Trail Members – Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

American Conservation Experience is seeking two Trail Members for a 28-week position at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Middlesboro, KY. The role involves trail maintenance, including installation and repair tasks, using various tools, and performing custodial duties. The position offers professional development opportunities and a living allowance of $650/week. The work schedule is Monday to Friday, from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, is seeking TWO Trail Members to contribute to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA) Trails Maintenance project alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: July/August 2025*flexible for the right candidate

Estimated End Date: 28 weeks after start date
• a 28-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA) – Middlesboro, KY

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA) is located at the corners of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Park contains 24,000 acres of which 14,000 acres are proposed wilderness. The natural beauty of Appalachian mountain country, lush with vegetation, supports a diverse flora and fauna. Cumberland Gap has 70 miles of hiking trails, mountains, streams, and caves. Middlesboro, Kentucky is the nearest town and is large enough to accommodate three grocery stores, fast food, several restaurants, and a movie theater. Knoxville, Tennessee is approximately 1.5 hours away and has many amenities of a large city.

For more information regarding Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the agency website.

Position Overview: The National Park Service’s mission is to preserve the natural and cultural resources of the park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of current and future generations. By maintaining the 85 miles of trail systems in the park, present and future generations can still walk in the footsteps of bison, Native Americans, long hunters, and pioneers. The trail maintenance intern will preserve this heritage through trail maintenance that consists of installation, repair, and replacement of water diversion bars, cribbing and retaining walls, removing downfall trees, rockslides, and any other debris from the trails. The intern must safely and effectively use hand powered tools for routine carpentry work, mowing and weeding, installing stepping stones at creek crossing, wooden bridge maintenance and repairs, weed eaters and mowers for maintaining trail corridors and chainsaw/pole saw use for hazardous tree removal and brush clearing from trails. Using non powered equipment the intern will use crosscut saws, hand saws, shovels, and other tools for clearing and repairing trails. The intern position will also require custodial duties at park restrooms, picking up trash. Lastly, the intern will be required at times to hike to remote areas of the park to perform duties that may require packing heavy loads into the backcountry.

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: Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM, hours subject to change to match workload.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $650/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or CUGA. However, CUGA may (though, not guaranteed) have park housing available to rent depending on the timeline of start

Boot Allowance: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes field boots and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

Qualifications

Required:
• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE’s insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• 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 located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:
• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree in any subject and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as biology or outdoor recreation.
• Knowledge of hand tools with chainsaw experience being a plus.
• Ability and willingness to perform rigorous labor working on trails and be willing to hike as much as 12 miles per day.
• Deep interest in outdoor activities such as hiking, trail building, and wilderness training.
• A valid chainsaw or crosscut certification.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Requires frequent hiking on uneven terrain and up steep slopes most time carrying hand tools and or chainsaws, weed eaters, and occasionally riding lawn mower. Most activities will require walking, hiking, carrying up to 50 lbs. of equipment, food, water, and medical kit. Manual dexterity required to stoop, kneel, climb, and/or crouch with the ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 20 lbs., ability to move up to 75 pounds.
• Environmental: Work is performed mostly outdoors. The environment can be very hot and humid to cold and wet when in the backcountry. Sudden rain or hail producing thunderstorms can develop while out on a trail and in the winter months frigid temperatures with snow, sleet and ice can form on the trails.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may require day travel to nearby parks for training.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Eastern Member Manager, Corinna Mokotoff.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.