AmeriCorps: Seasonal Trail Crews

Conservation Corps crews, each with four AmeriCorps members and one crew leader, ages 18-25, work on trails and portages in Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The work is challenging and corpsmembers often backcountry camp for four- to eight-day stretches with several days off between stretches.

Members receive training and complete extensive trail construction and maintenance projects and some exotic species removal. Crews camp at or near forest work sites and food is provided.

Crew leaders work with four corpsmembers to complete projects and are responsible for project management, training and crew member development. The leader is also responsible for the crew’s overall work performance and safety.

To be a trail crew member, you must be 18-25 years old during the program period and have the interest and ability to:

• Complete physically strenuous work 40 hours per week.
• Work outdoors in adverse conditions and on challenging terrain.
• Backcountry camp for up to 8-day stretches. 
• Work well in a team setting and learn new skills

Additionally, to be a crew leader, we prefer that you have:

• Experience and education in natural resource management, supervision, construction, trail maintenance, small engine repair or related fields. 
• Prior field and/or supervisory experience.

Trail crew members receive a living stipend of $1,155 a month (crew leaders $1,565), health insurance, personal protective equipment, student loan forbearance during the service term, and a post-service AmeriCorps education award that may be used for college or qualified student loan expenses. Crew leaders receive a $2,114 education award; members receive $1,468.

Seasonal trail crews:

Timeline:                                                                              Applications will be available for Field Specialists in mid-February, 2012.                                            Applications will be available for Leader/Members in early March, 2012.

Crew locations:
throughout Superior National Forest

Service term:
Superior National Forest
Crew leader: May 16 – August 23, 2012
Crew member: May 29 – August 23, 2012  

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