http://usaconservation.org

American Conservation Experience

Crew Member

May - August 2023 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Hands on experience with trail maintenance and ecological restoration working with partner agencies like the USDA Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife. Opportunities for training in first aid, herbicide, sawyer certification, and leadership. Amazing culture.

What I wish was different

Advice

This is an extremely physical job! You will be hiking, carrying heavy equipment, working long hours rain or shine, and camping for several days at a time. A growth mindset is essential!
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Americorps Member

May - July 2021 • Winters, CA

What I liked

I gained experience in conservation and met many like-minded individuals. I enjoyed it so much that I am returning to work in Arizona this coming year!

What I wish was different

I wish it stayed below 100 Fahrenheit, but you can't win them all.

Advice

Sometimes it's a great idea to try something radically new, especially if you are foundering in your career search.
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Conservation Corps

May - August 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Adventure

What I wish was different

It paid well.

Advice

Be physically fit.
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ACE EPIC Directorate Fellow

May - August 2020 • Fairbanks, AK

What I liked

I enjoyed getting outside on occasion.

What I wish was different

I wish that telework had not been necessary, since working with others and getting out of doors with them was really the object of this experience.

Advice

Make sure to get outside regularly while teleworking, it helps keep productivity and mood high.
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Facility Management System Software Intern

June - August 2019 • Plains, GA

What I liked

I like the friendly work environment that the national parks provided. This park was an "all hands on deck" experience, where each employee had the same goal: to maintain and further better the park. In this position, I learned how to implement facility management software by interfacing the programs with real world improvements. Working at the parks also exposed me to a wealth of knowledge of park maintenance and machinery that i was able to apply to improving my personal living space.

What I wish was different

The one downside to this internship was the lack of a training program for the software. There was a steep learning curve.

Advice

My best advice would be to adapt the mindset of being proactive in seeking improvements. National Park employees are always testing their own abilities to make improvements, which creates a dynamic work experience where no two days are the same.
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AmeriCorps Member

April - July 2019 • Asheville, NC

What I liked

I enjoyed getting some quality work experience in a job field that is new for me. I enjoyed living away from home for three months. I liked receiving a living allowance every two weeks in the form of a direct deposit. I met a lot of friendly people. I had some friendly bosses and supervisors. I spent a lot of time outdoors. I gained a lot of new professional references for the future.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Crew member

May - August 2019 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

Lots of good people to meet and get close to

What I wish was different

It had less than minimum wage pay, and you can be dragged around a bit by staff (Keanan)

Advice

Don't get expensive everything
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AmeriCorps Member

May - August 2018 • Flagstaff, AZ

What I liked

The experience and many opportunities to work in many different national parks and forests.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

Have a hydroflask for water as it keeps water cool during the work day.
1 One person found this helpful

American Conservation Experience Corps Member

June - September 2018 • Hurricane, UT

What I liked

I liked the remoteness of the work. I liked the partnership with the project partners though government agencies. I liked learning new skills and tools that are applicable to my job field.

What I wish was different

That I could have stayed for 6 months! If you stay for 6 months you have the option to get chiansaw trained and i would have really enjoyed that.

Advice

Ask a lot of questions and be open to being out of your comfort zone. You get out of this experience what you put in.
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AmeriCorps

May - June 2018 • San Diego, CA

What I liked

I liked that I was able to meet new people and experience the outdoors in a new way. Trail maintenance is a laboring task and I defintely got to learn more about myself and push myself to new limits.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had the opportunity to go to a different location within the program, but scheduling conflicts restricted where I could go.

Advice

You will push yourself pass you limits, and pass the new ones you thought you created for yourself. But never give up and you will learn that you can do so many great things.
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Wildlife Biology Intern

May - August 2018 • Georgetown, CA

What I liked

I enjoyed having the opportunity to work with members of the U.S. Forest Service so I could learn more about working in a government agency. The experience I gained doing raptor surveys was invaluable for my career. I also accrued hours towards the noncompetitive hiring status with the federal agencies thanks to the Public Lands Corps. Lastly, I loved working in the forest everyday and the majority of my job was spent in the field.

What I wish was different

I wish I had more time to go over my resume in-person with my supervisor to get advice on how to improve it. We had planned on it, but she got called away to work on a forest fire. I also would've liked the chance to cross-train and see what it was like working on the aquatics or botany team.

Advice

Be prepared for long days in the field, hiking across a variety of terrain and steep slopes.
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