About this role
Position Summary
The USACE Rivers Project consists of 49,000 acres of public lands including rivers, lakes, wetlands, prairies, and bottomland forests. The placement will have a blended habitat and vegetation maintenance focus to include habitat restoration activities such as invasive species management, woody encroachment removal, native plant seed collection, and planting. The member will also be responsible for horticultural facility maintenance as well as environmental education and developing partnerships.
Location
West Alton, MO
Schedule
February 16, 2026 - February 13, 2027
Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Horticultural Facility Maintenance – The Rivers Project Horticultural Facility is a new facility located at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, MO. It will be utilized to grow native plants for habitat restoration. The facility will prioritize pollinator plants and prairie restoration and will also serve as a hub for partners through the Great Rivers Pollinator Habitat Partnership (GRPHP). The member will primarily assist with regulating horticultural environmental controls and irrigation, germinating and transplanting seedlings, monitoring plant health and growth, and general upkeep of the facility.
• Education and Outreach – The horticultural facility will be utilized by the Rivers Project and our partners for environmental education and outreach. Member will assist with educational programming and outreach activities including tours, coordinating with GRPHP partners and projects, managing outreach tabling at events, and developing outreach materials.
• Habitat Enhancement – The Rivers Project manages thousands of acres of prairie, wetland, and forest habitat. This includes planting thousands of native plants annually to enhance and restore habitat for wildlife. The member will assist natural resource managers with planting activities as well as seed collection, cleaning, storing, and stratifying for horticultural propagation. member will also assist with maintaining a demonstration pollinator garden adjacent to the Riverlands Facility.
• Invasive species removal – Invasive plants are invading grassland and wetland habitats on Corps lands. The member would assist with mechanical removal of various plant species using mowing, disking, hand pulling, digging, and cutting as well as chemical removal through herbicide treatment.
• Forest Resource Monitoring and Management – The Rivers Project forestry team focuses on big-picture forest management actions in the big river floodplain. The member will assist and gain experience in forest management and monitoring activities such as timber stand improvements (TSI).
Marginal Duties
• Upkeep and cleaning of all tools, equipment and facilities.
• General maintenance and upkeep of the demonstration pollinator garden adjacent to the Riverlands Facility.
• Development/upgrading of current educational outreach materials.
Required Qualifications
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must wear required attire by SCA while on duty.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Physical ability to navigate uneven terrain and work outdoors during adverse conditions such as heat, cold or rain. Must be physically able to carry weighted equipment such as backpack sprayers, chainsaws, or backpack blowers for prolonged periods of time during field work. Must have the physical ability to spend time bent over or crouched for such field activities as invasive weed pulling or seed collection.
• Must not be averse to irritating plants or insects.
• GIS/GPS data collection experience
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of habitat management practices, restoration ecology, horticulture, maintaining a horticultural facility, and plant identification.
• Possess good verbal and written communications skills.
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn.
Hours
40 per week
Living Accommodations
Housing is not provided for this position.
Compensation
$600 - weekly living allowance; $1,000 – monthly housing allowance; $30 – weekly commuting allowance
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Required
Additional Benefits
Defensive Drive Training
Off-Road Vehicle Safety
Health Insurance
AmeriCorps: Not Eligible
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.
Other facts
About Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults.
Our program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces at various locations across the country.
After working with the SCA, our members emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.
As America’s most effective youth conservation service organization, the SCA transforms lives by empowering young people of all backgrounds to plan, act, and lead while they protect and restore our natural and cultural resources.
Founded in 1957, the SCA is dedicated to building the next generation of conservation leaders while inspiring lifelong protection of the environment and our communities.
SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.
What you'll do
- The position involves horticultural facility maintenance, habitat enhancement, and invasive species removal. The member will also assist with education and outreach activities related to environmental conservation.
Ready to join Student Conservation Association?
Take the next step in your career journey