Individual Placement - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Participant

Position Summary 

This summer program will take place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), located within the Superior National Forest. The BWCAW is one of the most heavily visited wilderness areas in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Within the 1.1 million acres of Federally Designated Wilderness lies a network of largely canoe-based travel routes containing nearly 2,000 campsites and hundreds of miles of trails and portages. The participants will assist USDA Forest Service Wilderness Ranger crews to perform routine trail and campsite maintenance, trail and campsite rehabilitation projects, and visitor education. In addition to maintenance duties, these intern positions would assist with monitoring biophysical and social resource conditions within the BWCAW.

This is an arduous position that involves lifting and portaging 50+ pound tool packs, overnight gear, and canoes. Participants will be required to camp overnight for up to 8 days/7 nights. The main mode of travel is with canoes, but motorboats may occasionally be used as well. Major duties include backcountry maintenance using traditional (non-mechanized) tools including crosscut saws, shovels, pulaskis, and axes, as part of the standard toolkit. Participants will learn how to use these traditional tools on designated wilderness campsites, and wilderness portage and hiking trails. The incumbents will also conduct monitoring and inventory work to support Superior National Forest Plan objectives.

Positions will likely work from mid-May to mid-August but start and end dates may be negotiable.

Location 

Tofte, MN

Schedule 

May 18, 2026 - August 7, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

·      Overnight camping trips in the BWCA Wilderness for up to 8 days in length.

·      Assisting with visitor education and leave-no-trace.

·      Monitoring using established protocols.

·      Using traditional tools (non-motorized) to perform campsite and portage maintenance projects

Marginal Duties 

·      Administrative support at Ranger District Offices including answering phones, interacting with forest visitors, and providing visitor education at Ranger District Offices.

·      Completing recreation site and trail maintenance tasks under the direction of Forest Service Staff.

Required Qualifications 

·      Driver’s License.

·      Ability to work independently or as part of a team for multiple days in the backcountry.

·      Communication skills.

·      Ability to operate a pickup truck or other 4WD vehicle on unpaved roads.

·      Ability to prepare your own meals in a remote setting

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 

·      Customer service experience including interacting with Forest visitors

·      Experience using hand tools to complete outdoor grounds maintenance.

·      Canoeing or other paddle based-watercraft experience

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

·      Selected candidates will be provided with housing free of charge at US Forest Service cabins or bunkhouses. Candidates can expect shared living conditions and must plan to provide their own bedding.

·      Most facilities have modern amenities (full kitchens, flush toilets; showers; electricity; Wi-Fi; and on-site laundry). There may be an opportunity to reside at a remote cabin that is off-the-grid and has more rustic amenities if the candidate is interested in that type of accommodation.

·      Cabins and bunkhouses have on-site parking for personal vehicles; any candidates who come without personal transportation may request to be placed into a bunkhouse that is closer to grocery options.

Compensation