Join our WILDlands Technical Trail Crew and Discover the Range of your Potential! (Applications close March 11)

Position: Corps Member, WILDlands Technical Trail Crew

Dates: May 1, 2025 – September 19, 2025 

Location: National Parks, California State Parks and National Forests across California (Yosemite, Sequoia, Inyo, El Dorado, etc.)

Compensation: $3200/month stipend (deducting $90/week for food), plus one set of essential gear provided if needed.

Thank you for your interest in the Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps (ESCC)!  We are a leadership development organization focused on creating a more diverse and inclusive outdoor community, with a commitment to providing transformative, immersive experiences for historically underrepresented groups. We seek candidates who demonstrate a strong work ethic, initiative, and a commitment to collaborative community living.

Program Overview

The WILDlands (Wilderness Immersion Leadership Development) Technical Crews provide hands-on training in trail construction and maintenance, specifically designed for conservation corps alumni aspiring to leadership roles in outdoor and land management. (Applicants without trail experience are encouraged to apply to our ESCC Range Crew Program instead.) This immersive backcountry program emphasizes both technical skill development and leadership training in challenging, remote environments. 

WILDland Crew members gain hands-on experience in trail work, habitat restoration, and resource management while living with their crew in remote backcountry settings for the entire season. Housing is provided in personal tents with minimal amenities. This physically demanding experience often requires members to hike 4 - 8+ miles a day on uneven terrain while carrying packs weighing up to 60 lbs. Our wilderness programs foster resilience, leadership, and teamwork. 

Working conditions are challenging and immersive, as members are stationed far from immediate medical services with limited communication. Expect exposure to extreme weather, including intense heat, cold, and rain, and the possibility of environmental hazards like wildfires and encounters with wildlife. Crew members should be prepared for physically intense labor, including trail construction, erosion control, and habitat restoration, under rugged outdoor conditions. 

Crew responsibilities extend beyond trail work. Each member must cook meals in rotation, participate in chores, and engage in career preparation activities and skill-building tasks alongside supervisors and project partners. Weekends are designated for rest or group exploration of nearby wilderness areas. 

As WILDland members live, work, and build community together, they rotate through weekly leadership roles in the “Leader of the Week” model. This structure provides hands-on experience in project planning, safety management, and crew logistics, all under the guidance of an experienced crew supervisor. Leader of the Week is responsible for planning and ordering meals within a budget, contributing to curriculum design, developing crew roadmaps and actively cultivating a safe, inclusive, and high-functioning team, in preparation to lead their own crews through real-time practice and constructive feedback. The focus throughout our program is on transforming technical trail knowledge and interpersonal skills into teachable actions. 

Crew life is structured and team-oriented, with limited personal time. Adherence to Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps rules is mandatory, with structured conditions ensuring the health and safety of all members. Typical work hours are 8 hours per day, 5 days a week, with crew responsibilities and educational activities that may extend beyond regular project hours. Expect to work daily while adhering to strict program policies, including a no-drug/alcohol policy. Members must meet physical requirements and follow all ESCC guidelines, with reasonable accommodations available for qualified individuals.

To ensure all participants are best prepared for the physical demands of the season, we facilitate an optional six-week physical training program PRIOR to the start of the season. This program includes consistent cardiovascular exercise, strength-building routines, and stretching, with progress tracked via the Strava app.

Work Responsibilities and Crew Life

This program is both physically and mentally demanding. You’ll perform technical trail work and participate in leadership training that includes: 

• Trail Work: Perform intensive manual labor in challenging conditions, including building and maintaining trails, habitat restoration, and other resource management tasks
• Leadership Development: Participate in the “Leader of the Week” model, where you’ll gain experience leading projects, managing camp life, and working within a budget to plan meals and supplies
• Living Conditions: Expect remote campsites without cell service, electricity, regular mail, or flushing toilets. All meals are crew-prepared, with duties rotating among members
• Communal Duties: Contribute to a safe, inclusive environment through active engagement in crew activities, including community meetings, daily chores, and educational modules covering environmental awareness, career development, and cooperative living
• Health & Safety: Team safety is paramount, and you’ll engage in daily physical training as well as regular safety meetings, hazard trainings, and other risk management practices

Applicant Requirements

We seek corps alumni with a minimum of 12 weeks of previous conservation corps experience who aspire to lead within the field. Key requirements and qualifications include: 

• Technical trail building, maintenance, previous backcountry living experience is required
• Must be 21-30 years old and able to pass a background check 
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
• Willingness to adhere to ESCC’s safety, conduct, and drug-free policies
• First Aid/CPR or wilderness-focused certifications are encouraged

We strongly recommend our virtual 6-week pre-season training that will include both physical and mental preparation, training, and resources.  

Preferred Skills: 

• Dry stone masonry, or other technical skills relevant to trail work
• Chainsaw, crosscut, and other relevant certifications are preferred but not required
• Leadership potential and desire to grow professionally within the outdoor and land management fields
• Strong work ethic, time management, and communication skills
• Demonstrated professionalism, maturity, and respect in both crew and independent settings
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey information effectively and respectfully in both verbal and written forms
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities, with a proven capacity to prioritize tasks and work both independently and collaboratively
• Adaptable and committed to working a flexible schedule, accommodating changing project needs and environmental conditions