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) through the Lakes Region jobshiringnearme.org Corps AmeriCorps program. 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.  

Duration: January 15th – November 21st, 2025 and a minimum of 1700 hours. 

Trails and Access Assistant-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:

• 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
• Plow operator training
• Motorboat operator training
• Other professional trainings as available.

Required Qualifications: We select Lakes Region jobshiringnearme.org Corps members who display a great attitude and commitment to conservation, enjoy hard work, and aren’t afraid to get dirty. Lakes Region jobshiringnearme.org Corps members must meet the following minimum qualifications to serve:

• Must be 18 years of age by January 15th, 2025
• Must be a competent swimmer, able to lift 50 pounds, able to carry and use heavy tools while hiking, able to hike at least 8 miles in a day, and able to work independently and in a group
• Available for the full duration of program (January 15th – November 21st, 2025)
• Must meet the Corporation for National Community Service’s minimum requirements:
  • Must clear all required National Service Criminal History Checks;
  • Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or must be working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service;
  • Must be a US citizen, US national, or legal permanent resident of the US

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong interest in low-impact outdoor recreation management. Degree or experience in related field is beneficial but not required.
• Desire to lead volunteer and education programs related to outdoor recreation
• Enthusiasm for sharing natural spaces with people of varying levels of ability and comfort in the outdoors
• Comfortable using/learning to use hand tools (saws, loppers, hammers, etc.) and power tools (miter saw, reciprocating saw, router, etc.) in both front-country and back-country settings. Guidance and training provided for proper tool use to ensure safe handling
• Strong computer and word processing skills, data entry, and analysis, including: Word, Publisher, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe. GIS experience is beneficial but not required

Physical requirements and serving conditions: Standard 5 days on/2 days off with occasional exceptions. Normal office tasks, driving company vehicles (day/night; may require occasional use of personal vehicle if bringing one to the program), weekends, early mornings and late evenings, hiking on uneven terrain, lifting in relation to fieldwork. Must be able to swim and be comfortable on the water in motorized and non-motorized boats, willingness to SCUBA dive in cold and dark environments. Willingness to travel throughout the Squam Watershed. 

About the LRCC: The Lakes Region jobshiringnearme.org Corps (LRCC) is an AmeriCorps state service program that develops skills and experiences for conservation professionals. The program provides hands-on conservation experience and certifications over a broad range of areas, which ensure that Lakes Region jobshiringnearme.org Corps members are capable of independently  approaching a variety of tasks in the environmental conservation field. 

About the SLA Host Site: The Squam Lakes Association (SLA) is a non-profit conservation 
organization that works to conserve the natural beauty, peaceful character, and resources of the Squam watershed. Through conservation, education, and low-impact recreation, the SLA 
promotes the protection, careful use, and shared enjoyment of the Squam Lakes Region. 

For more information about the Squam Lakes Association and the Trails and Access Assistant postion please visit www.squamlakes.org.