CONSERVATION CORPS 18+
2025 SEASONAL POSITIONS AND APPLICATIONS
Below you will find all seasonal position offerings for the 2025 Conservation Corps including information on different crew types. Please read the position descriptions for specific compensation, qualification requirements, dates, and other details. Leadership applications and Crew Member applications are both open below!
CREW TYPES
POSITIONS
Field Coordinator
The Conservation Corps Field Coordinator plays a vital leadership role, supervising and supporting 3-4 conservation or chainsaw crews in the field. Based out of Steamboat Springs, CO, this position involves extensive travel throughout Northwest Colorado and the surrounding areas. Responsibilities include pre-season preparation, crew leader training, and hands-on oversight of crews during the field season, ensuring successful project completion and the well-being of all members. Field Coordinators split time between office and field settings, requiring strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Crew Leader
A Conservation Corps Crew Leader mentors a team of 6-9 young adults, leading conservation projects like trail work and habitat restoration across Northwest Colorado and beyond. Leaders receive training in outdoor leadership, risk management, and certifications like Wilderness First Responder. This hands-on, 24/7 summer role (hitch-based in the fall) focuses on fostering teamwork, ensuring safety, and guiding the crew to successfully complete meaningful environmental projects.
Assistant Crew Leader
An Assistant Crew Leader role is a leadership development position, supporting the Crew Leader in overseeing a team of 6-9 members on conservation projects. Responsibilities include assisting with mentorship, safety, daily operations, and logistical planning. Assistant Crew Leaders receive hands-on leadership training, certifications (e.g., Wilderness First Aid, chainsaw), and opportunities to develop technical skills. This role is ideal for individuals seeking to build outdoor leadership experience while contributing to meaningful environmental projects.
Crew Member
A Crew Member position is perfect for those with a passion for the outdoors and working hard. Individuals with little to no prior experience who are eager to gain skills, make a difference, and grow personally and professionally are encouraged to apply! ​They will serve in stunning, remote locations while camping, traveling, and collaborating with a team. Gain experience in outdoor leadership, backcountry camping, and tool use, with potential certifications like First Aid and chainsaw safety. Members receive a weekly stipend, and an AmeriCorps Education Award, making this a rewarding opportunity for service and growth.
Conservation Crew
Focus area: Conservation Crews are the primary crew type that RMYC operates. These crews tend to be a jack of all trades with an emphasis on recreation-based projects on public lands.
Typical Projects: Projects span trail construction and maintenance, fence installation or removal, invasive species management (including herbicide application), campground improvements, and logouts using crosscut saws. Crews may also work on specialized structures like Zeedyks and beaver dam analog installations, bridges, rock retaining walls, cairns, and staircases. While our crews are capable of many types of project work trail projects are a major component, tailored to different user types (hikers, equestrians, bikers, or OHVs), involving tasks like drainage structures, turnpikes, and new trail creation.
Unique features: This crew offers diverse, foundational experiences in conservation work, making it ideal for individuals interested in exploring various aspects of land stewardship.
Required training: No prior experience is necessary— in-house training covers the fundamentals of hand tool use and maintenance. Crews handling crosscut saws or herbicides receive additional, specialized instruction.
Target Participants: This is great for people looking to gain entry-level conservation skills. Because a lot of the focus can lead towards trails, be prepared to hike a lot. Most Conservation Crews will also get assigned several backcountry projects throughout the season which requires backpacking.
Crew Types Explained:
Conservation/Disaster Relief Crew
Focus area: The Conservation and Disaster Relief Crew serves dual purposes: supporting conservation projects and responding to natural disasters in partnership with the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team. While not deployed, the crew functions as a standard Conservation Crew. When called, they assist in disaster recovery efforts across the U.S. and its territories.
Typical Projects: In their conservation role, crew members undertake projects similar to those of the Conservation Crew. There is potential for more climate-focused projects like wildfire rehabilitation, habitat restoration, and invasive species management.
Unique features: This crew is on-call for disaster deployment, which typically lasts 30 days and offers an additional stipend. Deployments involve intensive tasks such as mucking and gutting homes, mold remediation, debris removal, and supply distribution. The schedule during disaster work is demanding, with 60-hour weeks common. Crews still receive food, accommodations, and essential services, though specifics may vary by assignment. Deployment is generally more likely during the fall season.
Required training: Members receive the same foundational training as the Conservation Crew, including hand tool use, crosscut saws, and herbicide application. Before disaster deployment, the AmeriCorps Disaster Response Team provides specialized training tailored to the relief mission.
Target Participants: No experience is required, but this role demands exceptional adaptability, resilience, and a strong commitment to service. Disaster response work can be physically and emotionally challenging, making this crew ideal for those passionate about helping others and making a meaningful impact.
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Chainsaw and Women's Chainsaw Crews
Women's Chainsaw Crew Details
Focus area: The Women’s Chainsaw Crew is a space for women to build skills and confidence in forestry work, this crew takes on the same rigorous projects as the chainsaw crew while fostering a supportive, empowering environment.
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Unique features: This crew creates a safe space where women can thrive in the traditionally male-dominated field of saw work.
Target Participants: The Women’s Chainsaw Crew welcomes female-identifying individuals who are eager to learn new skills and make an impact. No prior experience is required—just a willingness to embrace challenges, work hard, and grow in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Focus area: Both types of Chainsaw Crews are dedicated to specialized forestry and vegetation management, playing a critical role in wildfire mitigation, habitat restoration, forest health, and even recreation.
Typical Projects: Crew members alternate roles as sawyers and swampers throughout the workday. The sawyer operates the chainsaw to perform tasks like felling or bucking, while the swamper supports by clearing debris, organizing materials, and maintaining a safe worksite.
Saw work includes:
-Brushing: Removing smaller vegetation, such as shrubs and saplings.
-Felling: Safely cutting down standing trees.
-Chipping: Feeding cut branches and logs into a chipper to create mulch or manage debris.
-Corridor Clearing: Removing trees and brush to open or expand trails, ensuring safe access for recreation users.
-Piling: Collecting cut materials into burn or slash piles for controlled disposal or habitat use.
These techniques serve a variety of purposes, such as reducing wildfire risk by clearing dead and downed trees, managing invasive plant species, improving habitats for endangered wildlife, and removing vegetation that spreads disease. Chainsaw crews also engage in recreation-based projects, including clearing trails of fallen trees, cutting new trail corridors, and removing hazardous trees from high-traffic areas on public lands.
Required training: Comprehensive training includes chainsaw certifications, safety protocols, tool maintenance, first aid, and CPR.
Target Participants: No prior experience is necessary! Many members join with no saw experience, and we provide all the training and gear needed to succeed. This crew is perfect for individuals eager to learn a highly practical skill that offers a lifetime of learning opportunities. Saw work is a great balance of physical and mental engagement.
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