ACE Pacific West

Join Us – ACE CREW, Pacific West

The American Conservation Experience (ACE) is one of the nation’s premier conservation corps and provides opportunities for young adults in all 50 states and several territories.

Our CREW program is for participants ages 18-30 (35 for veterans), who are interested in making a difference while gaining valuable skills and experience. ACE offers many options – whether you are exploring a short-term outdoor-related opportunity or considering a new career path. ACE Crews work alongside industry leaders such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and a number of state agencies and nonprofit partners. Members serve in professionally supervised teams and gain hands-on experience through trail maintenance, fire hazard reduction, habitat restoration projects, historical preservation, wildlife surveys, and more. A living allowance and housing are frequently included.

ACE is committed to attaining a workforce that represents the rich and diverse experiences of the communities in which we work.

Coachella Valley, CA
Ridgecrest, CA
Sacramento, CA

Join our team today! Learn more about our current openings below to find the ACE Opportunity that’s right for you.

Why Crew?

  • Team setting to build both technical and interpersonal skills
  • Foundational conservation work and principles
  • Housing provided in most locations
  • Opportunities offered nationwide
  • Work with staff from local and federal land management agencies
  • Broad networking opportunities
  • Food and transportation while on project
  • Biweekly living allowance
  • AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful term completion
  • Some positions are eligible for PLC noncompetitive hiring authority
  • Hands-on field projects and trainings
  • Opportunities for professional development trainings
  • Opportunities to travel regionally for projects as well as off days

What We Do

ACE Pacific West works in a wide variety of areas throughout the state of California. From forest thinning using chainsaws and building trail structures using dry-stone masonry in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to trail construction within California’s coastal Redwood forests, the vast range of projects take us all over California and the Pacific West. Our work encompasses trail construction and maintenance, specialized rock work, habitat restoration and planting, fencing, fuels reduction, invasive species removal, historic preservation, and much more. To join ACE Pacific West is to contribute to a lasting legacy of work proudly implemented for the benefit of the environment and communities throughout the West.

Based in Central and Southern CA

ACE Pacific West is separated into three locations in Central and Southern California.

Sacramento, CA  – ACE Pacific West’s Sacramento base is located in the suburbs of California’s capital city, resting on Nisenan, Patwin, and Me-Wuk ancestral lands. Settled on the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, Sacramento features the world-renowned 32-mile Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail along the American River, conservation-focused Sacramento Zoo, and more than a dozen museums along with a thriving downtown known for its excellent food scene and farmers markets. Lake Tahoe is only a 1.5 hour drive east and offers an array of world-class outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, boating, skiing, snowboarding, and more! Learn about our Sacramento location.

Ridgecrest, CA – ACE Pacific West’s Ridgecrest base is located at the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada and rests on Northern Paiute, Kawaiisu, and Newe (Western Shoshone) indigenous lands. The area is in the Mojave Desert and provides excellent access to the renowned Eastern Sierra, home to Mount Whitney (the highest peak in the lower 48) as well as unparalleled National Parks including Death Valley, Sequioa-Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. Winter activities at Mammoth Mountain are a 2 hour drive away, and there are countless opportunities to explore the high California desert. Learn about our Ridgecrest location.

Coachella Valley, CA – ACE Pacific West’s Coachella Valley base is located a short distance east of Los Angeles and the area was first inhabited by the Cahuilla People. Over time, Coachella Valley has become one of the state’s most LGBTQ+ friendly regions. Home to the world-famous Coachella art and music festival and the resort destination of Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley sits at the foot of the San Jacinto mountains, which climb to nearly 11,000 feet. Here you’ll find a thriving and inclusive community that annually hosts one of the nation’s largest pride events. Joshua Tree National Park sits only minutes away to the east. Discover our Coachella Valley location.

Explore the Pacific West’s Most Iconic Locations

  • California State Parks
  • Pinnacles National Park
  • Los Padres National Forest
  • Stanislaus National Forest
  • Tahoe National Forest
  • Eldorado National Forest
  • Plumas National Forest
  • Lassen Volcanic National Park
  • Ridgecrest BLM Land
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • Mojave National Preserve
  • Inyo National Forest
  • Sequoia National Forest
  • Cleveland National Forest
  • And many more!

Additional ACE Locations

ACE offers projects in some of the nation’s most beautiful destinations. If you would like to learn more about these options, use the links below.

Mountain West – Hurricane, UT
Eastern – Asheville, NC
Southwest – Flagstaff, AZ
EPIC – Opportunities Nationwide

I have so much more confidence in my skills and ability to tackle new problems from my time at ACE. Professionally, so many opportunities that I had never considered before have opened up for me. And personally, I have gained so many relationships that I treasure, and I feel like I can handle anything that comes my way knowing they’ve got my back.

- Ashley B.

ACE Resources

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General Resources

Looking for general ACE information on safety guidelines, JEDI info, and ACE Learns Virtual Sessions, and more? You’ll find a collection of resources compiled or produced by ACE here.
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Member Resources

Already enrolled? This is your space to connect with your primary point of contact and division and find resources to support you on your ACE journey. This space is for current members only.  
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Alumni Resources

Looking to stay connected? As an ACE Alumni we want to stay in touch with you as you start your next adventure. Share your story, connect with former members and access professional resources here. 

About American Conservation Experience

Mission

American Conservation Experience (ACE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing rewarding environmental service opportunities that harness the idealism and energy of a volunteer labor force to help restore America’s public lands. ACE is grounded in the philosophy that cooperative labor on meaningful conservation projects fosters cross-cultural understanding and operates on the belief that challenging volunteer service unites people of all backgrounds in common cause.

Our History

Founded in 2004 in Flagstaff, Arizona, ACE was established as a local conservation corps, providing a range of service programs and opportunities for both American and international participants.

Over the years ACE continued to grow and expand its programming partnerships that include federal land management agencies and dozens of federal, state, municipal, and nonprofit partnerships. Currently ACE operates out of hubs in Flagstaff AZ, Sacramento, CA, Salt Lake City and Hurricane UT and Asheville, NC along with a robust remote workforce located across the country.

Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
Ace Member Serving in the Field
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