Internships & Employment

A Trail Crew Leader (TCL) provides leadership to 4-8 crew members while executing and overseeing trail work, environmental restoration, education, and volunteer field programs. Primary duties include implementing and managing single and multi-day field projects; instructing crew members, interns, volunteers, and youth conservation corps members in trail and restoration techniques; overseeing tool, equipment, and food logistics; supporting the upkeep of RMFI’s warehouse and vehicles; maintaining project work and photo logs; and other duties as assigned. A TCL ensures completion of 10 hours of project work a day for 4-8 consecutive days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions including inclement weather. The TCL ensures professional work standards from all members of their crew, the highest degree of safety, and project goals completion. Projects include a variety of trail and restoration projects in riparian, wetland, alpine, montane, foothills, and desert ecosystems focusing on Southern Colorado. Restoration techniques include erosion control, erosion mitigation, stream bank stabilization, fuels mitigation, landscape stabilization, social trail decommissioning, gully stabilization, and revegetation including seeding, transplanting, and planting.  

Status: Full-time, non-exempt, hourly

Salary: $22 - $25/hour

Benefits: Paid time off, Health care, dental, vision, Life insurance, Long-term disability, Simple IRA, Sick  leave, paid holidays, cell-phone stipend, gear stipend, pro-deal

To apply, review the job description and fill out the application here. 

Before starting your application, please carefully review the job description to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications.

Before starting your application, please carefully review the job description to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications.

Field staff must be available to work the entire duration of the season.

The Trail Crew Technician (TCT) serves as the primary on-the-ground workforce, implementing RMFI’s trail, restoration, and education field programs. The TCT spends the duration of their workday performing rigorous physical labor in an outdoor setting utilizing a variety of hand and power tools. Primary duties include completing objectives for single and multi-day field projects, instructing volunteers in trail and restoration techniques, maintaining tools and equipment, and completing detailed project documentation. The TCT frequently works 10 hours a day for 4-8 consecutive days while camping in a variety of outdoor conditions, including inclement weather. A TCT works independently and as a member of a trail crew while receiving guidance from Program Managers and Trail Crew Leaders. TCTs are dedicated to professional work standards, the highest degree of safety, and ensuring project goals are completed. Projects include a variety of trail and restoration projects in riparian, wetland, alpine, montane, foothills, and desert ecosystems focusing on Southern Colorado. The TCT works under the supervision of the RMFI Program Managers and in close coordination with the RMFI Trail Crew Leaders (TCL).

To apply, review the job description and fill out the application here.

The Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) offers the Environmental Leadership Internship (ELI) each field season for an unpaid internship in conserving natural public landscapes in the Southern Rocky Mountain Region through land stewardship and education. This internship is suited for those looking to learn more in the areas of trail building, public land conservation, the nonprofit sector of the outdoor industry, and natural resource management. ELIs will also help coordinate and run RMFI’s community volunteer projects, these projects take place primarily on weekends and select weekdays from mid-April to November. Project sites may include Garden of the Gods and other City of Colorado Springs parks, El Paso County park locations, and various U.S. Forest Service trails like Barr Trail and Devils Playground. This position will consist mostly of fieldwork with some office work and events representing RMFI in the community. 

To apply, review the internship description below and follow the application directions within.