Trail Crew Member - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy; Paicines (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education award

Living allowance

Additional weekly benefit

Student loan forbearance

Interest payments

Job summary

Conservation Legacy is seeking a Trail Crew Member for an AmeriCorps term at Pinnacles National Park (Paicines, CA). The role supports trail preservation, rockwork, vegetation management, and site maintenance to keep trails safe, accessible, and sustainable.

Housing is provided in park dorms with shared facilities; term runs 14 weeks starting December 7, 2026, with a weekly living allowance. Applicants must meet AmeriCorps eligibility and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Outdoor work in heat/cold on rugged terrain.
• Hike several miles with up to 30 lbs of gear.
• Willing to learn tool use and maintenance.
• US citizen/national or lawful permanent resident.
• Ages 18-30 (up to 35 for veterans) per Public Land Corps Act.
• Valid driver’s license.
• HS diploma or equivalent; commit to obtaining diploma if needed.
• Agree to background checks.

Responsibilities

• Vegetation removal on trails and roads.
• Routine Trail Maintenance.
• Assist trail crew in stone masonry.
• Tool maintenance.
• Installing trail and road signs.
• Clearing drains, culverts and water bars on trails and roads.
• Pig exclusionary maintenance and repair.

Skills

Outdoor endurance

Hiking with gear

Tool use & maintenance

Driver's license

US citizenship or permanent residency

HS diploma or equivalent

Public Land Corps eligibility

GIS data collection (basic)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Public Land Corps Act eligibility

Tools

GIS/Tablet data collection

Job description

Job Information

• Location: 5000 East Entrance Road, Paicines, CA, 95043, United States
• Job Category: Individual Placement, AmeriCorps
• Industry: Trails, Vegetation Management
• Employee Type: AmeriCorps

Contact information

• Name: Morgan Hassey
• Email: [e-mail]

Position Title: Trail Crew Member – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Pinnacles National Park, 5000 HWY 146, Piacines, CA 95043

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: December 7, 2026
• End Date: March 12, 2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hours, 14 weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with Pinnacles National Park will host a Trail Crew member.

The Trail Crew Member is an AmeriCorps position that will support the Trails Program at Pinnacles National Park in preserving and improving the park’s trail system so visitors can safely and sustainably experience its unique landscapes. This role serves the varying community of hikers, climbers, students, families, and local residents who rely on these trails for recreation and connection to nature. The position upholds values of stewardship, safety, teamwork, inclusivity, and respect for both the land and its users, emphasizing sustainable trail practices, clear communication, and high standards to keep Pinnacles’ trails accessible and resilient for future generations.

The member will assist the trail crew with rockwork, tread repair, routine trail maintenance, and vegetation removal to improve trail safety, sustainability, and visitor access. Their service directly supports the park’s mission by protecting natural resources and ensuring that trails remain functional and resilient. This role collaborates closely with the Trails Program, contributing essential field labor and supporting the crew’s broader stewardship goals.

Description of Duties:

• Vegetation removal on trails and roads.
• Routine Trail Maintenance.
• Assist trail crew in stone masonry.
• Tool maintenance.
• Installing trail and road signs.
• Clearing drains, culverts and water bars on trails and roads.
• Pig exclusionary maintenance and repair.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to complete projects outdoors in both hot and cold conditions and on rugged terrain.
• Must be able to hike several miles in a day while carrying up to 30 lbs of gear and tools.
• Possess basic knowledge of tool use and tool maintenance or be willing to learn.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
• Has a valid driver’s license
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Trail work experience
• Wilderness project experience
• CPR/Wilderness first aid
• GIS/Tablet data collection
• Fence project experience

Additional Position and Community Information:

The position is located on the east side of Pinnacles National Park (5000 CA-146, Paicines, CA 95043). The closest towns are Hollister and King City and are both around 50 minutes away and provide the nearest options for groceries and medical services. Pinnacles is a very rural area, but housing is provided in the park dorm, which is shared with other park employees and located a short walk from the trails shop where you report to every morning.

It is recommended but not required to have a car for this position due to its rural location.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Vanessa Morrison at [e-mail].

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member must complete all required service hours to obtain the AmeriCorps Education Award.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Trainings such as CPR, search and rescue among others may be provided but not guaranteed.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Additional Benefit of $100.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

• Service Site Contact information: Steven Gross, [e-mail]
• Program Contact Information: Morgan Hassey, [e-mail]

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.