I liked the schedule, eight days on and six days off. It allows for plenty of time to travel while off-hitch. It is also a nice long stretch to recover after working for a week. though a week of manual labor sounds rough, time flies when you have a good crew to work with.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Trail Crew
May - July 2021 • Salida, CO
What I liked
I enjoyed being in the outdoors with people from diverse backgrounds. In addition, being able to meet those who manage individual parks in the National Parks System and how they are able to outreach to local communities and Tribal nations through research. I really enjoyed learning that Dana from Aztec Ruins has been working with tribal owned nurseries for native plants and knowing the plants put into the soil were grown by the Tribes who still have significant cultural ties to the place.
What I wish was different
As an Indigenous person, when working with SCC and going to National Parks, you know that the land you work on is stolen land. Though SCC acknowledges this, they do not do a good job at genuine tribal outreach. Asking for a written statement from a local tribe is very transactional and does not build genuine relationships with land and the Indigenous people who come from the land. Personally, that relationship I witnessed between SCC and Tribes (Ute), felt as if it was to check their diversity, equity, and inclusion "box". Also, there is not sufficient emotional support on hitches if a crew member is feeling stressed. Finally, I was frustrated when my crew went to places that held significant cultural and spiritual value in Indigenous communities and would in turn disrespect the land or the people who come through kicking around pottery shards in a field, snarky comments, and microaggressions. Leads may have not heard directly, but were informed and did little afterwards. If this organization willfully occupies Indigenous lands, the very least they could do is holistically educate themselves as crew leads, to enforce respect and protocols from regional Tribes to relay information to their crews, instead of justifying disrespectful actions of SCC members due to their (leads) ignorance. Respectfully <3
Advice
Really evaluate why you want to be part of SCC and how the organization has impacts on a large scale.
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Trail Maintenance Worker
May - August 2021 • Durango, CO
What I liked
The work environment was very accepting and we worked on fun projects in southern Colorado and New Mexico
What I wish was different
The salary wasn't very much so it wouldn't be sustainable in the long term but I gained a lot of valuable skills
Advice
Take advantage of the opportunity, it might be hard momentarily but it has the potential to be the best experience of your life if you let it.
