Field Ranger Program

Regional Programs California Program - Southern California & Sierra Nevada

All about the Field Ranger Program

The Field Ranger Program is an education and skills training program focused on providing diverse Los Angeles County youth with hands-on, employment experience in the Angeles National Forest (ANF). Participates will receive an introduction to a wide range of disciplines and federal careers with the US Forest Service (USFS).

Career exploration will include, but is not limited to, recreation management, engineering, environmental education, habitat restoration, hydrology, public affairs, and wildlife biology.

Who can apply?

Youth between the ages of 18-25 are eligible to apply. No previous related work experience is required. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

What do Field Rangers do?

Field Rangers will gain experiential, hands-on learning while working alongside USFS staff. Work tasks may include learning about local ecology, issues facing public lands, environmental education and interpretation, community outreach, supporting native habitat restoration efforts, and assisting with recreation management. All participants will build transferable career skills while also supporting the capacity of the USFS workforce across the ANF. To support the growth of all Field Rangers, there will be numerous professional development opportunities such as enrollment in a California Naturalist Course through University of California Extension, and a federal resume building workshop led by USFS staff. Crew Leads who successfully complete the program will be eligible for a Public Land Corps (PLC) noncompetitive federal hiring authority.

When does this program start?

This program begins in June 2023. Crew Members are hired for 10 weeks while the Crew Lead will be hired for 16 weeks. The next Field Rangers season will follow a similar schedule starting in June 2024.

Where does this program take place?

Most work will take place on the Angeles National Forest. Work assignments will vary across multiple locations in the ANF. Participants should have access to reliable transportation and expect to report to the Supervisor’s Office (SO) located in Arcadia, CA. The SO is half a mile away (about a 10-minute walk) to the Metro L Line (Gold) Arcadia Station.

Program details

The Field Rangers work schedule will be 8 hours a day for 5 days a week (including at least one weekend day). Start times will vary. We will hire three (3) Crew Members and (1) Crew Lead. See table below for more information:

Position	Salary	Timeline
Crew Member	$20/hour	June 12, 2023 – August 18, 2023
Duties (including, but not limited to...)
Provide education to the public (responsible recreation, safety, federal laws, etc.), develop outreach material, support trail maintenance, help reforestation efforts, and assist staff with Forest beautification across popular recreation areas. Incumbent performs a variety of technical work in support of the unit recreation and resources program. This position serves as the field-going presence and assists in administering the operation and maintenance of developed and dispersed recreation areas and settings, monitoring special forest products areas, assisting in the fire prevention program, and implementation of the forest management plan. Contacts visitors to provide information about recreation regulations, opportunities, and current restrictions. Provides information on resource management practices in the area. Maintains contact with Campground Host(s). Checks for compliance with regulations and reports other violations to supervisor. Assures recreation area and trails are maintained in accordance with standards. Constructs and rehabilitates minor recreation facilities and trails. Serves as inspector for recreation area cleanup and/or maintenance contracts. Answers general recreation and current resource management practice questions for forest users. Ensures that campgrounds, day-use areas, trailheads, off-highway vehicle areas, and other developed and dispersed recreation sites are operated and maintained in accordance with operation and maintenance plans. Surveys the cleanliness and conditions of recreation areas and facilities. Collects recreation use data by inventorying dispersed and backcountry campsites and other user-created sites. Delivers various forest visitor education programs through interpretive talks such as fire prevention, leave no trace, travel management, etc.
Position	Salary	Timeline
Crew Lead	$25/hour	June 05, 2023 – September 22, 2023
Duties (including, but not limited to...)
All Crew Member duties along with additional responsibilities: Primarily serving as the liaison between the Crew Members and USFS staff. Providing overall ideas, support, and leadership for Crew Members. Previous supervisory experience preferred. Previous event planning and program organizing experience desired.

How to apply:

Applications and hiring are managed by our partners, the Hispanic Access Foundation.

At this time, we are not currently accepting applications. However, recruitment for the next Field Ranger season will begin in early 2024. Please check back later for more information.

This program is a collaborative effort in partnership with:

Contact

For additional information, please contact:

Felipe Lepe, Southern California Program Coordinator, at flepe@nationalforests.org.