NPS Historic Preservation Training Center – Traditional Trades Advancement Program and Youth Empowerment Stewards – Olympic National Park – AmeriCorps

This program provides participants with ample exposure to National Park Service trail maintenance needs coupled with park access for those with disabilities. The members will work alongside skilled trades staff at Olympic National Park, while gaining marketable skills for future NPS or private sector employment. Olympic National Park has an extensive trail system totaling 635 […]

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This program provides participants with ample exposure to National Park Service trail maintenance needs coupled with park access for those with disabilities. The members will work alongside skilled trades staff at Olympic National Park, while gaining marketable skills for future NPS or private sector employment.

Olympic National Park has an extensive trail system totaling 635 miles, 95% of which is within designated wilderness. These trails are heavily used by visitors and undergo intense weather extremes from 150+ inches of rain in a year to interior mountains receiving over 20 feet of snow. The trails need constant maintenance to best serve the public and NPS core values. This hands-on experience will include drainage clearing, tread repair, social trail mitigation, and vegetation encroachment. Minor repairs or replacements of structural components on the ABA nature trails will be addressed. Focus areas will include Kestner Homestead Trail, Maple Glade Rain Forest, Ancient Groves, Salmon Cascade, and Madison Falls.

Description of Duties:

• Use of basic hand tools needed for trail building and improvements

  • McLeod’s, Pulaski’s, rakes, chainsaws, and shovels are basic tools that will be used by members to best remove drainage blockages, level trail grade, dig water bars to redirect water flow away from trail, and remove debris and hazards to trail users

• Use of basic hand tools for vegetation removal encroaching on trail

  • Loppers, chainsaws and proper PPE, rakes, hand saws, and McLeod’s are basic tools that will be used to ensure vegetation is removed that is interfering with safety and access of trail use

• Use of basic carpentry hand tools in structural repairs

  • Performing structural repairs using standard carpentry tools such as hammers, chisels, handsaws, and measuring instruments to cut, shape, and assemble wood components while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards.

• Use of maps, navigation, and reporting tools

  • Backcountry camping and travel will be utilized to effectively reach remote trail sites in need of repair; effective use of maps and GPS instruments will be needed to safely travel to and from site, and reporting on accurate trail restoration techniques and distances will be necessary

• Use of safe and ethical back country best-practices

  • Leave No Trace principles will be followed to the fullest extent to continue to keep the back-country free of human debris and exhibit role-model behavior for the public on park trails

• Utilize and ensure care of park PPE safety gear

  • Members will use NPS provided PPE as required, maintain it properly, and report any damage or needed repairs; caring for tools and PPE is essential to member safety.

Salary: $720.00 per week (equivalent to $18/hr.)

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This program provides participants with ample exposure to National Park Service trail maintenance needs coupled with park access for those with disabilities. The members will work alongside skilled trades staff at Olympic National Park, while gaining marketable skills for future NPS or private sector employment.

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Description of Duties:

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Use of basic hand tools needed for trail building and improvements

• McLeod’s, Pulaski’s, rakes, chainsaws, and shovels are basic tools that will be used by members to best remove drainage blockages, level trail grade, dig water bars to redirect water flow away from trail, and remove debris and hazards to trail users

Use of basic hand tools for vegetation removal encroaching on trail

• Loppers, chainsaws and proper PPE, rakes, hand saws, and McLeod’s are basic tools that will be used to ensure vegetation is removed that is interfering with safety and access of trail use

Use of basic carpentry hand tools in structural repairs

• Performing structural repairs using standard carpentry tools such as hammers, chisels, handsaws, and measuring instruments to cut, shape, and assemble wood components while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards.

Use of maps, navigation, and reporting tools

• Backcountry camping and travel will be utilized to effectively reach remote trail sites in need of repair; effective use of maps and GPS instruments will be needed to safely travel to and from site, and reporting on accurate trail restoration techniques and distances will be necessary

Use of safe and ethical back country best-practices

• Leave No Trace principles will be followed to the fullest extent to continue to keep the back-country free of human debris and exhibit role-model behavior for the public on park trails

Utilize and ensure care of park PPE safety gear

• Members will use NPS provided PPE as required, maintain it properly, and report any damage or needed repairs; caring for tools and PPE is essential to member safety.