Internship Description: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit
Conservation Corps based in Santa Cruz, CA, is currently hiring energetic,
ambitious young adults to participate in a 3 month skills training program
preparing them for outdoor careers with the US Forest Service, with ACE,
with other conservation corps, or land management agencies such as the
National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Interns will serve
with ACE at various locations around the Lake Tahoe and Cleveland National
Forests learning advanced trail maintenance skills and fuels reduction
under the supervision of professional ACE Crew Leaders. Interns will
receive a $110 per week living allowance and food will be provided on work
days. This is a valuable opportunity to learn and train among professional
mentors.
Start Date: August 1, 2011
End Date: October 29, 2011
A three month commitment is required.
Potential exists to continue serving with other ACE crews or in other ACE
internships beyond October 29.
Existing Interns will also be given preference during the first round of
recruiting for our 2011/2012 AmeriCorps program starting in early
September.
Internship Major Duties and Expectations:
Interns will support ACE and US Forest Service staff by assisting in the
construction and maintenance of hiking trails. Typical duties include:
• Assisting agency staff with the construction of a variety of
advanced trail structures such as stone staircases, dry stone retaining
walls, rock check dams, waterbars, etc. Interns will also assist ACE
staff in routine trail maintenance duties such as brushing trails,
outsloping tread and clearing drainage structures.
• Assisting in fuels reduction efforts for the purpose of fire
safety within the Cleveland National Forest. Duties will include selective
thinning of forest understory with an emphasis on creating a ecologically
sound and biologically diverse fuel break.
• Completing work tasks as instructed by ACE staff, keeping daily
work log and demonstrate proper work procedures and methods while working
in the field with or near other volunteer groups.
• Following strict guidelines in making safety a priority, including
the responsible use of personal protective gear and insuring that all
tools, equipment, vehicles and other co-workers are working safely in all
conditions.
• Following instructions from all ACE and USFS staff and
understanding and respecting all wilderness regulations and policies.
• Working with a professional demeanor as a part of a team.
• Good public communication skills are a must.
Working Conditions: Work is labor intensive and strenuous, performed
outdoors in steep terrain and hilly terrain and at elevations as high as
9,000 feet. Interns should anticipate adverse conditions including rain,
wind, and even late summer snows, interspersed among weeks of sunshine.
Crews may hike several miles uphill each day to reach the high elevation
worksites, so physical fitness is an absolute requirement.
Qualifications: Applicants for ACE’s Professional Development Crew
Internships in the Lake Tahoe and Cleveland National Forests must be at
least 18 years old, have an established interest in conservation issues,
and should take evident joy in tackling challenging situations with a
positive mindset. Applicants must be willing to undertake arduous
physical work in all types of weather and terrain, and to participate as a
team member, dedicated to both ACE’s and the USFS’s mission. The
internship is meant as a stepping stone to environmental careers with land
management agencies and as a gateway to potential advancement within ACE,
not only as an interesting and rewarding way to spend 5 months working in
a beautiful location. Drug users, including recreational smokers of
marijuana, should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to
require drug testing and generally abhors the presence of drug users in
our program.
Desired Knowledge and Skills:
• Familiarity and/or desire to learn how to operate tools to perform
trail work including, but not limited to rock bar, single jack, shovel,
fire rake, axe, brushing sheers, and other trail maintenance tools.
• Ability and/or desire to experience trail maintenance work,
including but not limited to; cribbing walls, turnpikes, drainage dips,
swales, installation of water bars, retaining walls, removal of brush and
vegetation.
• Knowledge of and/or interest in fuels reduction techniques.
• Desire and ability to work outdoors, at times in inclement weather
and terrain.
• Willingness to perform strenuous physical activity such as
frequent bending and lifting and caring heavy weights.
Other Requirements:
• Internship is available to US Citizens and Green Card holders
only.
• Interns must have personal medical insurance for the duration of
their participation with ACE.
• ACE will provide tents to all interns (upon request) but all other
camping items such as sturdy boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, and raingear
must be provided by successful applicants.
Benefits:
• Camping is provided on site.
• An allowance of $110 for incidental expenses is provided by ACE.
• Food is provided during work days.
• Opportunity to gain a working knowledge of conservation and land
stewardship.
• Opportunity to pursue training and education opportunities with
ACE.
• Experience working with a Federal agency as well as with a Non-
Profit Organization.
• Opportunity to live in and enjoy the scenery, wildlife and
cultural resources in these spectacular areas.
• Opportunities to work with volunteers from diverse backgrounds.
• Opportunity to become a steward of America’s public lands and
leader in your community.
• Opportunity to meet other men and women that share a common
interest in preserving and protecting our natural lands.
Application Deadline: Positions available immediately and open until
filled. Please apply ASAP.
***To Apply***
Please email a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional
references to American Conservation Experience at i...@usaconservation.org
with “Lake Tahoe Trails and Cleveland Fuels Internship - ECOLOG referred”
in the subject heading of your email.
