Position Title: USDA Forest Service Recreation Ranger - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps - Four Corners, Durango

Site Location: Norwood Ranger District, 1150 Forest St. Norwood, CO 81423

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 05/11-05/26/2026 TBD on exact start date
• End Date: 10/02/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification:675 Hours
• Position is dependent on grant funding

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps program partners with the USDA Forest Service staff at local field offices throughout southern Colorado. This AmeriCorps position is under direct mentorship and technical guidance of the Norwood Ranger District with additional management, support, and administration from Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC). The U.S. Forest Service works in collaboration with local communities and partners to carry out its mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forest and grasslands to the meet the needs of present and future generations. The values instilled through this mission are service, interdependence, conservation, diversity, and safety. Individual Placements (IPs) will be a part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest, Recreation (Rec) Ranger Program.

The primary goal of this program is to interact with the visiting public with all-inclusive mindset mission to enhance each visitor’s experience on our shared public lands. Recreation Rangers will be collecting quantifiable data daily at high-use recreation sites. The overall goal of the Rec Ranger Program is to provide essential information to the public on how to disperse their use in the Telluride Area, which is already heavily impacted by tourists and recreationists. The Recreation Program is tasked with managing over three million acres of development and dispersed recreation opportunities, including but not limited to visitor centers, campgrounds, non-motorized and motorized trails, scenic by-ways designated wilderness and other public recreation opportunities. The GMUG is divided into five ranger districts, Grand Valley, Paonia, Ouray, Norwood, and Gunnison.

This AmeriCorps position will focus on collecting quantifiable data in and around the Town of Telluride, Town of Mountain Village, and San Miguel County in a small cohort of two to four with a Rec Ranger Crew Lead. Data will include but is not limited to number of physical contacts encountered, vehicles, number of people on trails, maps given out, citations/warnings issued, site destinations, pounds of trash collected and restrooms serviced. In addition, IPs will be educating locals and visitors of how to disperse their “footprint” on public land and instill proper Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics which are two major ways in achieving a reduction in overuse of highly used recreation areas/sites. This area sees an exponential number of visitors in the summer months, so instilling these conservation practices will allow the use of current and future generations to enjoy our public lands.

Description of Duties:

• Assist Rec Ranger Crew Lead and Rec Staff supervisor to collect necessary data for year-end reporting
• Keep detailed daily logs of data collection and service activities completed, number of contacts made, miles of trail hikes, pounds of trash collection, number of vehicles at trail heads, number of maps passed out to the public, citations/warnings issued
• Daily check-ins with Rec Ranger Crew Lead
• Educate locals and visitors on Leave No Trace Ethics
• Service vault style bathrooms and spot clean porta-potties
• Cross-training opportunities such as serving along wildlife, wilderness or trails, and promoting the Junior Ranger Program at the local libraries and visitor centers in the area

Potential Environmental/Human Risks:

• Slips, trips, falls with uneven and varied high elevation terrain
• Dealing with a high volume of diverse public interactions
• Exposure to human waste at toilet facilities or in the woods/in areas of high use dispersed recreation

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident
• At least 17 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.
• Current and valid U.S. Driver's License for at least three years
• Per grant funding requirements, candidates must be 18-30 years of age, up to 35 years of age if veteran status

Preferred Qualifications:

• College degree or currently in college
• First Aid/CPR Certification
• Well organized, highly motivated, professional and passionate outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy field-based projects, and have confidence communicating with a diverse amount of individuals in a group setting
• Adaptable and flexible with a ever-changing summer schedule
• Knowledge of the area of a background in recreation/outdoor management/LNT ethics

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Schedule is ever changing depending on local partners and priorities with little no notice on a regular basis. Expect to serve on weekends and holidays throughout the duration of the term. 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 in-depth orientation provided by Southwest Conservation Corps orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Partner will provide appropriate orientation and training(s) for field activities including Forest Protection Officer Training (FPO) with local Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer. This will help prepare Rec Rangers on how to confront the public in a variety of different scenarios and situations (i.e.) abandoned campfires, fires during fire restrictions, camping in unauthorized locations, etc.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Additional Benefit of $150 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Professional development opportunities with both SCC and the Forest Service
• Two SCC field shirts
• Forest Service bunk housing is available: nightly rate of $6.37-$8.37, paid to the Forest Service monthly

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 and Contact Information:

Individual Placement Program Manger - Niki Antonio (she/her)

Contact Information: nantonio@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 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.