Recreation Technician - Tahoe National Forest

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest is seeking SIX Recreation Technicians to work alongside Forest Service staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: 5/15/2023

Estimated End Date: 8/18/2023

*a 14-week minimum commitment is required*

Location: Tahoe National Forest- Yuba River, Sierraville, Truckee, and American River Ranger Districts

The Tahoe National Forest encompasses 850,000 acres located in the north central Sierra Nevada Range between Lake Tahoe and the Sacramento Valley. The land rises from an elevation of 1,500 feet in the Sierra foothills on the west to 9,400 feet along the rugged ridges of the Sierra Crest. Interstate 80 and Highway 49 crisscross the forest and offer year-round access. The forest has a rich history of human habitation, from the native people that continue to partner with the Forest Service, to serving as the gateway to the Pacific when the first pioneers crossed the plains in search of the riches of the California gold fields in the 1840s. Today, the Tahoe National Forest is one of the most visited National Forests in the state. The Forest is truly one of multiple uses, including forest health and fuels management, livestock grazing, mining and special uses. Wilderness and Wild River uses, the Western States Trail, off-highway vehicle use, hiking, camping, fishing, mountain biking, winter recreation, rafting and kayaking are popular activities with visitors. Water issues are also becoming increasingly important as rivers that originate in the Forest provide water to local communities as well as the Reno, Sacramento, and Southern California areas.

Yuba River Ranger District: The Yuba River Ranger District offices are located in Camptonville, CA and Nevada City, CA. Many employees live in the Nevada City/Grass Valley area (population 40,000) located 25 miles south. Nevada City/Grass Valley is a full service semi-urban area, offering many elementary schools, high schools, restaurants, shopping centers, churches, grocery stores, movie theaters, etc. From Grass Valley it is approximately 90 miles to Reno, Nevada; 60 miles to Sacramento; and 150 miles to San Francisco. Lake Tahoe and abundant skiing opportunities are about 70 miles to the east.

Sierraville Ranger District: The Sierraville Ranger District office is located in Sierraville, California, a small town on scenic Highway 89 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sierraville is a beautiful community located at approximately 5,000 feet in elevation. The area is known for its ranching, hiking, horseback riding, winter sports, hunting, and fishing. Communities within 30 minutes of Sierraville include Truckee, Loyalton, Calpine, and Portola.

Truckee Ranger District: The Truckee Ranger District Office is in Truckee, California on Interstate 80, approximately 35 miles west of Reno, Nevada and 15 miles north of Lake Tahoe. Sacramento and San Francisco are about 100 miles and 200 miles west, respectively. The town elevation varies between 5200 and 7200 feet. Summer temperatures average in the upper 70s/low 80s, while winter temperatures can be as low as 14. Average annual snowfall is more than 200". The population is about 12,600.

American River Ranger District: The American River Ranger District is located in Forest Hill, California. Foresthill is a beautiful mountain community dating back to the California Gold Rush and is located 17 miles east of Auburn and Interstate 80. It is located at approximately 3100' elevation on the Foresthill Divide between the North and Middle Forks of the American River. Foresthill is surrounded on the south and west by the Auburn State Recreation Area, on the north by BLM lands, and on the east by National Forest. The American River Ranger District is distinguished with a portion of Granite Chief Wilderness, the North Fork American Wild River and Placer County Big Trees (northernmost grove of Giant Sequoias). The current population on the Foresthill Divide is approximately 6,100. The area is also known for its beauty, rafting, hiking, horseback riding, mountain bike riding, mining and logging activities.

For more information regarding Tahoe National Forest, please click here.

Position Overview:

Project objectives include but are not limited to:

• Performs minor maintenance of developed and dispersed recreation area facilities, including campgrounds and trailheads (cleans restrooms, cleans campsites, maintains fire-safe areas, paints picnic tables and bulletin boards, etc.).
• Provides excellent customer service by enthusiastically answering questions, greeting and assisting visitors.
• Performs patrols of the campgrounds, trailheads, OHV areas and dispersed sites to ensure it stays presentable and address/and or report discrepancies as they occur.
• Ensures visitors comply with rules and regulations.
• Assists in trail maintenance activities, including but not limited to brushing, tread work and logging out.
• Collects fees and may assist in the management of group reservations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May require camping for up to two nights per week in a remote recreation area without on-site cell phone service.
• May be required to operate a chainsaw; training provided for members who start early enough in the season.

This position requires the balancing of critical analysis with technical field expertise, along with the ability to work directly with the public in sometimes difficult scenarios.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: 4/10's, 7:00am - 6:00pm, with availability on weekends/holidays

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $760/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a hiring authority upon completion of their term of service.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or USFS. Up to $250/wk housing reimbursement will be available to help offset the cost of housing.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Have a high fitness level and be comfortable in various indoor and outdoor work environments, and at times adverse weather conditions
• Public outreach and making contacts with visitors is a key component of this role. Contact is to educate visitors in recreation management and law enforcement objectives and policies, to obtain compliance with laws/regulations, to resolve problems, and to provide assistance to forest visitors. Contacts will include dealing with some persons and/or groups that may be uncooperative, hostile and who have different viewpoints
• Chainsaw and First Aid/CPR Certification highly desired; training may be provided.
• Have working knowledge of detailed recreation rules and regulations to assist Forest visitors, and to detect and report violations
• Have demonstrated skills and knowledge of basic procedures for cleaning and maintaining recreational areas, facilities and/or trails
• Experience and/or ability to learn the use of a GPS unit

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC USFS BLM Member Manager, Caris Hill at chill@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Recreation Technician Tahoe National Forest Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC