Outdoor Conservation

Seasonal Employment Serving Our Public Lands

Veterans Green Jobs’ outdoor conservation program offers seasonal employment opportunities that help put veterans on a career path with state and federal resource and land management agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, State Parks and the national parks system.

With programs in several western U.S. states, we engage veterans in public land conservation and stewardship projects by providing hands-on experience in fire hazard reduction, trail maintenance, revegetation and preservation, watershed restoration and other projects.

Crews may include both veterans and non-veterans — and all offer the opportunity for veterans to connect with other former servicemen and women while spending time in the beautiful outdoors and our western landscape.

“This kind of work really appeals to veterans.
They get to work outside, not sit behind a desk,
and be part of a team in beautiful areas.”
– Lew Sovocool, Veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Getting Started

Doing the Things We Most Fear

Myra

My name is Myra.  I’m a first-generation American, born to Mexican parents.  At the age of 17 I joined the U.S. Navy in order to finance my education.  I served overseas on board the USS Frank Cable (AS40) in the Engineering Department, in the Damage Control Division.  Where I performed preventative maintenance on our ship’s piping systems.  Moreover, I was the Attack Team Leader of Repair Locker 5’s Firefighting Squad.

To be honest, I initially doubted my decision to join the backcountry program.  I had never before been hiking, let alone camping, and I feared it would be too physically demanding and mentally challenging.  But someone once said “the things we fear the most are the things we need to do the most.”  Though everyday is a struggle, I pride myself in the obstacles I have overcome.  It is hard to admit that without the help of my crew I would never muster the courage and the strength to keep going most days.

I could not ask for a better group of people to face these challenges with.  I really wish I could better explain how life changing this experience has been; that even though it’s the hardest, without a doubt, it is the most memorable.  This is why I couldn’t possibly thank you enough for supporting our troops, but more importantly our cause.  Thank you so much.  Read more testimonials.