Urban Forestry Crew Leader Trainee

The Native American nonprofit, Elderberry Wisdom Farm (EWF) is hiring Crew Leaders interested in environmental career pathways for work September through December 2026. Four temporary part-time positions are being offered to Native American and other individuals located near Salem in Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. Project partners include the Oregon Department of Forestry: Urban and Community Forestry Program, Salem-Keizer schools, Friends of Trees and other organizations.

Those interested in urban forestry and other environmental careers will receive training in Traditional Ecological Knowledge principles and climate adaptation practices by Elderberry Wisdom Farm staff. After a month of classroom education and experiential service-learning training, crew leaders will begin to plant and maintain native tree, shrub and pollinator species native to Oregon’s Willamette Valley while helping to mentor students in Salem’s classrooms and schoolyards, and include local community members planting trees through the fall and winter of 2026.

Crew Leaders will receive training and then work four days a week Tuesdays through Thursdays 8 am to 5 pm plus Saturday mornings from October 1, 2026 through January 2027. They will work outdoors, lifting and carrying objects for periods of time, and in weather ranging from hot, dry, dusty, foggy, cold, and rainy. But it’s fulfilling work that will immerse you in nature, teach you a lot about yourself and build your stamina and employment skills that prepare you for additional conservation employment opportunities.

Applicants can review EWF’s website at elderberrywisdom.org. Those interested in applying can send a resume and letter of interest to Idealist.org. Submit applications by September 15 as final decisions will be made September 30. Training begins October 1, 2026. Applicants need to live near Salem or be willing to move nearby.

There is potential for employment to continue through December 2028.

Benefits are qualitative in nature as Crew Leaders will be able to learn how to integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge principles and practices of Native Americans with Western Science practices of partners. They will also be trained in urban forestry, native plant nursery development, mentoring of school-age students, and health and wellness resilience.

Elderberry Wisdom Farm provides an ideal workplace environment where you can learn what it means to work with others, demonstrating qualities such as cooperation, compassion, equality, justice and mutual respect. We regard these qualities to be essential as they prepare people to participate in a more fulfilling and meaningful way with the broader community.

English and Spanish proficiency is appreciated