Colorado Parks & Wildlife Park Operations Technician - Crawford State Park – AmeriCorps

The Colorado Parks & Wildlife Park Operations Technician position at Ridgway State Park is an AmeriCorps role focusing on ecosystem maintenance and visitor education. Responsibilities include assisting park management, conducting trail maintenance, and engaging in wildlife conflict resolution. The position runs from June 2, 2025, to October 3, 2025, and requires candidates to be U.S. citizens or lawful residents aged 18-30 (up to 35 for veterans).
Position Title: Colorado Parks & Wildlife Park Operations Technician - Ridgway State Park – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Southwest Conservation Corps - Los Valles

Site Location: 28555 US-550 Ridgway, CO 81432

Terms of Service:
• Start Date: 06/02/2025
• End Date: 10/3/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675

Purpose:

This AmeriCorps program partners with Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) offices throughout southwest Colorado. This AmeriCorps position is under direct mentorship and technical guidance of CPW with additional management, support, and administration from Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC). CPW’s mission is “to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources.” Ridgway State Park provides a high-quality park experience to the people of Colorado and visitors. CPW’s State Parks provide diverse recreational experiences such as hiking, camping, boating, paddle boarding, swimming as well as off highway vehicle (OHV), snowmobiling, hunting and fishing opportunities.

This AmeriCorps position will primarily assist the Park Managers, Park Rangers, Park Resource Technicians and Park Educators with improving and maintaining the ecosystems at the park through diverse projects and duties including education and outreach to the public on responsible recreating habits, limiting visitor impacts and wildlife conflicts. In addition, this park has 16 miles of trail that needs assistance with water drainage issues, weed mitigation and management and forestry-based activities. This AmeriCorps position will help CPW’s State Parks thrive for locals and visitors alike.

Description of Duties:
• Assist visitors with general education about the park, park activities, wildlife conflicts, hunting and fishing licenses and responsible recreation practices
• Assist with park maintenance operations
• Complete trail maintenance, invasive species mitigation/management and forestry-based projects
• Participate in “ride-alongs” with Park Rangers and District Wildlife Managers
• Assist with aquatic and terrestrial surveying
• Shadow Park Manager to learn about park funding, budgeting, and planning operations

Potential Environmental/Human Risks:
• Slips, trips, falls with uneven and varied terrain
• Small engine equipment operations (mowers, weed eaters, and chainsaws)
• Larger engine equipment operations (dump trucks, skid steers, mini-X’s)

Qualifications:
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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 a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Per grant funding, candidate must be 18-30 years of age, up to 35 years of age if veteran status

Preferred Qualifications:
• Have or be working towards a degree in the Natural Resources field including but not limited to Biology, Wildlife Biology, Fisheries, or Natural Resource Management
• Strong public speaking skills and communication skills
• Ability to tailor education messages to wide variety of diverse groups and ages
• Ability to problem solve, be adaptable and flexible

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:
• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• 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.
• Partner will provide appropriate orientation and training(s) for field activities

Benefits:
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Additional Benefit of $120 per week, distributed bi-weekly
• Park housing is provided if needed
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Professional development opportunities with both SCC and CPW
• Two SCC field shirts
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

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:

Individual Placement Program Director - Mike King

Contact information: Mking@conservationlegacy.org

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.