Crew Member - Hiawatha National Forest Recreation Team

Position Summary 

Recreation team members will spend the summer working and learning as they assist the Recreation program of the Hiawatha National Forest, assisting with maintenance and monitoring tasks at developed and dispersed recreation sites. Participants will work across a range of the recreational development scale, from backcountry to high volume day-use sites.

Schedule: June 14-July 10 on the West Zone (4 weeks); July 13-September 5 on the East Zone (8 weeks). The primary objective for the West Zone is to complete the Indian River Monitoring project, after which interns will assist with Wilderness monitoring or maintenance of other recreation sites. On the East Zone, the primary task is to assist with the operation of Point Iroquois Lighthouse, but there may be other maintenance and monitoring opportunities, as well.

Pt Iroquois Lighthouse: This position is located at an historic lighthouse and are responsible for providing visitors with information, education and interpretive services administered by the Forest Service. Communicate effectively with visitors and staff with the goal of enhancing visitors’ experience. Discusses and educates visitors on museum displays, maritime history and Bay Mills Indian Community. Runs gift store with duties that include helping visitors purchase items, stock merchandise, and daily sales reports.

Indian River Monitoring Project: will include inventory, monitoring, maintenance, and educational contacts along a Wild and Scenic River corridor with growing use; data generated from this effort is critical to understand visitation patterns and resource conditions, and it will inform future planning and management actions.

In addition to these primary objectives, there will be opportunities to perform monitoring and maintenance tasks in wilderness, trails, and other programs or functional areas.

Location 

Munising, MI

Schedule 

June 14, 2026 - September 5, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

Pt Iroquois Lighthouse: Key duties: maintaining positive interactions with the public; interpretation of maritime culture and history; gift shop attendant; cleaning museum and bathrooms and tower; cleaning the surrounding grounds. Gives interpretive talks from already scripted material. Collects payments and performs end of the day financial reports. Ensure shelves are stocked fully and products are organized. Maintains a neat and clean appearance. Maintains a clean and safe work area. Does facility inspections. Communicates visitor issues and suggestions to supervisor. Answers the telephone and returns messages. Indian River Monitoring Project: Key duties: Implementation of a monitoring protocol for designated and user-developed dispersed recreation sites throughout a Wild and Scenic River Corridor; during implementation of the protocol, participants will also perform basic site maintenance and restoration while providing education and interpretation to the public.

Marginal Duties 

Beyond the two primary projects, members may assist with maintenance and monitoring at other sites across the Hiawatha National Forest as time or needs permit: Implementation of standard monitoring protocols in wilderness such as solitude monitoring, recreation site monitoring, trail assessment and condition survey, and social trail monitoring; Clean and maintain recreation sites and facilities such as trails, wilderness, trailheads, campsites, developed and dispersed sites; Visitor education and interpretation in front country and backcountry settings while also collecting data about visitor use and resource related issues that may be encountered

Required Qualifications 

Friendly, outgoing personality, problem solving, comfortable speaking in front of groups. Attention to detail. Ability to follow written monitoring protocol and use independent judgment to apply the protocol across varied site conditions. Ability to accurately count money, receive money and make change. Ability to work alone in remote outdoor setting and/or with a group.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications 

Good math skills and money handling, ability to solve problems with visitors, good with retail and working with merchandise inventory, good communicator. Basic outdoor and orienteering skills and field measurement experience. Basic plant identification. Ability to interact with the public in unstructured settings.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Housing and utilities provided, which may include shared Forest Service-provided housing. Seasonal Forest Service staff or partners may also occupy the housing accommodations. Incumbent to be a roommate in a Forest Service house with provided utilities (water, sewer, electric), beds, basic appliances, and dishes. Incumbent to bring linens.

Compensation  

Living Allowance: $500/week; Relocation Allowance, paid once: $1,100

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits 

Bear Safety

Defensive Driving Training

First Aid/CPR

Interpretive Skills

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.