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Adirondack Conservation Crew

The Student Conservation Association
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Position Summary 

Live and serve in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York within a team of 24 stewards performing critical conservation and trail work projects. Our crews work each season on projects that involve building bridges, clearing legacy trails, maintaining campsites that are canoe access only, and more.  

  

Members serve from remote backcountry tent camps set up near work projects for up to 10 days at a time. Crews may also work from front country camps depending upon project. When not in the field, the crew members share cabins at the SCA Adirondack Corps headquarters on Little Tupper Lake.  

  

The Adirondack Corps has partnered with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to serve the trails, lakes, and communities of the Adirondacks for the past 28 years. Become part of this legacy of service and apply today!  

 

Location  

Adirondack Corps members live and serve out of the William C. Whitney Wilderness area, a 20,000-acre wilderness tract. Shared housing is provided at the Whitney Headquarters in Long Lake; HQ has limited cell service and no Wi-Fi (limited Wi-Fi is available in the SCA office building on location). Long Lake and Tupper Lake are the two closest towns to the program site, and offer grocery stores, libraries, and laundromats. 

 

Schedule  

May 11, 2026 - October 9, 2026 

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities  

  • Trail construction and maintenance (i.e. trail clearing, bridge construction, stone structure construction) - 90%  
  • Invasive species management & Infrastructure maintenance (i.e. fire tower restoration, privy construction) and historic preservation (i.e. painting/ staining cabins, minor repairs and maintenance) - 10%  

  

Marginal Duties  

  • Fully engaging in a variety of trainings and certifications in technical trail skills, crew management, and outdoor living skills    
  • Lead your peers by learning to develop Emergency Response Plans, assess and communicate job hazards, uphold SCA’s safety standards    
  • Use industry standards to collect and record field data    
  • Drive an SCA work vehicle to various project sites and trailheads throughout the Adirondacks    
  • Professionally interface with the public and partnering agency staff  
  • Maintain historical DEC housing and Headquarters  

  

Required Qualifications  

  • Must be 18 or older by the position start date  
  • Must have the ability to legally work in the US   
  • Ability to enroll in AmeriCorps Education Award Program  
  • Ability to pass SCA background check  
  • Commitment to teamwork, learning, following community guidelines, and upholding safety standards  
  • Ability to work in challenging outdoor conditions that will include extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation  
  • Ability to camp in backcountry settings for 5 to 10 days at a time  
  • Ability to perform manual, physical labor for up to 8 to 10 hours per day, exposed to the elements, occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds or more, and potentially hike up to 10 miles per day  

 

Preferred Qualifications  

  • Camping and/or backpacking experience  
  • Experience using hand tools  
  • Strong interpersonal skills and community living experience  
  • For driver eligibility: must be over 21 years old, possess a valid driver’s license for 3+ years, a Motor Vehicle Record that meets SCA standards and complete SCA driver training 

  

Hours  

40+ per week 

  

Living Accommodations  

Housing provided.  

  

Members will be camping for 5-day or 10-day periods throughout field season. The crew will return to HQ housing for off days. There are 3 houses for members; 8 members will share a house with a full kitchen, communal living space, and garage. Members will have a roommate(s). DEC and SCA staff also live in housing facilities at Whitney. 

  

Compensation   

  • $550 Weekly living stipend, before taxes  
  • $3,697.50* AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program  
  • AmeriCorps benefits (i.e. Student Loan Forbearance)  
  • Full room and board for duration of program   
  • Valuable trainings and certifications (see below)  
  • Need-based travel assistance available for qualified candidates 

*900-hour Segal AmeriCorps Education Award value contingent to applicable fiscal year. 

**All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.  

 

Personal Vehicle Information 

 Recommended; not required.  

 

Trainings and Certifications  

  • Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR Certification  
  • Chainsaw Certification*  
  • Rigging & Griphoist Training* 
  • Leave No Trace (LNT) Level 1 Instructor Certification  
  • ACA Canoe Training   
  • Conservation Work Skills & Outdoor Living Skills Training  
  • SCA Defensive Driver Training   
  • Training on Community Building, Leadership, Risk Management, and Conflict Resolution   

* Members will specialize in ONE of these skills 

 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.