IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

American Conservation Experience: Lake Tahoe Trail Crew Internship

Internship Description:  American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Santa Cruz, CA, is currently hiring energetic, ambitious young adults to participate in a 4-month skills training program preparing them for outdoor careers with the US Forest Service, with ACE, with other conservation corps, or land management agencies such as the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.    Interns will serve with ACE at various locations around Lake Tahoe learning advanced trail maintenance skills under the supervision of professional ACE Crew Leaders. This is a volunteer internship providing a stipend of $110 per week, free camping near the town of South Lake Tahoe at a developed campground (with showers) that is just minutes from popular beaches, shops, and cafes.   This is a valuable opportunity to learn and train among professional mentors.

Start Date: Immediately

End Date: November 2, 2010 

A four month commitment is required.

Potential exists to continue serving with other ACE crews or in other ACE internships beyond November 2.

Internship Major Duties and Expectations:

Trail Interns will support ACE and US Forest Service staff by assisting in the construction and maintenance of hiking trails.  Typical duties include:

• Assisting Park staff with the construction of a variety of advanced trail structures such as stone staircases, dry stone retaining walls, rock check dams, waterbars, etc.    Interns will also assist ACE staff in routine trail maintenance duties such as brushing trails, outsloping tread and clearing drainage structures.
• Completing work tasks as instructed by ACE staff, keeping daily work log and demonstrate proper work procedures and methods while working in the field with or near other volunteer groups.
• Following strict guidelines in making safety a priority, including the responsible use of personal protective gear and insuring that all tools, equipment, vehicles and other co-workers are working safely in all conditions.
• Following instructions from all ACE and USFS staff and understanding and respecting all wilderness regulations and policies.
• Working with a professional demeanor as a part of a team.  Good public communication skills are a must.

Location:  The crystal clear turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains, forests, and wilderness areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin draw outdoor enthusiasts from around the world.   Known for the clarity of water and for the dramatic backdrop of a panorama of mountains, Lake Tahoe is the second deepest Lake in the United States and the 10^th deepest in the world.   The Lake Tahoe Basin, divided between California and Nevada, also represents one of the most fragile ecosystems in North America, as soil erosion, algae growth, and invasive plants/animals threaten the unique high elevation alpine lake.   Tahoe has long sought a balance between embracing extensive recreational use and preserving the Basin’s delicate ecosystem.   ACE crews will be reconstructing hiking trails to encourage recreation in a sustainable manner that does not contribute to soil erosion and does not represent a threat to lake clarity.  Interns will spend 5 months working and camping in one of the world’s most scenic locations, with opportunities to explore surrounding wilderness areas in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, spend time paddling the lake in one of ACE’s sea kayaks, or delve into the festivities common to the resort town of South Lake Tahoe.  

Working Conditions:  Work is labor intensive and strenuous, performed outdoors in steep terrain and hilly terrain and at elevations as high as 9,000 feet.   Interns should anticipate adverse conditions including rain, wind, and even late summer snows, interspersed among weeks of sunshine.  Crews will hike at least 4 miles uphill each day to reach the high elevation worksites, so physical fitness is an absolute requirement.

Qualifications:  Applicants for ACE’s Professional Development Trail Crew Internships at Lake Tahoe must be at least 18 years old, have an established interest in conservation issues, and should take evident joy in tackling challenging situations with a positive mindset.   Applicants must be willing to undertake arduous physical work in all types of weather and terrain, and to participate as a team member, dedicated to both ACE’s and the USFS’s mission.  Preference will be given to former and graduating ACE volunteers, graduated members of other conservation corps, and those with a history of committed engagement in similar volunteer and outdoors activities.  The internship is meant as a stepping stone to environmental careers with land management agencies and as a gateway to potential advancement within ACE, not only as an interesting and rewarding way to spend 5 months working in a beautiful location.  Drug users, including recreational smokers of marijuana, should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing and generally abhors the presence of drug users in our program.

Desired Knowledge and Skills:

• Familiarity and/or desire to learn how to operate tools to perform trail work including, but not limited to rock bar, single jack, shovel, fire rake, axe, brushing sheers, and other trail maintenance tools.
• Ability and/or desire to experience trail maintenance work, including but not limited to; cribbing walls, turnpikes, drainage dips, swales, installation of water bars, retaining walls, removal of brush and vegetation.
• Desire and ability to work outdoors, at times in inclement weather and terrain.  Willingness to perform strenuous physical activity such as frequent bending and lifting and caring heavy weights. 

Benefits:

• Developed camping located within a few minute’s walk from the Lake.
• An allowance of $110 per week food and incidental expenses is provided by ACE.
• Opportunity to gain a working for knowledge of trail construction and maintenance.
• Opportunity to pursue training and education opportunities with ACE.
• Experience working with a Federal agency as well as with a Non-Profit Organization.
• Opportunity to live in and enjoy the scenery, wildlife and cultural resources of this spectacular area.
• Opportunities to work with volunteers from diverse backgrounds in trail maintenance and construction.
• Opportunity to become a steward of America’s public lands and leader in your community.
• Opportunity to meet other men and women that share a common interest in preserving and protecting our natural lands.

To Apply:

Please email a resume and cover letter along with 3 professional references to Chris Baker at cbaker@usaconservation.org with “Lake Tahoe Trail Crew Internship – stopdodo referred” in the subject heading of your email.

Application Deadline:  Position Open Until Filled