Gain professional job skills, contribute to climate resilience, and launch your natural resource career with the Montana Conservation Corps!
Montana Conservation Corps is a nonprofit organization that engages youth and adults through hands-on conservation service and education. MCC serves in four regions across the state of Montana, with approximately 40 staff and 450 members (leaders, members, and interns) who work on physically demanding and essential natural resource and conservation projects on some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Northern Rockies and Plains. While most of the work is accomplished in the field, MCC’s main goal is not to build trails but to help members develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to be active citizens in their community.
Montana Conservation Corps believes that through conservation service work and authentic connection, you can sharpen your ability to create change and join the next generation of leaders for a better world. At MCC, we focus on the growth of our participants, positively impacting our climate and environment, and transferable job skills.
A Season with the Montana Conservation Corps
Why join an MCC crew? View these member perspectives of their experience in the field.
Adventure with Purpose!
Whether you’re looking to jump start a career with the Forest Service, improve our public lands, grow as an individual, or simply get outside, there is something for everyone at MCC. Project work includes trail maintenance and construction, watershed restoration, backcountry work, forest fuels reduction, native planting and more! Through a term of service with MCC, participants will learn practical job skills, build confidence, strengthen communication and leadership competencies, and develop the ability to work well with people from all walks of life.
Leadership Development @ MCC
MCC often sees applicants who don’t realize they are qualified to take on a role here, especially those coming from marginalized communities. MCC is a developmental program and it's their job to teach, train, and develop leadership competencies in each participant. MCC recognizes that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond the technical requirements of a job, therefore job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to MCC openings. MCC encourages ANYONE to apply that has an interest in not only conservation, but bettering themselves for the future.
What Qualities Make a Person Successful at MCC? • A passion for service, the environment, and conservation. • A positive mental attitude and seeing others with positive regard. • A commitment to serving the whole term. • A growth mindset - coming willing to learn, grow, and challenge yourself. • A commitment to motivating others and their success. • A desire to hone your personal leadership style • Adaptability and flexibility.
Location! Location! Location! MCC’s state headquarters is located in Bozeman—one of the fastest growing towns of its size in the nation. Each regional office (Bozeman, Helena, Missoula, and Kalispell) is surrounded by some of the most beautiful, wild, and protected places in the lower 48, with millions of acres of national forest, not to mention Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks!
Featured Crew Opportunities
Featured 2024 Job Openings Crew Leader AND Crew Member positions across multiple programs with various start/end dates are now open for the 2024 season (yes, there's tons of openings)!
Program Overview
Adventure with purpose — take a glimpse into MCC field crew programs.
Field Crews Field Crews get to experience many different aspects of resource conservation: building and maintaining trails, clearing trees in the backcountry, burn area rehab after wildland fire, facilities maintenance, watershed restoration, fencing, invasive plant mitigation, planting, and more. These crews provide a great opportunity to gain practical experience and exposure to a wide variety of conservation efforts, and network with partners from many federal, state, and nonprofit entities for future career paths. Members walk away with hands-on technical skills and a toolbox of interpersonal strengths, including how to effectively communicate and work on a team, all of which will help them achieve success in a wide variety of careers.
Did you know? MCC also has women only field crews! The Women's Field Crew focuses on creating an experience where women can come together and work as a crew to tackle trail work projects, live in remote woodland settings, and focus on personal and professional growth within their team. This crew is for anyone who identifies as a woman and/or femme. MCC welcomes trans applicants who are comfortable in a femme-identifying space. As part of the Women's Field Crew, you will be with other female identifying individuals with a focus on getting work done for America’s public lands View all Conservation Crew position options
Fuels & Fire Crews Fuels & Fire Crews work on forest fuels mitigation projects with an emphasis on heavy chainsaw use. They also receive their basic wildland fire qualifications (S190, S130, Red Card, S212). This is designed to give participants exposure to the world of wildland fire and the importance of fuels mitigation in climate health. This program focuses heavily on education and exposure, providing participants with the opportunity to shadow and work alongside agency partners to gain skills and knowledge in natural resource management, specifically related to the field of wildland firefighting and fuels reduction. MCC also has a Women’s Fuels & Fire Crew that works in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) with one crew working primarily in Yellowstone National Park and the other in Grand Teton National Park.
Wildland Restoration Teams Wildland Restoration Teams focus on watershed health and invasive plant management including beaver dam mimicry and herbicide application. Specifically, these crews work with a diverse range of stakeholders (private, government, and non-profit) in order to achieve large scale land conservation efforts. This is a great opportunity for recent college graduates who have experience in restoration to gain practical field experience in a rapidly growing area of conservation, with and a strong potential for future career paths.
Forestry Crews Forestry Crews offer opportunities to gain considerable field experience in a variety of Forest Service timber management activities. Crew receive training in tree species ID, timber stand improvement, tree marking and planting, chainsaw operations/maintenance, fuels reduction, habitat restoration, reforestation plot surveying, fire line & fuel break operations, and biochar generation.
Youth Program Leaders
If you're committed and inspired by making an impact on both the lives of youth and our public lands, then serving as a Youth Program Leader is a great fit! MCC High School Expedition and Youth Conservation Corps crews are service experiences for Montana teens ages 14-18. Youth Members spend their time outdoors, camping, learning, exploring, and serving on priority conservation projects to improve wildlife habitat and recreation resources like trails and campgrounds on our beloved public lands.
Youth Leadership Options
Train the next generation of land stewards during the summer months. Youth Leader positions can be a great fit for college students!
Expedition Leaders lead crews with a co-leader on rotating projects, working in different Montana communities to fully explore a variety of hands-on natural resource projects. Youth expedition crews camp for the entire duration of their 11-day trips. Youth Conservation Corps Leaders lead crews with a co-leader for conservation day projects, working intensively in one community to fully explore a variety of hands-on natural resource projects. Youth participants typically go home every evening.
Individual Placement Program
As an AmeriCorps member serving in an Individual Placement Program, you will contribute to lasting conservation efforts in Montana and the surrounding states. As a Conservation Fellow or Intern OR Big Sky Watershed Corps Member, you will be placed with a federal or state agency, conservation nonprofit, tribal office, or a community-based conservation organization to work toward their conservation goals. You will also be mentored by conservation professionals with a focus on applicable jobs skills and career development. MCC staff will meet with you biweekly to provide guidance and advice and you will participate in additional MCC-facilitated training opportunities to maximize your experience. These positions are perfect for participants looking for a more individualized experience.
Amskapi Piikuni Partnership
The Piikuni Lands Corps is a program for indigenous youth and adults. Crew members work on ancestral lands to develop skills and learn about cultural values. Joining the Piikuni Lands Crew gives you the opportunity to work alongside others from the Blackfeet Nation who share your interest in making a lifelong impact on the community and nearby ancestral lands. Through this experience, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable job skills including trail maintenance, wildlife surveying, fencing, facilities maintenance, and much more. In addition to technical skills, you stand to gain experience in teamwork, effective communication, and leadership.
Perks & Rewards
Compensation ranges from a bi-weekly living allowance of $1,000–$1,450 plus an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of your program, plus plentiful benefits!
Depending on position, benefits include FREE health insurance, housing opportunities may be available in specific regions, enrollment in the Member Assistance program (providing FREE 24/7 behavioral health consulting), CPR/first aid certification, technical skills training, food per diem while on projects, access to pro deals on day one, MCC group gear and equipment, MCC vehicles for travel to worksites, professional level certifications, resume building, federal hiring training, Public Lands Corps Hiring Preference, access to Community Spaces, and so much more.
The Essentials
Aside from staff positions, all of MCC opportunities are AmeriCorps service positions that are entry level. You do not need to have former outdoor or corps experience to succeed here at MCC! As a developmental program, MCC will provide you with the skillsets and leadership competencies you need to thrive in all types of career paths.
Basic Qualifications: • High school degree, GED, or willingness to work towards obtaining a GED • Ages 18-35 (Leaders/Assistants); Ages 17-30 (Members) • US Citizen, National or lawful permanent resident • Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check • Ability to eventually hike 3-20 miles per day in terrain that can be steep, rocky or uneven, often wearing a 45 pound backpack while carrying tools and sometimes backpacking with full packs of 60-70 pounds • Ability to lift up to 35 pounds repeatedly and use hand and power tools • Effective written and oral communication skills • Demonstrates desire to serve the community and the environment • Embraces a willingness to work long, hard hours in all weather conditions; ability to be away on overnight trips for up to 10 days at a time • Commitment to completing term; available for duration of entire term of service
Community & Support
If you're looking to be a part of a welcoming community where you can experience safety, belonging, and validation, the Montana Conservation Corps has got you covered!
You Are Supported within the MCC Community! MCC is committed to being diverse, welcoming, and inclusive. Programs are available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. MCC encourages people of all backgrounds to apply!
A Day in the Life. View what it's like to serve on a MCC field crew!
Explore open positions here. The application is quick and simple, and typically someone will get back to you within a few weeks regarding the next steps!
Caleb Stewart (he/him/his)
Recruitment & Admissions Manager Montana Conservation Corps
301 N Willson Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 587-4475 ext 106 caleb@mtcorps.org MTCorps.org
