Forest Recreation Technician – AmeriCorps (1 opening)

Conservation Legacy Program: Arizona Conservation Corps

Site Location: Mogollon Rim Ranger District (8738 Ranger Rd, Happy Jack, AZ 86024)

Term of Service:

• Start Date: 5/12/2025 (anticipated)
• End Date: 9/26/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps position with Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which is an AmeriCorps program of Conservation Legacy. The member selected for this position will be serving at the Mogollon Rim Ranger District as an AmeriCorps member with Arizona Conservation Corps, and completing service projects for Coconino National Forest.

AZCC aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's, and is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with communities and conservation service projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson.

Coconino National Forest:

One of six National Forests in Arizona, the Coconino National Forest comprises 1.856-million acres in northern Arizona, with elevations ranging from 2,600 feet to the highest point in Arizona at 12,633 feet (Humphrey's Peak). Coconino National Forest contains diverse landscapes, including deserts, ponderosa pine forests, flatlands, mesas, alpine tundra, and ancient volcanic peaks. The forest surrounds the towns of Sedona and Flagstaff and contains all or parts of 10 designated wilderness areas. The Recreation and Trails program is focused on providing quality recreation opportunities and experiences.

Description of Duties:

The purpose of the Developed Recreation Program is to serve the public by providing high-quality and safe recreation opportunities through campgrounds, lake access, and trails while educating visitors for long term natural resource conservation and responsible recreation. The success of our mission is dependent on having a crew to clean and maintain recreation sites, educate visitors, support campground hosts, and more. Because of the cooler temperatures of the Mogollon Rim, people visit from all over in the summer months to camp and enjoy the lakes. This causes environmental impacts and threats to safety (unattended campfires, overcrowded parking lots, irresponsible OHV operation, etc.)

The selected intern can expect to be involved in litter removal to protect and enhance the natural environment, collection of visitor use data that allows the District to conduct mission critical enforcement tasks, inspection of recreation areas and those of concentrated public use, contacting visitors to provide information about recreation regulations, opportunities, and current

restrictions, maintaining developed recreation sites, maintenance and improvement of District signage infrastructure, infrastructure improvement projects that protect resources and enhance the overall visitor experience, and keeping supervisors informed of condition assessments in the field as needed and participating in mitigation of risks and hazards.

On the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, there are many sensitive wildlife habitat areas, watersheds, and historical sites. Litter removal, educational outreach, OHV management, and regulation enforcement all contribute to preserving the critical resources. Forest patrols and public engagement conducted by Recreation Technicians preserve this resource by managing illegal off-road vehicle incursions and denuded area expansion resulting from dispersed camping. With humans being a significant source of all wildland fire starts, fire prevention is a key component of a Recreation Technician’s duties. Patrols of dispersed camping areas and frequent public communication and outreach are important tools to prevent the impacts of catastrophic wildfire and enhance public health and safety.

Recreation Technicians have many opportunities to explore different facets of public lands

management and gain valuable insights into a variety of career paths. Employees often engage in project work with multiple project areas including Wildlife, Fire, Archaeology, Hydrology, Heritage, Engineering, Volunteer Coordination, Visitor Information Services, Law Enforcement and Investigations, and Outfitter Guide/Special Uses.

The intern will receive an orientation and specialized instruction based on the local landscape and

common issues. Forest Service housing is available for the selected intern.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Act as a representative of the Forest Service.
• Collect visitor use data using a variety of methods.
• Help support Forest restoration projects and infrastructure improvements.
• Drive assigned patrol routes to recreation sites and high use dispersed recreation areas.
• Contact visitors to provide information about recreation regulations, opportunities, and current restrictions. Provide information about resource management practices in the area.

• Conduct routine maintenance of Recreation Sites including Day Use Areas and campgrounds, make sure recreation sites and trails are maintained in accordance with standards.
• Perform construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation tasks in recreation sites.
• Clean and maintain restrooms.
• Install and maintain information boards, travel signs, regulatory signs, and other signs associated with recreation sites, trails, travel management, and safety.

• Engage in project documentation including taking of before and after photos.
• Support campground hosts.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• At least 18 years of age.
• 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 to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

• A self-starter that demonstrates professionalism, both in demeanor and appearance.
• Valid driver’s license (must be over 21 OR have had license for 3 years if under 21).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Customer service skills such as working, engaging, and interacting with the public.
• Public speaking experience.
• Basic construction and power tool experience.
• Hiking experience.

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Thursday to Monday, 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an Arizona Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program New Member Orientation at start of service that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14 with successful completion of position.
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.

• Additional Benefit of $100 per week.
• Forest Service housing is available for the selected intern.
• Public Lands Corps Certificate*
• Healthcare Coverage provided by The Corps Network and Cigna.
• Childcare Coverage.
• Qualifies for Student Loan forbearance and Interest Payment reimbursement through AmeriCorps.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, members must be between the ages of 18-30, or up to 35 if a military veteran, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service and must complete 640 service hours or more to qualify.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will 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.

Supervisor Name:

This position reports to Korrina Villalobos, Developed Recreation Technician Supervisor with Coconino National Forest.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://azcorps.org/ip-positions.

If you have questions, contact AZCC’s Individual Placement Coordinator Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.