Individual Placement - Developed Recreation Participant - Laurentian Ranger District

The Student Conservation Association is seeking participants for a summer position in Aurora, MN, focusing on outdoor recreation maintenance with the USDA Forest Service. Participants will learn and perform tasks such as maintaining campgrounds, trails, and visitor education while working in the Superior National Forest. The role involves hands-on experience and skill development in land management, with a commitment from mid-May to mid-August.
Position SummaryÂ


Recreation team members will spend the summer working and learning with USDA Forest Service Recreation Staff on the Superior National Forest. The Superior National Forest is a popular destination for a wide variety of recreational uses and is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of people. Selected SCA Participants will perform routine and complex outdoor recreation maintenance tasks on a variety of trails and at developed and dispersed recreation sites. SCA Participants will work with and learn from Superior National Forest recreation personnel with the goal of helping to develop skills that will make the SCA Participants more qualified for future positions in land management agencies.







This position will focus on maintaining and restoring recreation sites and trails to help prevent resource damage while minimizing the impact of visitors on the land. SCA participants will have the opportunity to learn a variety of skills from experienced Forest Service personnel while also learning how to interact with Superior National Forest visitors. Typical duties involve travel through the Superior National Forest to perform a variety of duties at recreation sites. The Superior National Forest has 41 campgrounds, 265 dispersed sites, 57 trailheads, 8 interpretive sites, 191 boat landings, and more than 2500 miles of trails.







Recreation duties primarily consist of a variety of facilities and ground maintenance tasks including mowing, brushing, cleaning and stocking outhouses, completing general carpentry, installing and maintaining fire grates, and painting/staining facilities and amenities. Members will also help to provide visitors with Leave No Trace education principles while interacting with Forest visitors. Recreation team members may also help to support campground management practices including posting reservations, removing hazard trees, and constructing/maintaining tables and other recreation site amenities.







Positions will likely work from mid-May through mid-August but start and end dates may be negotiable.







LocationÂ


Aurora, MN







ScheduleÂ


June 1, 2026 - August 21, 2026







Key Duties and ResponsibilitiesÂ


·      Maintaining developed campgrounds - campground facilities maintenance (checking for reservations, posting sites, cleaning outhouses, collecting garbage, maintaining campsites and picnic areas)


·      Maintaining trailheads, wilderness sites and dispersed recreation sites


·      Visitor education and interpretation in front country and backcountry settings


·      Collecting data


·      Working alone on occasion once they are fully trained in applicable duties and safety protocols. In general, members will be working with Forest Service employees.


·      Supporting Superior National Forest Ranger District Offices which may be open on weekends. Some degree of weekend work will likely be required with this position.


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Marginal DutiesÂ


·      Supporting National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) efforts which may include completing NVUM surveys at pre-determined sites and times using established survey protocols and questions. Training on survey protocols will be provided.


·      Administrative support at Ranger District Offices including answering phones, interacting with forest visitors and providing visitor education at Ranger District Offices.


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Required QualificationsÂ


·      Driver’s License.


·      Ability to work independently.


·      Communication skills.


·      Ability to operate a pickup truck or other 4WD vehicle on unpaved roads.







This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.


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Preferred QualificationsÂ


·      Customer service experience including interacting with Forest visitors


·      Experience using hand or power tools to complete outdoor grounds maintenance


·      Carpentry experience


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HoursÂ


40 per week


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Living AccommodationsÂ


·      Selected candidates will be provided with housing free of charge at US Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses. Candidates can expect shared living conditions and must plan to provide their own bedding.


·      All facilities have modern amenities (full kitchens, flush toilets; showers; electricity; Wi-Fi; on-site laundry).


·      Cabins and bunkhouses have on-site parking for personal vehicles; any candidates who come without personal transportation may request to be placed into a bunkhouse that is closer to grocery options.


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Compensation Â


·      Living allowance - $500/week;


·      Free Housing at Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses;


·      One-time travel allowance of $1,100.


·       Up to $200 reimbursement for required specialized gear.


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







Personal Vehicle Information


Recommended


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Additional BenefitsÂ


Defensive Drive Training


First Aid/CPR


Off-Road Vehicle Safety


AmeriCorps: Not Eligible


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Equal Opportunity StatementÂ


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.