Trail Conservation Crew Intern

SUMMARY:

The Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance (VVMTA) is excited to offer a paid, seasonal internship with the Trail Conservation Crew (TCC). The TCC focuses on trail maintenance, trail construction, protecting seasonal wildlife closures, closing illegal/social trails, designating campsites and closing illegal campsites, communicating fire restrictions, educating trail users at trailheads, removing garbage, and generally mitigating recreational impacts on trails and public lands. The TCC works across all public lands in Eagle County, functioning as an essential resource for all land managers, agencies, and partners. The TCC is also responsible for working with the Adopt A Trail Crew Leader to help lead and train Adopt A Trail volunteer teams and Trail Crew volunteers. The TCC Intern position fulfills the same role as a TCC crew member for an abbreviated season.

 

ABOUT THE VVMTA:

The VVMTA’s mission is to connect our community to the outdoors through sustainable recreation. We do this by advocating for soft surface trails, managing trail stewardship programs, maintaining and building trails, coordinating and training volunteers, educating outdoor recreational users, and creating opportunities to access the outdoors. We provide our expertise, resources, and experience to support local land managers in various soft surface trail initiatives.

 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN:

Through this internship you will learn sustainable trail construction, some of the day to day workings of land managers such as the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, and community outreach/education.

 

WHO IS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR:

This internship is best suited for someone who is interested in environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor education, or sustainable trail design and construction.

 

LOCATION:

● Eagle County, CO – Across public lands managed by various land managers

● Most work days begin and end in Minturn, CO

 

DATES & TIME:

● May 30th – August 18th, 2024 (Dates are flexible to accommodate school schedules)

● TCC Intern will work no more than 40 hours per week

● Primary schedule is (4) 10hr days Monday – Thursday

● Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends

 

POSITION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

● Effectively complete trail and conservation projects

● Proficiently complete public facing work which may require interfacing with the public to communicate Leave No Trace Principles, trail etiquette, seasonal wildlife closure education, and general trail and recreation information

● Represent the VVMTA, its partners, and local land managers in a respectful and competent manner

● Instruct and lead Adopt A Trail volunteers, trail crew volunteers, and other program participants in trail building and restoration techniques, field safety, project objectives, and outreach activities

● Participate in pre and post project activities including briefings, evaluations, and trainings

● Record and document work completed, including photographs, statistics, data, and detailed work logs

● Provide clear, effective, and timely communication with the Crew Leader and VVMTA staff

● Assist with vehicle and tool organization and maintenance

 

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:

● Interest in trail maintenance and construction of sustainable soft surface trail, primarily for non-motorized use

● Interest in standardized trail maintenance and construction practices, techniques, and methods

● Interest in working with land management agencies and other government entities

● Interest in training and working with volunteers

● Interest in working with hand tools, power equipment, and heavy machinery directly related to trail maintenance and construction

● Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

● Personable and able to work within a customer service-based environment that involves routine interaction with the public

● Ability to work outdoors for long hours, performing manual labor in all types of conditions

● Competency to make judgment calls in the field around necessary trail improvements and diagnose problems

● Possess a strong attention to detail

● Ability to use web-based apps, software, and website to document work and record hours

● Preferred understanding of our local trails, spending significant time on them through various uses such as mountain biking, hiking, trail running, etc.

● Preferred experience with knowledge of desirable trail characteristics in our local trail system

● Positive attitude with versatility to adapt to a changing work environment

● U.S. Citizen with required forms of identification

● Must be 18 years of age or older with clean driving record

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:

● Frequently stand, sit, walk, crouch, climb and squat

● Frequently walk on uneven or unstable surfaces

● Frequently hike or bike 1-4 miles a day

● Frequently travel and work remotely

● Frequently utilize hand and finger dexterity

● Frequently climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl

● Frequent exposure to heat and cold

● Frequently lift and carry up to 25lbs

● Occasionally camp overnight in backcountry environments

● Occasionally lift upwards of 100lbs

● Occasionally hike or bike upwards of 5-10 miles a day

● Occasionally work in wet and/ or humid conditions

● Occasionally work near moving mechanical parts

● Occasionally work in high, precarious places

● Occasionally work around fumes, airborne particles, or toxic chemicals

● Continually exposed to outside weather conditions

● Willingness to travel during work week

 

BENEFITS:

● Access to outdoor industry pro deals

● Housing stipend available

● Paid time off for holiday, vacation, and sick

● Team events

● Staff apparel (t-shirts, sun shirt, hats, sweatshirt, pants, socks, footwear stipend)

 

COMPENSATION:

● $18.50/hr