Information About the Program

The Backcountry Trails Program was established in 1979, as a special program within the California Conservation Corps, the oldest and largest conservation corps program in the world.

A proud tradition of excellence has been forged by the many members who have played a vital role helping to build, maintain, and repair trails in some of California's most magnificent wilderness areas.

Each spring, the Backcountry Trails Program assembles six crews of men and women, from widely diverse backgrounds, who leave behind the conveniences and luxuries of modern life and venture into the mountains to spend five exhausting months doing some of the most challenging and ultimately rewarding work of their lives. The 17 members who comprise each of these crews learn through experience the skills of trail maintenance, construction, and the process of building healthy productive communities.

The 2008 Backcountry Trails Program -- April 21, 2008 through September 25, 2008 -- Apply Now!
Application deadline: March 3, 2008

Our Mission:

The Backcountry Trails Program is dedicated to preserving our remaining wilderness areas, making them safer and more accessible to the public through hard work and national service.

We are committed to building strong functional communities based on respect, cooperation, and the tireless effort of each member.

The Experience:

Past Backcountry members cite the following as the three essential ingredients for success:

1. Ability to get along and work cooperatively with others

2. Desire, self-motivation

3. Enthusiasm for hard work

Life in the Backcountry is extremely physically and mentally demanding. Crews live for five months in remote wilderness camps with few luxuries. Participants are required to hike at high elevations from 2-20 miles per day at a mininmum of 3 MPH. Crews are assigned to log, brush, build new tread, clean waterbars and other drainage structures, reroute trails around fragile areas, repair damaged meadows, build and repair bridges, build waterbars, steps, rip rap, retaining walls and causeways out of rock, wood and other native materials.

Backcountry camps are located up to 30 miles from the nearest road, store, phone, or electrical outlet. Camps are established at elevations up to 11,000 feet and conditions are spartan. The food is generally great and delivered by mules or helicopter once a week, along with mail and other supplies. For most, learning how to maintain a healthy and productive community life is the most challenging aspect of the program. Crew members learn that building a functional community demands that everyone treat each other with great respect, consideration, and have an open mind to the ideas and feelings of others.

In addition to the daily work requirements of each crew member there is an extensive curriculum that each crew will undertake during their five month season. The curriculum takes the form of evening classes and training sessions. Curriculum topics include native fauna and flora identification, natural history classses, wilderness survival training, career development training, community development meetings, and health and safety meetings. Crew members are encouraged to leave camps on weekends to explore the rivers, lakes, peaks, forests, and canyons that surround them and have become their "backyard."

The Pay/Benefits:

• Crew members are paid a stipend of $1,387 monthly. The Standard Maintenance Deduction, $300/month, is taken from all crew members' checks for food.

• Health insurance is provided for all crew members.

• All Backcountry crew members receive a $2,362.50 Educational Award upon successfully completing the Backcountry Program.

• The Backcountry Trails Program provides all members with good quality work boots, rain gear, and all safety equipment. In addition to this equipment members must supply their own backpacks, sleeping bags, daypacks, and other personal items as outlined in our Personal Equipment List.

Who May Apply:

• Must be 18 years old as of April 21, 2008.

• Cannot be on probation or parole.

How to Apply:

The Backcountry Trails Crew Member Application consists of a Reference Evaluation and the Corpsmember Application. Both parts need to be completed and submitted no later than 5:00pm March 3, 2008. Late applications will not be accepted. A phone interview will also be required from each potential applicant. Selections will be made by Friday, March 14, 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions

Typical Daily Schedule