Wisconsin Conservation Corps
Wisconsin Conservation Corps
Currently recruiting for the season from January 12th, 2026 to November 14th, 2026.
Our mission is to engage the next generation of environmental leaders through guided, hands-on service opportunities that benefit our region’s public lands.
Our primary focus is to engage young adults through hands-on service opportunities in environmental stewardship, accomplished through partnerships with land management agencies and environmental education organizations across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.
- Location
- Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
- Season
- Year Round
- Staff size
- 8
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Crew Program housing is provided in the form of a single-occupancy tent at a campsite or indoor, dormitory style housing. Individual Placement Program housing is provided for some positions, but not all.
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Provided
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Intermittent
About Wisconsin Conservation Corps
Be prepared to work hard in beautiful places with WisCorps! WisCorps operates the Crew Program and the Individual Placement Program.
Crews build trails, manage habitats, and complete carpentry projects on public lands. Participants live, work, and travel together and have the opportunity to network with conservation professionals and serve local communities. The program runs in the summer (May-August) and fall (September-November), and you can choose to participate in one or both terms.
- Crew Leaders oversee and motivate their crew members to complete outdoor conservation projects. They work directly with project partners, ensure crew safety, educate members on conservation operations, and maintain communication. They also drive WisCorps fleet vehicles and promote awareness through community engagement.
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Crew Members work as a team to complete restoration projects across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. They promote community service and environmental awareness on and off the project site.
Individual Placement Members serve directly with WisCorps partner organizations, focusing on natural resource conservation and environmental education.
- Members promote community service and environmental stewardship through training and engagement in service projects that benefit their community. They receive a biweekly living stipend.
The Employee Experience
With WisCorps, you will:
- work/serve directly with WisCorps staff and project partners
- maintain a positive attitude in the face of adversity
- learn and master techniques in different aspects of conservation
Ideal Candidate
Placements, Crew Leaders, and Crew Members are:
- Highly self-motivated, hardworking, confident, autonomous
- Passionate about the environment or nature
- Creative thinkers and have a sense of humor
- People who appreciate being outside
- Understanding of the importance of conservation work
Room and Board
WisCorps offers housing for the Crew Program. Most crews live and work together throughout the entirety of training and the project season. Housing accommodations vary by crew. Crews may be stationed at various front country campgrounds, may need to camp in backcountry or remote locations, and may live in an apartment or dormitory style space depending on the project and time of year. Tents are provided for all Crew Leaders and Crew Members in the Crew Program, but you may use your own tent if you prefer. All food is provided for the entire season in the Crew Program.
Housing is offered for some Individual Placement positions by the Partner Site. If housing is offered, Members should be prepared to live in communal housing with other members of the program. If housing is not offered, it is the responsibility of the Individual Placement to find accommodations.
Employee Perks
- WisCorps crews get to live and work in some of the most beautiful National Parks, State Parks, public lands, and wild areas in the Upper Midwest
- WisCorps provides excellent opportunities to network with land management agencies and nonprofits to learn about potential career paths
- Participants get to learn about themselves, become exposed to other cultures and opinions, learn about professional conservation techniques, and experience new places around the Midwest
Getting Here and Getting Around
Crew Program Travel Logistics:
- Please do not bring personal vehicle. Please get a ride from friends or family, take a bus or train, take a plane to the Minneapolis - St. Paul Airport, or talk to staff about other transportation options.
- If driving your personal vehicle is your only option:
- There is a $100 parking option available for the summer season. The parking is available through UW-La Crosse and we will put you in contact with their parking managers. The parking location is at a UW-La Crosse lot near the WisCorps warehouse.
- There is parking available at Camp Ehawee in the fall. If you must drive a personal vehicle to a fall season, you will be able to leave your vehicle at Camp Ehawee for the duration of your season.
- We operate a shuttle from the Minneapolis - St. Paul airport on Arrival Day before Crew Leader and Crew Member Training. WisCorps also operates a shuttle back to the MSP airport on the Saturday after the season ends. Using MSP as your airport option is cheaper and more reliable than flying to the La Crosse (LSE) airport.
Individual Placement Program Travel Logistics:
- Individual placements are accountable for organizing their own travel arrangements. Partners sites will convey any details or logistics that are specific to their location.
For Fun
WisCorps offers a unique experience for Crew Leaders and Crew Members, including the ability to work and live in the areas below:
- The Wisconsin Conservation Corps main office is located in La Crosse, known for its beautiful bluffs, river activities, hiking, camping, and outdoor music events
- Crews and Individual Placements live and work in some of the most beautiful places in the Midwest
- Locations include Isle Royale National Park, Voyageurs National Park, the Keweenaw Peninsula, Chequamegon National Forest, the St. Louis River (near Duluth), the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, the prairies of southwestern Wisconsin, and Door County
Current Job Openings
Summer Session: May 18th through August 15th, 2026 (13 weeks) - 675-Hour Service Term
Fall Session: September 8th through November 14th, 2026 (10 weeks) - 675 Hour Service Term
Biweekly living stipend paid throughout the season
Summer: $300 per week for 13 weeks, $3,900 total
Fall: $300 per week for 10 weeks, $3,000 total
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award earned upon successful completion of service
Summer: Approximately $2,800
Fall: Approximately $2,800
Habitat restoration through the treatment and removal of invasive species
Trail building and design in state parks, national parks, conserved land, and other publicly accessible natural areas
Boardwalk construction and installation along National Scenic Trails and in publicly accessible natural areas
Wilderness First Aid
Leave No Trace (LNT) Training
Brush Saw Use and Maintenance
Trail Building Basics
AmeriCorps Orientation
AmeriCorps Conflict Resolution Training
Tent and Campsite Set Up
Serve up to 10 hours per day for 4-10 consecutive days on a crew comprised of 4-7 other service members in outdoor locations; 40 hours per week of direct project field service time is expected
Serve and live in a variety of weather conditions and temperatures, either in a camping environment or in indoor dormitory-style housing
Operate and maintain brush saws and hand tools to accomplish environmental restoration project tasks as assigned
Use long-handled trail-building tools to maintain trails or to build new trails
Hike extended distances on various terrain with a 25+ pound backpack
Effectively communicate with fellow Crew Members, Crew Leaders, WisCorps staff, project sponsors, and members of the public
Practice Leave No Trace principles and sustainable living techniques
Be an active and reliable part of a functional and positive crew community
Abide by all WisCorps & AmeriCorps policies and procedures
Alcohol, recreational drug, and tobacco use is strictly prohibited throughout the season, during project work, evenings, and off times
At least 18 years of age
A citizen of the United States, a United States national, or a legal permanent resident of the United States
Able to perform field duties while exposed to adverse conditions such as inclement weather and biting insects
Willingness and ability to use hand tools and brush saws to complete assigned tasks
Participants must provide personal items such as all-leather boots, sleeping bags, backpacks, water containers, and rain gear; WisCorps has a small library of outdoor gear that may be borrowed for a season (supplies are limited and are not guaranteed to be available upon arrival)
Must be able to commit to the full ten or 13-week field season
Passionate about environmental causes and creating community through service
Understanding or willingness to learn various conservation practices or land management techniques
Proficient communication skills
Upon hire, all WisCorps Crew Members must consent to a Criminal History Check; service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed
Fall 2026 Crew Member
Position Title: AmeriCorps Crew Member (Position Announcement PDF)
Position Service Site: WisCorps, based in La Crosse, Wisconsin; project sites throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest
Service Dates:
Benefits:
Housing: Provided in the form of single occupancy tents at campsites or dormitory-style indoor accommodations (depending on project and time of year).
Requirements: Ability to pass a background check and full availability throughout the season.
Position Overview: Crew Members complete high-priority conservation and restoration projects across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest as a part of the WisCorps Crew Program. Crews partner with land management agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations to complete hands-on projects such as habitat restoration, invasive species removal, trail construction, boardwalk installation, and other natural resource improvement work. Crew Members live and serve closely with their teammates throughout the season, forming a cooperative, inclusive living community. Each crew typically consists of two Crew Leaders and three to four Crew Members who share daily responsibilities such as meal planning, cooking, camp setup, and maintenance. Depending on project needs, crews may relocate weekly or remain at a site for several weeks, living in single-occupancy tents or dormitory-style housing. When not serving on active projects, Crew Members participate in community engagement and environmental education efforts, promoting sustainability and outdoor stewardship while exploring the communities they serve. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable field experience, build lifelong connections, and contribute to meaningful conservation outcomes as part of a dedicated AmeriCorps service team.
Service Description: WisCorps crews serve together to complete projects that make positive and lasting changes in natural areas around the Upper Midwest. Conservation projects that WisCorps crews complete may include:
Crew Members have the opportunity to expand their comfort zone. Crews spend the full duration of their season living, serving, and traveling together. Off times during the season are an opportunity to explore nearby towns and natural areas, take care of chores like laundry and grocery shopping, and relax at camp or in provided housing. WisCorps does not allow the use of alcohol, recreational drugs, or tobacco throughout the crew season, during the service day or during non-project time. WisCorps crews live sustainably and follow Leave No Trace principles. Participants are responsible for developing a menu, grocery shopping, and cooking together, while taking into account all possible dietary restrictions.
Crew Member Training: Crew Members participate in a three-day training program provided by WisCorps staff at the beginning of the season. Crew Member Training features the following trainings and more:
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Please complete this application to be considered for a Crew Program position with the WisCorps. This form cannot save and resume your work. Allow 20 minutes to complete this application.
Here is an overview of our hiring process:
Step 1
Applicants will be contacted via email within two weeks of applying with an invitation to join a group informational video call about the crew program. This call will last approx. 60 minutes and will feature multiple applicants attending a presentation given by a WisCorps staff member. It is not a formal interview, but all applicants should expect to introduce themselves to the group and come prepared with any questions they have about the crew program.
Step 2
After attending an informational call, all applicants are then required to complete our Crew Questionnaire. Leader applicants will then be scheduled for an additional video call, a more traditional 1-on-1 interview style, with the applicant answering questions for about 45 minutes to an hour. This second call is only required for Crew Leader applicants.
Step 3
After two or more positive references are submitted, both leader and member applicants will be eligible to receive a position offer from WisCorps staff. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to WisCorps staff at any point in this process if you have any questions!
WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@wiscorps.org or Wisconsin Relay 711.
How to Apply
Apply NowContact Info
- Eric Robertson
- eric.robertson@wiscorps.org
- wiscorps.org
