Work with HistoriCorps!
HistoriCorps is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization whose mission is to save and sustain historic places for public benefit through partnerships that foster community involvement, volunteer, student and youth engagement, and education and training.
What HistoriCorps Does

Saves historic buildings
Teaches volunteers traditional building skills
Provides a unique all-inclusive volunteer experience on public lands for people of all ages and from all walks of life

Program Description

We are looking for a few good cooks who love old buildings and camping in the wilderness, or young historic preservationists who love cooking and want a full immersion hands-on work experience! If you love cooking for others and want to work on historic buildings, or you are studying or working toward a career in historic preservation, and you love to cook, come spend a season with HistoriCorps.

Though scopes of work vary, HistoriCorps projects cover a range of historic structures. Staff will work with volunteers to restore/rehabilitate multiple historic log, stone, adobe, and frame buildings that were originally used as ranger stations, guard stations, cow camps, and miner cabins. The buildings are all located on America’s spectacular public lands (BLM, NPS, USFS, state lands).

Typically, vounteers are with HistoriCorps for five day sessions, camping close to the project sites. HistoriCorps provides its volunteers with three hearty meals a day in exchange for their contributions to the completion of detailed scopes of work.

Position Description

Crew Leaders will work at the direction of and assist the Project Supervisor on all aspects of HistoriCorps projects. They will also maintain a welcoming and professional crew camp and kitchen. HistoriCorps’ Field Staff positions, including that of Crew Leader, are seasonal in nature and do not offer year-round employment. Seasons for new Crew Leaders will start as early as May and end as late as November; returning Crew Leaders’ seasons can start as early as February. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Adhering to and continually promoting a culture of safety on the worksite and in the camping area
Driving HistoriCorps trucks and equipment trailers to job sites, often at great distances in between projects
Planning, purchasing and preparing 3 meals a day in a camp kitchen for as many as 10 volunteers and paid crew
Providing a safe, hygienic, clean, bear-proof camp kitchen in compliance with established food handling guidelines
Assisting the Project Supervisor to plan and coordinate tasks for volunteer, student, and youth crews
Working alongside volunteers on tasks as designated by the Project Supervisor
Serving as a liaison between volunteer crews and the Project Supervisor
Assisting with natural and cultural resources compliance such as seasonal fire bans, campground rules and regulations, and federal and state agencies’ historic preservation criteria and provisions.

Required Skills and Qualifications

The ability and aptitude to cook, and enjoy cooking, meals for large groups (8-18 people at a time) in an outdoor kitchen without electricity or running water
Infusing in others your enthusiasm for the wilderness and historic resources
Work well in immersive group settings
An aptitude and unflappable enthusiasm for working outdoors in variable weather in backcountry and other remote locations, with the understanding that such work requires long days (12+ hours)
Able to live and work in a remote and/or backcountry setting (i.e. tents) for up to an extended period of time. Most projects are 2-4 weeks long, with weekend breaks.
A valid driver’s license and a good driving record
A rudimentary knowledge of hand tools and the building trades, and a willingness to learn
Strong communication and conflict resolution skills

The preferred candidate will

Demonstrate a high aptitude for culinary endeavors
Possess rudimentary building trade skills and a positive attitude toward old buildings, log working experience ideal
Have previous leadership experience with conservation or similar volunteer work crews, ideally in remote and/or backcountry settings
Be First Aid or First Responder certified

Successful Crew Leaders will benefit from:

Exposure to the preservation trades, outdoor adventure programs, historic resources management, and volunteer/crew leadership
Significant experience in cooking for groups in remote settings
Level 1 Crew Leaders will focus on managing camp and kitchen, with introductory level training in preservation techniques.
Level 2 Crew Leaders will have made camp and kitchen management “second nature” and, while still being responsible for camp and kitchen, will be ready to further develop their experience in preservation techniques and crew management
Level 3 Crew Leaders will continue to be responsible for the camp and kitchen. They will have demonstrated significant progress toward becoming a leader on the job site and will have some level of competence in leading crews in accomplishing less-complex scopes of work.

Pay Range

$135 – $186 per day commensurate with experience.

Application Instructions

Please send a resume, letter of interest (maximum 600 words), and three references to Liz Rice at [email protected]. For questions, please call Liz at 720-287-0100, ext. 3.