The SCA’s Western Conservation Corps helps young adults develop the critical skills needed to begin a career in conservation through hands-on experiences in beautiful and rugged locations throughout the American West. Crews work in diverse environments, from planting Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert to restoring trail structures among coastal redwoods.
Program participants will give back to the land while learning lifelong skills that will make them ideal candidates to further their careers in conservation through nationally recognized training, conservation work skills and leadership development.
Western Corps teams work on various projects, including desert restoration, trail improvement and fuels reduction projects in National and State Parks and Forests in the Western United States. Participants complete meaningful work that preserves and protects public lands for generations to come.
Western Conservation Corps program participants emerge with increased environmental awareness, technical skills, social responsibility and leadership skills.
Get Paid: Earn while learning valuable green job skills.
Gain Experience: Explore career pathways in conservation.
Make a Difference: Help care for public lands throughout the American West.
Now Hiring - Join The Crew
The SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Modoc National Forest Trail Team in Altruas, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects, including clearing trail corridors, installing rock structures and maintaining tread and drainage features. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Sequoia National Forest Trail Team in Springville, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects, including clearing trail corridors, installing rock structures and maintaining tread and drainage features. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Sequoia National Forest Trail Team-Fire Recovery in Springville, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects, including clearing trail corridors, installing rock structures and maintaining tread and drainage features. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Sequoia National Forest Trail – Hume Lake Team 1 in Hume, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects, including clearing trail corridors, installing rock structures and maintaining tread and drainage features. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Snow Mountain Fire Recovery Team in Upper Lake, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects in Mendocino National Forest, a land still healing from the Ranch Fire. The crew will work with hand tools and chainsaws to rebuild damaged trails, clear debris, and restore trail structures. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working with a chainsaw.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking a Field Leader (age 21+) to supervise and train the 2025 Summer Sequoia National Forest Trail – Hume Lake Team 2 in Hume, California. The crew will engage in a variety of hands-on conservation projects, including clearing trail corridors, installing rock structures and maintaining tread and drainage features. The Field Leader will manage basecamp, train members in technical conservation work skills, mentor personal and professional development, communicate with agency partners and manage the timely completion of work projects. Strong candidates will have a good foundation in backcountry living and experience working outdoors.
Expected Dates: April 7 – Aug. 23 Pay: $800/wk.
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18+) to join the Los Padres Trail Recovery Team in California’s Los Padres National Forest. The work will support lands still healing from recent wildfires. The group will consist of five members and one crew leader (age 21+) who will use hand tools to rebuild damaged trails, clear debris, and install trail structures. The crew will live and work together outdoors for the duration of the program.
Expected Dates: Feb. 17 – May 10 Pay: $550/wk. (AmeriCorps Eligible)
Apply NowThe SCA is seeking crew members (age 18+) to join the Spring Snow Mountain Fire Recovery Team in California’s Mendocino National Forest. The work will support lands still healing from the 2018 Ranch Fire. The group will consist of five members and one crew leader (age 21+) who will use hand tools and chainsaws to rebuild damaged trails, clear debris, and restore trail structures. The crew will live and work together outdoors for the duration of the program.
Expected Dates: Feb. 17 – Aug. 16 Pay: $300/wk. (AmeriCorps Eligible)
Apply NowThe SCA’s Western Conservation Corps helps young adults develop the critical skills needed to begin a career in conservation through hands-on experience in beautiful and rugged locations throughout the American West. Crews work in diverse environments, from planting Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert to restoring trail structures among coastal redwoods.
CPR & Wilderness First Aid Certification
Chainsaw Operator Certification
Environmental Education
Trail Maintenance
Habitat Restoration
Project Management
Yes. All crew members should expect to camp in either front country, backcountry, or a combination of the two throughout the season, both while working and during time off. Although housing varies by worksite, most crews will camp for a significant portion of their work season, if not all.
The SCA provides each crew with communal camping equipment, such as stoves and cookware. Crew members will be outfitted with a personal tent. The SCA will also provide a small uniform package, including a sun hat, long sleeve work shirt, sweatshirt, hydration bladder and a 30 liter daypack. Crew members are required to provide all other gear and equipment, such as sleeping bags and pads, work boots and pants, a personal mess kit and a backpacking pack, if applicable.
The conditions that crews will be exposed to throughout the season are as varied as California’s landscapes. Some crews will work in high altitude conditions in the mountains. Some crews will work in wet and snowy conditions, while others work in very hot and exposed locations in desert and chaparral landscapes. Crews are exposed to a number of weather conditions, such as heatwaves, thunder and lightning storms, snow, rain and high temperatures. Crew-specific information will be relayed to candidates throughout the hiring process.
Although members may have limited access to electricity and modern comforts, this exciting opportunity provides able time to connect with nature and each other.
While scenic, crews will often work in remote and rugged areas across the West and in special cases, on extended backcountry projects.
Throughout the season, each crew will be presented with a range of environmental and social experiences that reflect the ever-changing world of conservation work, gaining a hands-on perspective that will prepare program participants for a future career in the field.
A strong sense of crew- community and shared responsibility while living and working in a cooperative environment is a central part of this program.
Guided by a crew leader, crew members will be responsible for building and maintaining their base camp outside of the workday, which may include shelter-rigging, cooking and communal space upkeep.
Western Corps Program Team
Email: scawesterncorps@thesca.org
Join our community of supporters who care deeply about preserving parks, public lands and urban green spaces.
"*" indicates required fields