Wildland Restoration Team Leader

Wildland Restoration Team Leader

Wildland Restoration Teams in Bozeman, Missoula, and Kalispell work with a diverse range of stakeholders (private, government, and non-profit) in order to achieve large scale land conservation efforts with rural communities throughout the state of Montana. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has an interest in restoration to gain practical field experience in a rapidly growing area of conservation, with a strong potential for future career paths.  Wildland Restoration Teams mitigate invasive plants through mechanical, chemical, and biological efforts. Crew use herbicide to manage invasive weeds, and MCC provides professional level training in the safe use and transport of chemicals. Wildland Restoration Teams manage invasive weeds in the remote Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, The Payette National Forest, Glacier & Yellowstone National Parks, and on the breathtaking plains of eastern Montana. Crew Leaders also earn Herbicide Applicator Licenses, a certification through the State of Montana that is vital to future careers in invasive management. Wildland Restoration Teams may also work on a variety of other projects, including stream restoration, beaver-dam mimicry, non-native fish removal, fencing, planting, trail building and more. Not all CLs will work on all types of projects! Crews may also be deployed for natural disaster relief. Learn more about the variety of project work here!  

The project work for Wildland Restoration Teams is different depending on the regional office; if you elect to serve on a Wildland Restoration Team in Bozeman, Kalispell, or Missoula YOU WILL BE APPLYING HERBICIDE TO INVASIVE WEEDS DURING YOUR SEASON: 

• Greater Yellowstone (Bozeman): These crews typically spend half of their season managing invasive weeds through herbicide application. The other half of the season typically consists of mesic restoration projects (beaver dam analogs, or BDAs).
• Northern Rockies (Kalispell): These crews typically spend half of their season managing invasive weeds through herbicide application. The other half of the season typically consists of trail maintenance/construction, and other conservation projects. 
• Western Wildlands (Missoula): These crews typically spend half of their season managing invasive weeds through herbicide application. The other half of the season typically consists of a combination of mesic restoration projects (beaver dam analogs, or BDAs), botany, forest inventory analysis, and other conservation projects.

Wildland Restoration Teams (Mesic Restoration) in Helena will participate in a variety of innovative wetlands and habitat restoration projects, with a main focus on mesic restoration techniques including beaver mimicry and in-stream beaver-dam analog construction, a simple, effective, and non-invasive approach to riparian restoration.  Crews will construct beaver mimicry structures (Low Tech Process Based Restoration) to effectively slow down and spread water over the landscape to expand critical habitat, mitigate wildfire, reduce invasive species and increase water availability in traditionally parched times of year.  Studies have shown that these stream remediation efforts in the treated watershed mitigated the effects of drought, reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfire and flooding, improved water quality, expanded critical wildlife habitat and created a micro-climate with reduced air and water temperatures. Projects are often rigorous, requiring participants to carry and use heavy power equipment and work in hot weather across rugged terrain while wearing protective gear.

As a crew leader, you will work to oversee 3-4 adult crew members on 4-9 day overnight conservation projects on some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Northern Rockies and Plains. Wildland Restoration Teams are typically led by a solo leader. The crew you will oversee will be made up of adults who are 17-30 years old and come from a variety of backgrounds and locations throughout the country. Crew Leaders will be responsible for helping to facilitate crew member growth, manage conflict on their crew, and support the crew in completing quality project work in the field. 

Crews will camp for the full duration of a hitch (i.e. 4-9 day project assignment), oftentimes in remote locations on varied terrain and in all weather conditions. Camping accommodations vary, including car-camping and remote backcountry settings away from a vehicle. Project work is physically demanding, and could include habitat restoration, mesic restoration, planting, backcountry work, and more. Not all Crew Leaders work on all types of projects! Learn more about the variety of project work here!