Trails and Access Assistant

The Squam Lakes Association is seeking two full-term AmeriCorps members from January – November 2025 to serve as Trails & Access Assistants (TAA). Both TAA’s will work closely with the Director of Trails & Access, the Facilities & Access Manager, and each other to oversee components of SLA’s hiking trail management, outdoor access programs, and facilities maintenance. The SLA manages 60 miles of hiking trails, island campsites, canoe and kayak rental facilities, and a four-acre campus open to the public for education programs, community use, and outdoor access.

TAA-specific responsibilities include:

• Determine, communicate, and conduct routine trail maintenance priorities, including lopping branches, removing downed trees, and clearing drainage structures
• Assess all 60 miles of SLA trails to develop detailed descriptions of trail conditions
• Assist with campsite management, preparation, and closing, which includes: assisting with the campsite lottery, installing and removing docks, assessing campsite facilities for safety hazards, and maintaining composting toilet facilities
• Manage SLA’s Gear Library program by coordinating rentals, organizing gear, and developing educational materials
• Assist with small engine maintenance, such as boat engines, snowblowers, wood splitters
• Recruit and train volunteers
• Lead training for trail maintenance volunteers and incoming AmeriCorps members on routine hiking trail maintenance
• Collect and analyze trail counter data
• Manage and maintain SLA’s tool cache
• Create new trail junction signs
• Assist with any other trails, access and facilities projects and tasks as needed
• Additional projects and assignments may develop based on interests and strengths of individual candidates and the needs of the organization

All LRCC members serving with the Squam Lakes Association will have some level of participation in the following responsibilities, regardless of Assistant position:

• Act as a caretaker on SLA’s low impact campsites, which includes: camping alone for 3-7 nights at a time, checking in campers, addressing maintenance needs, cleaning composting toilet facilities, restocking firewood, and other caretaker tasks as needed
• Split and bundle firewood for low-impact camping on SLA campsites
• SCUBA dive to remove the aquatic invasive species variable milfoil. Milfoil removal/surveying days are typically ten hour days, with upwards of three hours underwater. The water is cold and we dive regardless of air temperature and precipitation. Conditions are murky when diving in Squam.
• Facilitate winter access to SLA owned and maintained properties by conducting snow removal by hand, snow blower, and truck with plow attachment
• Educate the public on conservation initiatives within the region and across the state, and act as an ambassador of the LRCC and SLA. A non-exhaustive list of examples includes leading education programs, tabling events, lake hosting, trail hosting, etc.
• Volunteer management, including back-end administrative organization and leading volunteers in the field
• Collaborate with SLA staff, Education & Outreach Assistants, Watershed Resources Assistants, Trails & Access Assistants, and the Volunteer Program Assistant to support SLA operations, which may include but is not limited to: office work assistance, facilities maintenance, boat maintenance, special events, etc.

Benefits

• Bi-weekly stipend: $839.10 (pre-tax; $18,700 aggregate)
• Segal Education Award upon successful completion of the program and 1700 hours: $7,395
• Provided housing with kitchen and laundry (SLA will not provide additional stipend if electing to live elsewhere)
• AmeriCorps Health Insurance (value of $4,500+)
• Eligible for student loan forbearance and interest accrual repayment on qualifying loans

Training/Certifications Received:

• Wilderness First Aid and CPR (value of $245)
• SSI Open Water Diver Certification (value of $780)
• NAUI Weed Control Diver Certification (value of $150)
• New Hampshire Commercial Boating License
• Snow plow operator training
• Motorboat operator training
• Other professional trainings as available.