Trail Work Instructor
Last week I had the pleasure of being a work skills instructor for the Student Conservation Association. I was one of two instructors for a 15 member AmeriCorps program on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. It was a great experience to teach and share some of the trail maintenance and construction skills I have gained through the years.
I led a rock station and we started with the basic... selecting rocks, moving rocks, using rockbars, dry masonry techniques, trail structures and more. My station rebuilt two switchbacks that were no longer suitable for horse use and beginning to fail.
Some of my rules for rock work.
I led a rock station and we started with the basic... selecting rocks, moving rocks, using rockbars, dry masonry techniques, trail structures and more. My station rebuilt two switchbacks that were no longer suitable for horse use and beginning to fail.
Some of my rules for rock work.
I Love My Job
Trail work brings me to some of the most beautiful places and gives me an amazing opportunity to experience nature. I currently work in Sedona and have views like this...
And wildflowers like this...
And wildflowers like this...
How to Get a Job with the Forest Service
It can be quite a challenge to get a trails job with the Forest Service for the first time. It is a long and complicated process that will test your patience. Here is some advice and required steps to help you get the job where you want.
All government jobs are announced through http://www.usajobs.gov. You can narrow by agency and location quite easily and even set it up to email you new jobs. The Forest Service, in addition to usajobs.gov, uses http://www.avuecentral.com for job announcements and the application process. The first thing to know about jobs doing trail work with the Forest Service is that they are almost always temporary positions and 'open continuous roster'. The 'ocr' means that there is one job posting to cover every national forest for certain duties and grade. There is no easy way to know what forests may have positions open or when they may be hiring and avuecentral only allows you to apply to 9 different duty stations(often the city with a district office). Bummer.
What you need to do is get on the phone. Call the ranger district you are interested in working for and ask about a trails job. When are they going to hire, how many positions, what announcement number, what duty station, etc. Some forests may post an outreach notice online or in the office to let you know about a job that a list of candidates is going to be pulled for in the future. You need to be on this 'referral list' if you want the job. If you miss it, tough luck.
Your application in avuecentral needs to be good. Explain in detail everything that you have done relating to trail work. Be honest with your answers and provide enough information to show that you are qualified. Good luck with avue; once you figure it out it is easy, but until then...
Make contact! Many forests have volunteer trail days. Go to it, show that you are skilled and a good worker. Learn who you may be working with. Make a good impression.
- This is a living document that I will update! -
Job Announcements - When and Where
All government jobs are announced through http://www.usajobs.gov. You can narrow by agency and location quite easily and even set it up to email you new jobs. The Forest Service, in addition to usajobs.gov, uses http://www.avuecentral.com for job announcements and the application process. The first thing to know about jobs doing trail work with the Forest Service is that they are almost always temporary positions and 'open continuous roster'. The 'ocr' means that there is one job posting to cover every national forest for certain duties and grade. There is no easy way to know what forests may have positions open or when they may be hiring and avuecentral only allows you to apply to 9 different duty stations(often the city with a district office). Bummer.
What you need to do is get on the phone. Call the ranger district you are interested in working for and ask about a trails job. When are they going to hire, how many positions, what announcement number, what duty station, etc. Some forests may post an outreach notice online or in the office to let you know about a job that a list of candidates is going to be pulled for in the future. You need to be on this 'referral list' if you want the job. If you miss it, tough luck.
Your Application
Your application in avuecentral needs to be good. Explain in detail everything that you have done relating to trail work. Be honest with your answers and provide enough information to show that you are qualified. Good luck with avue; once you figure it out it is easy, but until then...
Doing the Little Things
Make contact! Many forests have volunteer trail days. Go to it, show that you are skilled and a good worker. Learn who you may be working with. Make a good impression.
- This is a living document that I will update! -