Urban Green - Gap Year Young Adult Conservation Crew

Conservation begins here. 

 The Student Conservation Association (SCA), America’s #1 conservation service organization in partnership with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County seeks qualified applicants to sign up for our Young Adult Gap Year Conservation Leadership Corp! This position is designed to provide conservation job training experience for young adults, 18 years or older.   

 

This 18-week program begins June 22nd and runs through October 30th 2026. Team members will gain vital workforce development skills and environmental education through hands-on service to the land and leadership skills through mentorship of high school teens during a summer job high school program.  

 

During Part 1 of the internship, you will work 26 hours per week (6/22-7/30) and during Part 2 (8/10-10/30) you will work 30 hours per week, with an unpaid break between August 3rd –August 7th 

 

Program Snapshot: 

• Program Dates:  June 22-October 30, 2026 

• Local Training Dates: June 24 -June 27 (Monday – Friday) 

• Weekly Schedule: Part 1: Monday- Thursday, 8 am-3pm (30-minute unpaid lunch); Part 2: Monday – Thursday, 7 am – 3:30 pm (30-minute unpaid lunch) 

• Program Hours: 26 hours Part 1; 30 hours Part 2 

• Pay Rates:  Part 1: $17.50 per hour, 26 hours per week; Part 2: $18.50 per hour, 30 hours per week 

 

Location: River Forest, Illinois- Salt Creek Maintenance Center  

 

Primary Responsibilities: 

Complete as a team an assortment of hands-on conservation and restoration projects within different areas in the Forest Preserves of Cook County and help co-lead weekly educational field days for high school students. During the summer (Part 1 of internship), crew members will act as Assistant Crew leaders (ACL) to a group of ten high school students at a local nature center through the Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps program (CCLC).  CCLC youth conduct hands-on conservation activities including invasive plant removal and trail maintenance projects and participate in environmental education activities to gain knowledge about their local environment. During Part 2, interns will create a new team of 4 crew members with 2 crew leaders once the CCLC program ends.  There will be a  week unpaid break August 3rd-7th