Trails Members - Acadia National Park

Overview

Trails Members - Acadia National Park

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Acadia National Park, is seeking two members to contribute to trail maintenance alongside National Park Service Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit the American Conservation Experience website.

Start Date: May 4, 2026

Estimated End Date: August 22, 2026
* * a 16-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME

Acadia National Park:
Bar Harbor, ME (2 members, 16 weeks). The Members position will serve their Ameri Corps term on a National Register historic trail system. The service requires very strenuous effort in moving heavy materials to and around the job site. The Member must be able to hike steep trails in all weather conditions transporting tools and personal gear and work in difficult terrain.

Members routinely move items over 50 pounds.

The Members will assist with rehabilitating and maintaining trail-related structures such as:

• Wooden bridges, log cribbing and steps
• Water bars and culverts
• Stone retaining walls, stone steps, and other tread structures
• May assist in cutting and shaping granite
• May assist in repairs to steel pins and handrails, and erecting signs

Tools will include a wide variety of hand and power tools (e.g., hammers, shovels, stone tools, rock bars, digging tools, cut-off saws, grinders, drill presses). May use powered tracked material haulers. Consistently moves heavy materials to and around the job site. Serves under the supervision of a Trail Work Leader or higher graded trail employee.

The Members will assist with aspects of trail maintenance and construction. Trail maintenance tasks include log out, brushing and cleaning drainage structures. Trail construction tasks include bridge building from native materials, fence construction, construction of steps, drains and retaining walls using native timber and/or drystone masonry techniques. Tools will include a wide variety of hand and power tools such as shovels, hammers, masonry chisels, crosscuts, pulaskis, chainsaws and power drills.

Serves under the supervision of a Trail Crew Leader or higher graded trails employee.

This placement is meant to facilitate professional development and exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. It could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Likely 4 ten-hour days (Monday through Thursday) and 3 days off (Friday through Sunday).

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement.

PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Relocation Reimbursement: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses and can be requested with receipt documentation.

Gear Reimbursement: ACE members will have up to $200 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes safety toe boots, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase and be supported with receipt documentation.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training will include the use of overhead rigging systems, trail construction practices, motorized crawler carts, Operational Leadership, possibly CPR/AED.

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A current and valid form of  (will be required to provide copies of IDs upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the…