Urban Green- Sagawau Environmental Learning Center Summer 2025 Youth Crew

The Student Conservation Association is seeking participants for the 2025 Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps Program. Crew members, aged 15-19, will engage in outdoor conservation projects in Cook County, IL, learning job skills and local ecology. The position runs from June 30 to July 31, 2025, requiring attendance at a worksite or designated pick-up location. Compensation is $15/hour for 26 hours per week over five weeks.
Position Summary

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) in partnership w/ the Forest Preserve District of Cook County seek Participants for the 2025 Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps Program. The Crew will spend their first week learning job skills that will prepare them for the program and give them skills that they can use in the future. They then engage in rewarding and valuable physical work outdoors on conservation and restoration projects in the Forest Preserves of Cook County including trail work, invasive species removal and nature center projects in a team with ten other crew members and their adult leaders. Throughout each week time will be devoted to learning about the local ecology and environment. Once a crew member is hired, they will usually be placed at the forest preserve work site that is closest to their home. Crew members can meet on-site if they live close to the nature center, or we can provide transportation from a local designated pick-up and drop-off site for members who do not have transportation to the worksite. Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Little Red School House, Sandridge Nature Center, River Trail Nature Center.

Schedule

June 30, 2025 – July 31, 2025

Location: Chicago, IL

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Making sure you arrive on time to your selected work location
• Assist your Crew Leaders with hands-on service projects over the summer in all weather conditions • Assist your crew in natural habitat restoration and trail maintenance

• Properly using hand tools like loppers, bow saws, shovels, rakes, etc.

• Participate in all program Environmental Education days

• Recording your work hours, and filling out a proper timesheet

• Providing feedback, a positive work environment, and a motivator for your crew

• Follow all program rules and regulations

• Assist with data and photo collection, program wrap-up & reporting.

Marginal Duties

Following SCA and Forest Preserves rules and regulations, bring your lunch daily, meeting on time at pick-up locations, bringing all your work issues materials (water bottle, gloves, Program shirt), tracking your hours on the timesheet daily, submitting all hiring paperwork before the start of the program

Required Qualifications

• 15-19 years old (15 year old would need a workers permit) enrolled in high school or a 2025 high school graduate.

• Willing to work with others as part of a team and be a positive teammate

• Willing to work outdoors doing physically strenuous activities in summer heat and conditions

• Be able to commit to attend the whole program (all 5 weeks)

• Able to attend an Orientation and an in person or virtual Zoom interview

• Complete all hiring paperwork from SCA

• Meet either at the worksite or the designated pick-up and drop-off location

Hours

26 per week

Living Accommodations

none offered for this position

Compensation

$15.00/hr (26 hours/week) bi-weekly for 5 weeks

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

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.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.