Youth Wilderness Expedition Leader

Connect youth to wilderness and forge the leaders and stewards of tomorrow! Lead small groups of teenagers from Idaho and Montana on immersive backpacking trips into the largest wilderness complex in the lower 48! SBFC’s youth wilderness expeditions are equal parts experiential learning, recreation, and volunteer stewardship work that helps improve wilderness accessibility.

Job Overview

The Youth Wilderness Expedition Leader (YWEL) will work in the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church Wilderness areas and surrounding wildlands. This region spans four national forests: The Bitterroot National Forest, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Payette National Forest, and Salmon-Challis National Forest. The purpose of the SBFC Youth Wilderness Program is for youth from Idaho and Montana to fall in love with wilderness, forge an appreciation for wilderness stewardship and public land, gain an understanding of Leave No Trace principles, Wilderness history and ethics, and develop basic skills in backcountry camping, travel, and trail maintenance using traditional hand tools. We provide youth with transformative, life-changing experiences that disconnect them from their phones and social media, and connect them to nature. We boost self-confidence and foster leadership skills they can carry back to their communities. We do this by leading multi-day (3-8 days) backpacking trips centered on immersive, hands-on education, recreation, and wilderness stewardship (trail maintenance) service projects. 

The YWEL will report directly to the SBFC Youth Program Director, and will work closely with other SBFC directors, Wilderness Trail Crew Leaders, Wilderness Ranger Fellows, and United States Forest Service personnel. The YWEL will lead crews of local youth, ages 12-18, on backcountry expeditions, which include elements of trail stewardship projects and experiential wilderness education. Each expedition will be led by the YWEL with assistance from one Wilderness Ranger Fellow, or an SBFC staff member. The YWEL schedule will vary and require stretches of work up to nine days at a time, usually over weekends.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Lead youth, ages 12-18, on 8-10 wilderness expeditions.  Each expedition will be 3-8 days in length (4-6 days is typical), and will serve 4-6 youth. An adult Wilderness Ranger Fellow or SBFC staff member will assist the YWEL in leading each expedition.
  • Teach youth how to backpack, set up spike camp, and how to use traditional hand tools, such as crosscut saws, handsaws, Pulaskis, and axes. The YWEL will also need to teach various topics, such as knot tying, maps and navigation, wildlife safety, Leave No Trace, and the meaning and history of Wilderness.
  • Lead youth crew members on wilderness trail projects to accomplish annual and deferred maintenance, and maintain all trail work up to Forest Service specifications.
  • Safety and Risk Management: Ensure the safety of all participants, both physically and emotionally, during work, education, and recreation activities.
  • Coordinate projects and logistics with US Forest Service managers and with SBFC Youth Program Director, and coordinate with pack support, as available.
  • Prepare for expeditions by gathering tools and gear, planning for meals, and shopping for food and supplies.
  • Report on expedition accomplishments (trail work metrics and qualitative feedback from youth) to SBFC and USFS partners.
• Assist Youth Program Director in youth recruitment. This may entail presenting in classrooms, tabling or participating at schools or community events, with or without the Youth Program Director. Long drives and some evenings or weekends may be required.
• Maintain tools, gear, and vehicles as needed.
• Assist SBFC staff with the training and supervision of Wilderness Ranger Fellows.
• The YWEL may join or lead staff and adult volunteer projects in the spring and fall.

Position Timeline:

April & May: Assist the Youth Program Director with youth recruitment (up to 50%); field training with other seasonal staff (50% or more).

June – August: Lead about 8 youth wilderness expeditions.

September: Work with other seasonal staff on 8-day trail projects, and/or lead adult volunteer projects of various lengths.

Special Benefits

Hourly Wage: $19.00-$21 DOE

Overtime Rate: Time and a half

Health Insurance Benefit: $250 per month with proof of health insurance 

Uniform: 2 SBFC work shirts provided

Other Benefits: 

• $32 per diem when in the field and group food is not provided
• Federal mileage reimbursement rate when using personal vehicle for work outside of Missoula 

(currently .67 cents per mile)

• Wilderness First Responder certification reimbursement. The YWEL is required to have a current Wilderness First Responder/CPR certification before the start of the season. SBFC will provide up to, but no more than, $800 in reimbursement for a qualifying Wilderness First Responder course. Courses must be approved by SBFC before being taken. If you already have a current Wilderness First Responder, other applicable training may be reimbursed by SBFC, up to, but no more than $600. These also must be approved by SBFC for reimbursement before being taken.
• USFS Crosscut Saw Certification 

Minimum Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Candidates must have experience in the following:

• Working with youth, especially teens, ideally in a backcountry setting.
• Wilderness trail maintenance - annual and deferred, reconstruction, construction, and traditional tool use skills.
• Trail crew supervision and leadership experience.
• Wilderness travel skills, including experience with backpacking and Leave No Trace.
• Excellent communication skills - verbal and written.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and work through crew dynamics in a remote setting.
• Experience with risk management assessment and policy-implementation in a wilderness setting.
• An understanding of the Wilderness Act, the US Forest Service, and nonprofits is desirable.
• The ability to obtain or maintain a Wilderness First Responder certification or higher.
• The ability to pass a criminal background check.

Personal characteristics:

• Must be self-directed, highly motivated, reliable, professional, and organized. Must be committed to public land stewardship and wilderness, volunteerism and service, and have strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to work both independently with minimal supervision and cooperatively as a member of the SBFC team.  
• Must have the passion, drive, energy, and patience for working with youth of all backgrounds.

Physical requirements:

• Must be physically capable of performing intense physical labor:
  • Carrying a 60+ pound backpack plus hand tools
  • Working 10+ hour days, 8-9 days in a row 
  • Hiking 10+ miles per day in difficult terrain (high elevation, steep trails, etc.)
  • Lifting 35+ pounds repeatedly

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year or season leading youth, and/or novice adults, in the backcountry;
• At least one year or season performing trailwork, including experience with a crosscut saw. Crew leadership experience is highly preferred!
• At least one year or season working with youth.
• Current Crosscut Sawyer B bucker/A feller certifications or higher.
• Current Wilderness First Responder (or higher) and CPR certifications.
• Familiarity with the Wilderness Act.
• Experience with SBFC and/or the Wilderness Areas we help steward!

Individuals must provide their own backpacking equipment, rain gear, work pants, gloves, and work boots.