American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, is seeking 3 Wilderness and Trail Team Members to contribute to various trail maintenance and education projects alongside U.S. Forest Service Staff. The Wilderness and Trail Team will consist of 2 Wilderness and Trail Crew Members and 1 Wilderness and Trail Lead Technician. 

For more information about ACE, please visit https://www.usaconservation.org/. 

Wilderness and Trail Lead Technician

Start Date:  June 1, 2026
Estimated End Date: October 16, 2026
*a 20 week minimum commitment is required *

Wilderness and Trail Crew Members 

Start Date: June 15, 2026
Estimated End Date: October 2, 2026
*a 16 week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Naches Ranger District - 10237 Hwy. 12, Naches, WA 98937

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest encompasses nearly 3.8 million acres along the east slopes of the Cascade Range in central Washington. The Forest encompasses a diverse area of sparkling rivers and lakes, deep canyons, and rugged mountains up to 10,541 feet in elevation. The Okanogan-Wenatchee NF produces a wealth of water resources, timber, wildlife, fish, minerals and outdoor recreation opportunities. Included within the district are the Goat Rocks, William O. Douglas and Norse Peak wilderness areas. The district is also home to White Pass Ski area and the Rimrock Lake, Bumping Lake, and Clear Lake Recreation areas. 

Naches Ranger Station, Naches, WA is located approximately 15 miles west on Hwy 12 from the nearest full-service community of Yakima, WA. There are minimal services such as gas and groceries at this site. Government housing is an additional 20 minutes west from the ranger station. Cell service and WiFi is limited at the housing location, please be prepared to live and work in this remote, mountain setting. Each member is responsible for quarters fees (rent). 

For more information about Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/okanogan-wenatchee.

Position Overview

Wilderness and Trail Crew Members 

Trails/Wilderness crew members will assist Forest Service personnel with the maintenance of FS-system trails, both inside and outside wilderness. Work is primarily in a backcountry setting and requires a strong wilderness travel and backcountry camping skill set. Duties for trail maintenance include using a variety of hand and mechanized tools and will include trail repair, log out, occasional construction/reconstruction of infrastructure, the monitoring of designated Wilderness areas with a focus on inventorying user-created trails and recreation sites, and coordinating with various partner organizations during projects. Members will also help with educating the public about Wilderness awareness and regulations, permit compliance, campsite impacts and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. These positions require flexibility with scheduling as sometimes projects may require an extended time in the backcountry for completion. All members will be required to assist with developed recreation management in addition to trail duties. 

Wilderness and Trail Lead Technician

The Trails/Wilderness Technician Lead will perform many of the same duties, in addition to leading ACE members, assisting the program managers with scheduling, monitoring of trail conditions, writing trail reports, and ensuring processes run smoothly. 

Duties may include: 

• Maintain Forest Service system trails to standard using tools such as crosscut saws on frequently large-diameter logs, hand saws, shovels, pulaskis, McLeods, grip hoists, rock bars and other tools related to trails maintenance.
• Serves as a member of a trails maintenance team, to maintain, repair, and build trails throughout the Forest Service unit to ensure protection of wildlife habitat and water quality in addition to improving recreational access to forest lands.
• Builds trails with gravel and associated materials, restores impacted areas, and replaces signage as needed.
• Prepares construction materials, ensures proper tool maintenance, and reports work completed.
• Helps plan and implement the logistics of projects associated with trail maintenance and reconstruction projects. 
• May performs trail log, condition, and prescription surveys.  
• Travel and camp in remote backcountry settings. Strenuous hikes to work a site 10-20 miles in a day is not uncommon. Work in all kinds of weather, unless hazardous. Backpacking required. 
• Oversees routine maintenance of trails at dispersed recreation sites including cleanup and naturalizing.
• May interact with forest visitors and when assigned, educates visitors covering trail maintenance and cleanup. 
• Explains regulations concerning trails maintenance specific to the Wilderness Act.
• Collects monies from sale of recreation use permits at designated fee sites.
• Performs routine recreation operations and maintenance, including but not limited to picnic table and fire ring installation, signboard maintenance and installation, ensuring correct signage is included and cleanup work including repairing minor damage of recreation facilities; i.e., toilets, buildings, etc
• Cleaning bathrooms and restocking supplies will also be necessary.
• Use of technology such as tablets and GPS systems will be utilized to collect baseline data and inventories.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: The schedule will likely be 4, 10 hour days but scheduling may be flexible according to project needs. Hitch/spike camping scheduling may be required for project needs. Flexibility in scheduling is required. 

Position Benefits

Wilderness and Trail Crew Members 

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $775/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the U.S.F.S. and ACE and is not flexible.

Wilderness and Trail Lead Technician

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $860/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the U.S.F.S. and ACE and is not flexible.

This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic-faqs/.

Housing: Housing is likely available at the USFS Chinook Pass Work Center bunkhouse. Rates may vary depending on housing assignment. 

Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. 

Gear Assistance: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots and other items that the U.S.F.S. has not provided and must be approved by ACE and U.S.F.S. staff prior to purchase. 

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include chainsaw operations, hazard tree surveys, and/or drinking water system operation.

Qualifications 

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas. 
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner. 
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.usaconservation.org/epic-faqs/.
• Ability to commute to and from the work station independently.
• Ability to pass a basic written test and road test to obtain a US Government Motor Vehicle Operators Card. 

Preferred:

• Prior work involving similar skills is preferred. Examples include maintenance work, construction or repair work, tool use, landscaping, as well as customer service work or other public-interfacing experience. Prior experience can be either professional, or personal, volunteer experience.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and participate in collaborative team efforts.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with other professionals and Forest visitors. 
• Ability to work outdoors in sometimes strenuous conditions. 
• Prior experience with backpacking. 
• Prior experience with cross-cut saws is preferred but not required. 
• Ability to drive Forest roads, including some days with a large duration in the work truck.
• Lead Position:
• Ability to lead others
• Willingness to train other ACE members
• Able to perform some administrative duties

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions: 

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and work in field conditions. 
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. 
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel within the Naches Ranger District. 

Environmental Conditions/Hazards:  The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, burn scar worksites, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. 

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the U.S.F.S. or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the U.S.F.S. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the U.S.F.S., will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to U.S.F.S. and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.  

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO:  Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.