Since 2017, the SCA and Superior National Forest in Minnesota have partnered to provide hands-on conservation programs for nearly 90 young adults to preserve and protect the 3-million-acre forest.
Bordered by Canada, Lake Superior and Voyageurs National Park, the forest is also home to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Spanning over 1 million acres, this popular remote wilderness is accessible primarily by canoe.
Program participants will gain real-world experience in developed recreation, wilderness recreation, front-line administration and National Visitor Use Monitoring Surveys.
Throughout the program, participants will also develop leadership and technical skills in the field of conservation while building an ethic of service and stewardship.
Why Join The SCA Superior National Forest Program?
What We Offer:
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is seeking program participants to fill several open positions at the Superior National Forest and Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota.
The SCA is seeking a Line Staff/Administration Participant at the Superior National Forest LaCroix Ranger District office to support the administration program. Primary duties include providing visitor education, assisting with Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permit issuances, and assisting with forest product permit issuances. Additionally, provide visitors with recreation and biological information about the Superior National Forest, offer directions to various locations, answer phones and take messages, respond to emails, and perform general administrative duties. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Line Staff/Administration Participant at the Superior National Forest Kawishiwi Ranger District office to support the administration program. Primary duties include providing visitor education, assisting with Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permit issuances, and assisting with forest product permit issuances. Additionally, provide visitors with recreation and biological information about the Superior National Forest, offer directions to various locations, answer phones and take messages, respond to emails, and perform general administrative duties. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Line Staff/Administration Participant at the Superior National Forest Tofte Ranger District office to support the administration program. Primary duties include providing visitor education, assisting with Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permit issuances, and assisting with forest product permit issuances. Additionally, provide visitors with recreation and biological information about the Superior National Forest, offer directions to various locations, answer phones and take messages, respond to emails, and perform general administrative duties. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a National Visitor Use Monitoring Survey Participant to conduct visitor use surveys at recreation sites across the Superior National Forest. Program participants will interact directly with National Forest visitors to complete surveys at pre-determined locations and times using established survey protocols and questions. The surveys help develop an estimate of recreation use on national forests, assisting Congress, Forest Service leaders, and program managers in making informed decisions that best serve the public and protect valuable natural resources. Program participants will also work alongside Forest Service staff to complete recreation site and trail maintenance projects and may provide customer service for visitors. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Sept. 4, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Developed Recreation team member to work alongside U.S. Forest Service recreation staff at the Superior National Forest Tofte Ranger District in Tofte, MN. Program participants will perform routine and complex outdoor recreation maintenance tasks on various trails and at both developed and dispersed recreation sites to help prevent damage while minimizing the impact of visitors on the land. Duties primarily consist of various facilities and ground maintenance tasks, including mowing, brushing, cleaning and stocking outhouses, performing general carpentry, installing and maintaining fire grates, and painting/staining facilities and amenities. Recreation team members may also assist in supporting campground management practices, including posting reservations, removing hazardous trees, and constructing/maintaining tables and other recreation site amenities. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Developed Recreation team member to work alongside U.S. Forest Service recreation staff at the Superior National Forest Laurentian Ranger District in Aurora, MN. Program participants will perform routine and complex outdoor recreation maintenance tasks on various trails and at both developed and dispersed recreation sites to help prevent damage while minimizing the impact of visitors on the land. Duties primarily consist of various facilities and ground maintenance tasks, including mowing, brushing, cleaning and stocking outhouses, performing general carpentry, installing and maintaining fire grates, and painting/staining facilities and amenities. Recreation team members may also assist in supporting campground management practices, including posting reservations, removing hazardous trees, and constructing/maintaining tables and other recreation site amenities. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: June 1 – Aug. 21, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Developed Recreation team member to work alongside U.S. Forest Service recreation staff at the Superior National Forest LaCroix Ranger District in Cook, MN. Program participants will perform routine and complex outdoor recreation maintenance tasks on various trails and at both developed and dispersed recreation sites to help prevent damage while minimizing the impact of visitors on the land. Duties primarily consist of various facilities and ground maintenance tasks, including mowing, brushing, cleaning and stocking outhouses, performing general carpentry, installing and maintaining fire grates, and painting/staining facilities and amenities. Recreation team members may also assist in supporting campground management practices, including posting reservations, removing hazardous trees, and constructing/maintaining tables and other recreation site amenities. Participants will live in free housing at U.S. Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses.
Program Dates: June 1 – Aug. 21, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness team member for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness located within the Superior National Forest Tofte Ranger District. Program participants will assist the USDA Forest Service Wilderness Ranger crews in performing routine trail and campsite maintenance, as well as trail and campsite rehabilitation projects, and provide educational services to visitors. In addition to maintenance duties, program participants will assist with monitoring biophysical and social resource conditions within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Participants will be required to camp overnight for up to 8 days and 7 nights. Participants will learn how to use non-mechanized tools for work in the backcountry, including crosscut saws, shovels, pulaskis and axes. This is an arduous position that involves lifting and portaging tool packs weighing over 50 pounds, overnight gear, and canoes – the primary mode of transportation.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness team member for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness located within the Superior National Forest Gunflint Ranger District. Program participants will assist the USDA Forest Service Wilderness Ranger crews in performing routine trail and campsite maintenance, as well as trail and campsite rehabilitation projects, and provide educational services to visitors. In addition to maintenance duties, program participants will assist with monitoring biophysical and social resource conditions within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Participants will be required to camp overnight for up to 8 days and 7 nights. Participants will learn how to use non-mechanized tools for work in the backcountry, including crosscut saws, shovels, pulaskis and axes. This is an arduous position that involves lifting and portaging tool packs weighing over 50 pounds, overnight gear, and canoes – the primary mode of transportation.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
The SCA is seeking a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness team member for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness located within the Superior National Forest Kawishiwi Ranger District. Program participants will assist the USDA Forest Service Wilderness Ranger crews in performing routine trail and campsite maintenance, as well as trail and campsite rehabilitation projects, and provide educational services to visitors. In addition to maintenance duties, program participants will assist with monitoring biophysical and social resource conditions within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Participants will be required to camp overnight for up to 8 days and 7 nights. Participants will learn how to use non-mechanized tools for work in the backcountry, including crosscut saws, shovels, pulaskis and axes. This is an arduous position that involves lifting and portaging tool packs weighing over 50 pounds, overnight gear, and canoes – the primary mode of transportation.
Program Dates: May 18 – Aug. 7, 2026
Pay: $500/wk. + $1,100 travel allowance
Program participants learn how to work with a diverse team of peers; gain knowledge of public land resources, environmental issues, and career readiness skills; increase their understanding of environmental and trail restoration techniques; acquire experience in public service and outdoor recreation; and develop valuable professional skills through teambuilding and leadership activities.
CPR & First Aid
Environmental Education
Habitat Restoration
Leave No Trace
Outdoor Ethics
Resume Building
Trail Skills
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