Jobs in the Great Outdoors

Camp together. Work together. Learn together. Get paid for your work. Complete exciting conservation projects on public lands. Rebuild the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail. Plant trees in a National Park. Construct a boardwalk bridge in a wetlands area. Preserve a cultural heritage site. Create and deliver educational interpretive programs at a State Park. Restore a wildlife habitat. Reduce wildfire risks. Help build energy-efficient homes for low-income residents. Rebuild a campground. Teach kids about forest ecology.

These are the types of opportunities that thousands of seasonal workers, summer jobbers and interns enjoy in America's parks, forests and outdoor playgrounds. With jobs that include conservation volunteers, youth corps members, field crew leaders, backcountry crew supervisors, forestry staff, leadership opportunities, environmental internships and a variety of outdoor field support staff, you'll explore every conceivable assignment while working in the great outdoors.

More to Explore
• Check out the Outdoor/Environmental Education Jobs or Meaningful Work channels for more outdoor-focused work programs!

Work outdoors in amazing places. Complete exciting and meaningful conservation projects on public lands. Camp out in the Southwest. Get paid for your work.

The Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) operates conservation service programs across Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico that empower individuals to positively impact their lives, their communities and the environment. Through partnerships with AmeriCorps, SCC has broad program offerings including individual intern placements in natural resource positions as well as crew-based conservation service programs for youth, young adults and post 9-11 era Veterans. Non-AmeriCorps leadership positions are available for those interested in growing their technical and leadership skills in the conservation world.

Projects may include technical trail construction and maintenance, wildfire management and mitigation, wildlife habitat improvement, environmental restoration, disaster relief, GIS monitoring and campground improvement. Exciting, challenging, rewarding—there is no one word to describe participating in SCC projects. It’s about learning, working hard for the environment and communities, and giving something back. Benefits include a living allowance ranging from $400-$800/week, camping and meals provided in the field, uniforms, travel, the ability to live and work in the beautiful southwest region, and valuable training and field experience. AmeriCorps members are eligible for an AmeriCorps education award. Positions range from 10 weeks to 8+ months, with opportunities available year-round. SCC looks for individuals from across the country who want to gain experiences in conservation and natural resources, are willing to work and participate as part of a team, and don't mind a little dirt under their fingernails regardless of levels of past outdoor experience. Explore all current SCC job opportunities »

This is my commute. This is my office. This is my job!

• From 14,000-foot snow covered mountains to deep canyons carved by rivers millions of years ago, you will experience the unique and beautiful Southwest from many perspectives with SCC. Travel places few people have been, places covered in history, beauty and true wild areas.

Are you ready to work hard and make a difference? Develop leadership, career, and conservation skills? Connect with new friends? Camp and serve under the big skies of the wild Northern Rockies?

Montana Conservation Corps believes that through conservation service work and authentic connection, members can sharpen their ability to create change and join the next generation of leaders for a better world. MCC focuses on the growth of members, positively impacting the climate and environment, and transferable job skills. MCC is currently accepting applications for many positions! Leaders and their crews will camp while working on physically demanding and essential natural resource and conservation projects on some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Northern Rockies and Plains. Project work could include trail maintenance and construction, habitat restoration, invasive plant management, fuels reduction, work in the remote backcountry, and more! Crew Leaders go through a leadership development program crafted over two decades to enhance their confidence, resilience, and technical capabilities.

Compensation ranges from a bi-weekly living allowance of $1,000–$1,450 and an AmeriCorps education award, with many great benefits (depending on position) that include FREE health insurance, housing opportunities may be available in specific regions, enrollment in the Member Assistance program (providing FREE 24/7 behavioral health consulting), CPR/first aid certification, technical skills training, food per diem while on projects, access to pro deals on day 1, professional level certifications, resume building, federal hiring training, Public Lands Corps hiring authority, and so much more. Apply now to launch your conservation career!

Why join an MCC crew? View member perspectives, see a day in the life, and learn about community at MCC.

• If you're eager to invest yourself in a physically and personally demanding service experience, the Montana Conservation Corps will give you the resources to help you improve your world and your life. You’ll take away a lifetime of memories, career skills, lasting friendships, and the tools to make a difference in your world.

Arizona Conservation Corps is focused on connecting youth, young adults and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands across Arizona and the Southwest.

Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) programs promote personal growth, experiential learning and an ethic of natural resource stewardship while incorporating the guiding principles of community, dedication, challenge, integrity and fun! Seasonal conservation positions include AmeriCorps Conservation Camping Crews (Members, Assistant Crew Leaders and Crew Leaders), Summer Youth Crews, AmeriCorps Veterans Fire Corps, and AmeriCorps Individual Placements. Project work may include trail maintenance & construction, community service, watershed and desert restoration, tree planting, parks & campground maintenance, fire fuels reduction/mitigation, historic preservation, water conservation and more. Compensation includes a living stipend ranging from $400-$844/week, an AmeriCorps education award, group camping gear and a $200/week housing stipend for camping crews, transportation to and from work related activities, relevant trainings and orientation with AZCC and project partners, and the opportunity to work & live in some amazing places!

AZCC seeks applicants who are interested in fully committing to the program, who are willing to overcome any challenges, and those who will take advantage of the opportunities, skills and trainings that are offered throughout their term of service. If you are open minded and have what it takes, explore current job opportunities and apply today! Positions range from 12 weeks to 6+ months, with work terms available throughout the year.

• Exciting, challenging, rewarding — there is no one word to describe participating in an AZCC project. You’ll learn, but it will take sweat. You’ll complete great service projects, but it won’t always be easy. It’s about learning, working hard for the environment and communities, and giving something back.

Individual. Community. Environment. Work with passionate people on conservation and service projects in diverse communities and gain hands-on experience!

With a tradition of hard work, dedication and pride, Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM) operates conservation service programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation.

Adult Field Crews will travel regionally and complete challenging and impactful conservation service projects that include trail construction and maintenance, ecosystem restoration, fire fuels reduction, fencing, invasive weed removal (and more!), as well as participate in environmental education activities. Some crews will receive additional training in chainsaw use to complete projects which address fuels reduction, forest restoration needs and invasive species eradication. Positions range from 3-6 months depending on the term of service. Member compensation includes a $400/week living stipend and $200/week housing stipend plus an AmeriCorps education award upon completion of term. Leaders earn up to $750/week plus health insurance. All crews receive paid training, tent camping and travel to and from the office in Las Cruces to project site, food budget while on project or camping hitch, and an employee's assistance program. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 (up to age 37 for Veterans Fire Corps Crews), a U.S. citizen who has received a high school diploma or GED, able to perform heavy manual labor tasks, and work outdoors in all types of weather. If you are hardworking, a team player, and willing to take on new challenges and adventures, CCNM is looking for you!

• Want to work with passionate people on conservation and service projects in diverse communities? Be prepared for challenging hands-on project work in remote, backcountry settings with Conservation Corps New Mexico!

A season with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps involves hard work in tough conditions, but makes for amazing memories and life changing experiences!

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps engages young people in the outdoors, inspiring them to use their strengths and potential to lead healthy, productive lives. Whether serving with the Conservation Corps, Youth Corps, or Natural Resource Internship program, RMYC offers a diverse set of skills and training opportunities including trail work, environmental restoration, historic preservation, wildlife habitat management, invasive species management, wildland fire, and more within land management and natural resource fields. All programs are designed to engage youth and young adults in valuable work experiences within natural resources and land management. The experience can vary from backpacking to remote locations to build a bridge to surveying invasive species in a wildland fire burn scar. One day you might help build a campground and the next you could be blazing a new trail in the wilderness. Expect to spend a ton of time camping outdoors, hiking, and exploring Northwest Colorado’s natural beauty on your weekends with your fellow crew members as well!

Positions generally run from April through mid-October with varied start/end dates. Compensation varies by position or placement, with additional benefits that may include lodging, transportation, food, showers, laundry, gear stipends, and an AmeriCorps education award upon completion of the season. Many positions are entry-level, so no experience is required—just a willingness to learn, get dirty, and work hard in the outdoors. Whether you are looking for a fun summer job or the next step in your career, RMYC provides an unforgettable experience filled with growth, adventure, and meaningful work. Explore current job openings »

• Through meaningful conservation projects, youth and young adults are taught responsibility for self, community and environment through teamwork, service and experiential education. Join the RMYC team as a Leader, Corps Member or Intern!

Join a legacy of service, stewardship, and fun in Boulder, Colorado!

Since 1965, the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) Junior Ranger Program has been hiring passionate and motivated teens to work on a variety of natural resource projects. With the Junior Ranger Program, youth ages 14-17 work outside, earn a paycheck, develop critical work skills, explore nature together, work as part of a team, and give back to their community! Projects include trail maintenance and construction, forestry, vegetation and ecological restoration projects in and around Boulder, Colorado.

Junior Ranger Program staff are experienced and passionate outdoor leaders with a commitment to youth development, service learning and conservation. Summer Crew Leads (13 openings) will supervise a trail crew of 10 youth while building functional teams, supporting stewardship, developing job skills, and integrating environmental education lessons. Applicants must have accomplished outdoor leadership skills and experience working with youth (a background in environmental or outdoor education is a plus), minimum age of 19 years, and a valid driver's license and good driving record. Compensation ranges from $16.65-$20.35/hour, including three weeks of paid training. These seasonal, non-residential positions run from May 13th–August 15th, 2024 (MO-FR, 7:30am–4pm), with an unpaid holiday break around the 4th of July. Join a team of individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds in leadership, education, and conservation!

• Do you have a passion for safety, youth development, and service learning? Make a difference this summer as a Junior Ranger Program Crew Lead! You will supervise a Trail Crew completing a variety of natural resource projects on Boulder's public lands.
• The Junior Rangers Program: View a Day in the Life »

Work and live in the great outdoors of Utah—now hiring 2025 Field Crews! The Utah Conservation Corps is an AmeriCorps program made up of members, staff, and partners who are engaged in projects throughout the state that address environmental conservation, leadership, education, and sustainability. UCC AmeriCorps members are individuals seeking opportunities to give back, to improve the environment, and explore the beauty of Utah's public lands. Positions run from early February through mid-November, with varied start/end dates. For more information, including full job descriptions with compensation and benefits, please follow the links below.

• Field Logistics Technicians provide leadership, support to multiple field crews, and assist field staff in seasonal trainings and logistical coordination.
• Crew Leaders begin their term of service in the spring with conservation, leadership, outdoor living, and WFR training. During the summer and fall, Crew Leaders (CLs) will lead 5–10 person crews on various conservation-related projects. CLs are responsible for facilitating a positive crew member experience by setting an example of enthusiasm throughout work and camp life.
• Crew Members live and work outdoors as part of a 5–10 person crew completing various conservation projects such as habitat restoration, invasive species removal, trail building, fence construction, and fire mitigation work.
• AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams are deployed to address critical community needs related to disaster response and recovery work. Crews have historically participated in disaster response services such as chainsaw hazard tree removal, mucking and gutting homes, volunteer coordination and reception, and shelter assistance.

Questions? Contact the UCC Recruitment Team or explore all current job openings.

Get a glimpse of what a day in the life looks like at UCC. Serving a season (or two) will be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your life!

• Those who are willing to work hard and be part of a team environment will thrive with the Utah Conservation Corps.

Eager to gain hands-on environmental skills, learn new things, and serve in a team atmosphere? With more than 350 members and experienced staff statewide who restore critical habitat, build trails, and respond to local and national disasters, Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) is an AmeriCorps program that provides hands-on experience, field skills, and training opportunities for young adults (18-25) as well as military veterans.

Serving on a WCC crew means spending your days outdoors with your five-member crew, in all types of weather, accomplishing projects that restore and enhance landscapes across Washington. You'll be led by an experienced crew supervisor who provides training, mentorship, and development opportunities. Networking opportunities abound, as project partners consist of a diverse network of more than 100 federal, local, state, and non-profit organizations! Daily activities could range from planting trees and shrubs, to using hand and power tools, to building trails, bridges, boardwalks, to gaining hands-on skills trainings, and more. The majority of WCC positions are 11-month AmeriCorps field crew positions beginning in early October, with limited opportunities to serve nine months (January start) or three months (June start). Compensation includes a semi-monthly living allowance of $1,441 ($2,882/month, pre-tax), health insurance, an AmeriCorps education award, student loan forbearance through AmeriCorps, access to a Member Assistance Program, and professionally taught, career transferable trainings. When overnight travel is required, WCC covers food and lodging. No previous outdoor or field experience is necessary. As a training program, WCC is eager to offer skill-building opportunities and hands-on experiential learning as part of their service structure. View crew descriptions on WCC's web map, then fill out the online application.

• Join Washington Conservation Corps for a transformative, memorable year full of growth, learning, fun, and valuable skill-building! One of our own AmeriCorps members says it best:
I can now walk a trail, point out an entire patch of thimbleberry based on the leaves alone, and share its scientific name, "Rubus parviflorus." I could not have done that a year ago. —Emily Atkins, 2019-2021 WCC AmeriCorps member

Spend a season or year outdoors conserving natural resources, gain field experience, and make a difference! From Minnesota’s scenic Superior National Forest, Mississippi River water trails and Twin Cities parks to Iowa’s forestland and wide-open prairies, Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa offers a wide range of opportunities to develop leadership and natural resource skills. If you want to work on a team of peers, build trails, learn how to manage wildfires, lead youth in conservation work, or land a hands-on apprenticeship, Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa might be a good fit for you!

Featured Programs:
• Field Crew Leader/Member
• Youth Outdoors Crew Leader/Member
• Summer Youth Corps Crew Leader
• Individual Placements
• Veterans Corps

Benefits include a living stipend ranging from $2,200-$2,600/month depending on position, health insurance, student loan forbearance during the service term, a post-service AmeriCorps education award, and the opportunity to explore career options. Applicants must be 18-35 years old and able to perform essential functions of the job including physically strenuous work. Individuals with multilingual backgrounds are encouraged to apply for all programs. If you are highly motivated, a committed individual, and passionate about habitat restoration and the outdoors, explore current job openings, position descriptions, dates of employment, application deadlines, and sign up to receive monthly Corps updates.

Why serve outdoors with Conservation Corps MN & IA? Check out with these Members had to say about their experience.

• Conservation Corps provides youth and young adults practical and professional experience, career training, a stable income, and an opportunity to pay for educational expenses. All of this while being outside in the beautiful states of Minnesota and Iowa. What more could you ask for?

Explore natural places, work outside, create lasting friendships, and get paid.

Wisconsin Conservation Corps crews are responsible for the gritty aspect of conservation at natural areas throughout the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan). Crews work and live together throughout the experience, eat healthy, minimize their impact on the Earth, and complete hands-on projects, build trails, manage habitats, and complete carpentry projects on publicly accessible lands. Enjoy the simple life of campfires, reading books, journaling, and talking to fellow crew mates!

Participants spend the duration of their project time living, serving, and traveling together. Crews stay together during their non-project time to participate in recreational activities, take care of chores, or travel to their next project site. WCC operates crews during the summer (May through August) and fall (September through November). Crew Leaders work both terms while Members have the option of one or two seasons. Compensation includes $550/week for Leaders ($300/week for Members), plus meals, single occupancy tent camping or dorm-style housing, an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of service, and the chance to network with land management agencies and learn various land management techniques. Crew Leaders also participate in a five-week intensive training program to kick off the season. If you are self-motivated, hardworking, confident, autonomous, passionate about the environment, and relish rugged working conditions, explore current job openings and fill out the crew application (will take about 30 minutes to complete) or email Eric Robertson for more information.

• On the weekends, Conservation Crews stay together to explore or travel to their next project site. WisCorps believes staying together throughout the experience creates a close-knit community! This is a great opportunity to explore Wisconsin’s best-kept secret natural areas, local festivals, or farmers markets.
• Grow beyond yourself — WisCorps is seeking individuals of all talents and abilities! View the experience »

Take Action. Build Community. Care for the Land. Get Paid.

Get outside, learn new skills, and take on meaningful outdoor projects that improve Vermont's communities and natural places. Vermont Youth Conservation Corps brings small teams of young people to work and learn together with the land. Get your hands dirty as you exceed your own expectations of what you can achieve. Be challenged, make a real difference, and have fun along the way. Conservation crews improve water quality, forest health, and sustainable outdoor recreation. Food & Farm crews grow and harvest organic vegetables to address food insecurity, sustainable agriculture, and responsible land use.

Crew Leaders create a welcoming and inclusive crew community, guide Members through challenge and success, and help tackle the crew’s day-to-day work. The season begins with extensive, staff-led training in order to acquire the technical and interpersonal skills necessary to be a successful leader. Crew Members arrive after training, and together you embark on an outdoor adventure together for the rest of the season. As a Crew Members show up ready to learn, connect with your crew, and celebrate the everyday success of your work. Compensation ranges from a bi-weekly stipend of $962-$1,500 and potential eligibility for an AmeriCorps education award. There are many other great benefits (depending on position) that include CPR/first aid certification, technical skills training, food per diem while on projects, professional level certifications, resume building, federal hiring training, and so much more. Positions are available from March through October with varied start/end dates. Apply now to launch your conservation career!

What's it like to join a Crew at the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps? Take a sneak peek!

• If you're looking to roll up your sleeves, grab some new tools, and take action for the betterment of your community, the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps is a great fit. The VYCC offers many positions that allow you to gain technical skills, outdoor living experience, and lifelong friends!

American Conservation Experience is a nationwide nonprofit conservation corps offering professional development opportunities for environmentally-focused American and international individuals who want to make a meaningful difference in the world. Based out of Arizona, California, Utah, and North Carolina (and growing!), the Crew program features teams of volunteers coming together on direct service projects for the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service as well as regional and state land management agencies in inspiring U.S. locations, including Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sequoia National Park, the Great Smoky Mountain Range and so much more. Individual placements are also available nationwide within the EPIC program, featuring entry-level professional placements with the Big 4 (BLM, FWS, NPS & USFS).

ACE's most popular programs include Conservation Crew and Emerging Professionals in Conservation (EPIC). Projects include trail construction and maintenance, native plant re-vegetation, non-native species removal, fence construction, erosion control, and wilderness restoration over a period of 2-12 months throughout the year. Members are supported during their service terms with a cost of living allowance, transportation and food on projects, free common housing on off days in most locations, and the ability to earn an AmeriCorps education awards based on term of service. With a focus on professional career development, EPIC applicants are generally between the ages of 18-30, physically fit, and able to stay positive and enthusiastic through less than perfect situations. View current job opportunities and apply online.

Ready to challenge yourself and make a difference with ACE? View the experience »

• Experience a different way of life. Meet people from around the world. Enjoy spectacular landscapes. Contribute your energy to meaningful outdoor projects. Take pride in your team's accomplishments. ACE is a great opportunity for career-oriented individuals looking to gain hands-on experience and exposure while expanding their network in the natural resources field, as well as for people looking to experience something new. Build your professional resume with ACE!

Do you have the determination of a wombat? A forestry expert provides you with a Get-Up-And-Go approach to seasonal jobs in National Parks and U.S. Forests.

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