Urban Green – Gap Year Young Adult Conservation Crew

The Student Conservation Association is seeking applicants for the Urban Green – Gap Year Young Adult Conservation Crew in River Forest, IL. This 18-week program, running from June 22 to October 30, 2026, offers hands-on conservation training and leadership experience for young adults aged 18 and older. Participants will work on various conservation projects and mentor high school students, developing vital skills in ecology and environmental education.
Conservation begins here.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County seeks qualified applicants to sign up for our Young Adult Gap Year Conservation Leadership Corp! This position is designed to provide conservation job training experience for young adults, 18 years or older.

This 18-week program begins June 22nd and runs through October 30th 2026. Team members will gain vital workforce development skills and environmental education through hands-on service to the land and leadership skills through mentorship of high school teens during a summer job high school program.

During Part 1 of the internship, you will work 26 hours per week (6/22-7/30) and during Part 2 (8/10-10/30) you will work 30 hours per week, with an unpaid break between August 3rd –August 7th

Program Snapshot:
• Program Dates: June 22-October 30, 2026
• Local Training Dates: June 24 -June 27 (Monday – Friday)
• Weekly Schedule: Part 1: Monday- Thursday, 8 am-3pm (30-minute unpaid lunch); Part 2: Monday – Thursday, 7 am – 3:30 pm (30-minute unpaid lunch)
• Program Hours: 26 hours Part 1; 30 hours Part 2
• Pay Rates: Part 1: $17.50 per hour, 26 hours per week; Part 2: $18.50 per hour, 30 hours per week

Location: River Forest, Illinois- Salt Creek Maintenance Center

Primary Responsibilities:

Complete as a team an assortment of hands-on conservation and restoration projects within different areas in the Forest Preserves of Cook County and help co-lead weekly educational field days for high school students. During the summer (Part 1 of internship), crew members will act as Assistant Crew leaders (ACL) to a group of ten high school students at a local nature center through the Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps program (CCLC). CCLC youth conduct hands-on conservation activities including invasive plant removal and trail maintenance projects and participate in environmental education activities to gain knowledge about their local environment. During Part 2, interns will create a new team of 4 crew members with 2 crew leaders once the CCLC program ends. There will be a week unpaid break August 3rd-7th so the crew will be off to prepare for the start of the GAP Crew August 10th. This newly formed crew will perform ecological restoration and will gain advanced conservation job skills and real-world experience to prepare members for future jobs in forestry and restoration skills. Work includes training and practice to remove invasive plants using herbicide, chainsaws, brush cutters as well as training to conduct brush pile burns, collect native seeds, and advanced ecology as designated by the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

During the fall portion of the program, the GAP Crew members will become certified in CPR/First Aid, receive their alternative herbicide certification, and gain certifications in chainsaw. As with all SCA crews, SCA Community Core Curriculum will be utilized to introduce topics such as self-care; mental health; Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; conservation ethics; environmental justice; and more.

Specifically, the Crew Member will:
• Act as a Crew Supervisor Assistant by facilitating teamwork, managing field-based tasks, and guiding crew dynamics during the summer for high school youth
• Serve as an Advisor, by training youth in technical conservation work skills, mentoring personal and professional development, and teaching environmental stewardship
• Act as a Project Manager Assistant, by communicating with your crew leaders, program partners, and other staff ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects, and upholding a positive representation of SCA and the Forest Preserves District of Cook County
• Perform tasks as a crew by organizing logistics, completing documentation, communicating effectively, having regular check-ins with program staff
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Marginal Duties: helping crew leaders with data collection, time sheet management, and tool maintenance

Qualifications:
• Experience or being open to working outdoors as a part of team in conservation leadership during all weather conditions
• Experience with conservation work skills or related skills preferred – i.e. trail maintenance, trail construction, habitat restoration, chainsaw, carpentry, landscaping, and gardening
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