Position Title: Recreation Technician Individual Placement - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps North Carolina

Site Location: U.S. Forest Service – Pisgah Ranger District (National Forests in North Carolina)

Brevard, North Carolina and other Ranger District offices and field sites across the District

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: April 2026
• End Date: April 2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hours

Purpose:

These AmeriCorps positions will support the Pisgah Ranger District’s dispersed recreation and trails program, ensuring public lands remain accessible, safe, and well-maintained. These roles include visitor engagement, trail maintenance, roadside campsite maintenance and monitoring, safety monitoring, and conservation stewardship.

One position will be focused on Dispersed Recreation sites, and one position will be focused on Trails.

Both positions will work together, as well as with the larger recreation team on the District and under the direction of the Trails, Dispersed Recreation, and Wilderness Program Manager.

• About Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC)

  • Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) partners with public land managers to engage young adults, and veterans in meaningful conservation service projects. Through hands-on work in the field, CCNC members develop skills in natural resource management, outdoor leadership, and community engagement while improving trails, restoring habitats, and enhancing recreation areas. CCNC is an AmeriCorps-affiliated program dedicated to building the next generation of conservation leaders through service, education, and teamwork.

• About the Pisgah Ranger District
  • The Pisgah Ranger District boundary spans 4 counties and is comprised of more than 165,000 acres that feature mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and diverse forested lands. It is considered a premier recreational destination with approximately 400 miles of hike, bike, and equestrian use trails as well as opportunities to fish, hunt, camp, or simply enjoy the scenery.
    The forest features a board spectrum of land management activities that include fire, vegetation programs, wildlife and fisheries management, special uses, historical site management, visitor services and public programming. Program management includes close working relationships with trusted partner organizations and volunteer trail groups.
    The district also includes two designated Wilderness Areas: Shining Rock and Middle Prong with small sections of the Mountains to Sea Trail and Art Loeb Trail. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the Pisgah District with additional trail and recreational activities. Other notable places within the district include The Forest Heritage Scenic Byway, Sliding Rock Recreation Area, Looking Glass Rock, John Rock, Waterfalls (such as Looking Glass Falls and Rainbow Falls), and the Bent Creek Experimental Forest located near the NC Arboretum in Asheville, NC.
    For more information, visit:
    • Brevard, NC in Transylvania County, NC: www.explorebrevard.com
    • Asheville, NC in Buncombe County, NC: www.exploreasheville.com
    • Hendersonville, NC in Henderson County, NC: www.visithendersonville.org
    • National Forests in North Carolina: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc

Description of Duties:

• Site and Facility Maintenance

  • Perform maintenance and landscaping at developed and dispersed recreation sites.

  • Maintain and rehabilitate recreation areas, trails, and facilities in accordance with Forest Service standards.

  • Clean and naturalize roadside and backcountry dispersed sites.

  • Install and maintain signage and safety messaging for recreation sites and trails.

  • Assist with removal of hazard trees and with maintenance or construction of trail and wilderness bridges.

  • Perform routine maintenance and care of assigned vehicles and field equipment.

• Safety and Compliance
  • Conduct safety hazard analyses of recreation areas; take or recommend corrective action.
  • Monitor sites to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
  • Inspect and report on facility and site conditions, including visitor safety concerns.
• Visitor Engagement and Partnerships
  • Engage with visitors to share information on recreation regulations, opportunities, and safety.
  • Support and coordinate with volunteers and partner organizations involved in recreation or trail activities.
  • Represent the Forest Service and CCNC professionally while maintaining a positive and helpful attitude.
• Planning and Implementation
  • Assist in developing and implementing operations and maintenance plans.
  • Monitor trail conditions and usage to support sustainable recreation (basic data collection, photos, GPS points).
  • Work safely in varied conditions, including inclement weather, with minimal supervision after training.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• 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.
• Interest in conservation, public land stewardship, and outdoor recreation management.
• Valid driver’s license; insurable for CCNC vehicles.
• Ability to work outdoors in rugged conditions and inclement weather.
• Strong communication skills and professional public contact.
• Self-motivated; able to work independently while following safety guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with multiple volunteer groups and partners.
• USFS B Sawyer certification (or ability to obtain) for hazard-tree work.
• Wilderness First Aid/CPR (WFA/WFR preferred where applicable).
• Experience with hand tools, trail maintenance, or outdoor labor.
• Familiarity with GPS/mobile data collection; GIS exposure a plus.
• Trailer/UTV experience
• Experience using landscaping equipment: push mowers, zero turns, weed eaters, leaf blowers, etc.

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:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 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 orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7395
• Living Allowance of $480 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $420 per week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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:

Rachel Robinson Contact information: rrobinson@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.