USFS STEP/SCEP Programs

[forestryworks]

Haven't gotten too many answers from the local FS offices here about this program. I assumed it's a need based and fund based program.

Hoping to find some kind of work for Summer '10 provided I don't have forestry camp at forestry school.

Any one else have any helpful information?

 

[slowp]

Start early. Be prepared to be frustrated. Maybe your school can help. I don't know much about the programs but hiring goes through a black hole called the Abuquerque Service Center. Applications go in, but apparently don't always make it out. Except, I think California, also known as Region 5 does not use the black hole.

Not to worry, more people are being hired........
to work at the Albuquerque Service Center.:biggrinbounce2:

 

[newsawtooth]

Step

The step program is a good way to get hired. The funding is different so the districts don't have to use their funding to pay STEP employees. Also, your hiring preference is different so you are not competing for jobs in the same way as others. Figure out where you want to work and call them. Are you looking at fire or timber or rec?

 

[forestryworks]

The step program is a good way to get hired. The funding is different so the districts don't have to use their funding to pay STEP employees. Also, your hiring preference is different so you are not competing for jobs in the same way as others. Figure out where you want to work and call them. Are you looking at fire or timber or rec?

timber first.

then fire.

 

[newsawtooth]

Now, where do you want to work? Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington forests have fairly productive timber programs. I worked in fire on the STEP program in Idaho and Montana and then cruised timber in the falls. You will likely get on some fires anyway if you are in timber as they use the timber crews when the need arises.

 

[forestryworks]

i'll work just about anywhere.

whatever gets me out of texas for a bit.

gotta see what i'm missing.

 

[slowp]

Becoming a Wet side Timber Beastie

If you go to work in Western WA, or Oregon or Alaska, please have sturdy raingear and good boots. I've seen some guys show up to work here in the Summer from elsewhere, and they bought Sorel boots to wear! They ended up working in those things all season. In May, I took out a team of people doing an audit. Two of them just disappeared off the hill, and were found back in their pickup with the heater going.

We also have people show up who don't realize what it is like to leave the nice warm vehicle, and have to go right into soaking wet huckleberry/vine maple/reprod. You get damp whether in raingear or not.

I know you are enthusiastic, but be prepared for reality. Steep, brushy, slick and often drizzly. A boot dryer is a good thing to have.

I was dreading working over here on the wet side. But one reason I grew to like it was that there wasn't the macho thing about how fast one could walk. I asked a guy why and he said that we care more about the question "can you survive and or not get hurt?" We were even told that we needed to slow down and take more time in our timber cruising--that was when the timber was large and extremely valuable.

Smokejumpers hate coming here on fires, and we once had a training session where we locals covered the ground and waited, and waited, for the eastside crew to show. They came driving up after deciding it was unsafe to go down the hillside that we did.

We don't work on that stuff too much anymore. Just come with the mindset that it isn't working in a park. Come with a good learning attitude, and be willing to adapt, and you'll do well. You'll maybe have some good stories to tell back home.

 

[forestryworks]

If you go to work in Western WA, or Oregon or Alaska, please have sturdy raingear and good boots. I've seen some guys show up to work here in the Summer from elsewhere, and they bought Sorel boots to wear! They ended up working in those things all season. In May, I took out a team of people doing an audit. Two of them just disappeared off the hill, and were found back in their pickup with the heater going.

We also have people show up who don't realize what it is like to leave the nice warm vehicle, and have to go right into soaking wet huckleberry/vine maple/reprod. You get damp whether in raingear or not.

I know you are enthusiastic, but be prepared for reality. Steep, brushy, slick and often drizzly. A boot dryer is a good thing to have.

I was dreading working over here on the wet side. But one reason I grew to like it was that there wasn't the macho thing about how fast one could walk. I asked a guy why and he said that we care more about the question "can you survive and or not get hurt?" We were even told that we needed to slow down and take more time in our timber cruising--that was when the timber was large and extremely valuable.

Smokejumpers hate coming here on fires, and we once had a training session where we locals covered the ground and waited, and waited, for the eastside crew to show. They came driving up after deciding it was unsafe to go down the hillside that we did.

We don't work on that stuff too much anymore. Just come with the mindset that it isn't working in a park. Come with a good learning attitude, and be willing to adapt, and you'll do well. You'll maybe have some good stories to tell back home.

much appreciated advice.

 

[floyd]

Alternative thought. Buy corks & wool. Forget the raingear. you get just as wet wearing the raingear unless you fork out $ for gore-tex.

 

[slowp]

You have to figure out for yourself what is comfy in the wet. I prefer tin pants or rubber rain pants--with synthetic tops and or fleece. Then I keep dry tops to change into back in the rig. If I'm moving, a rain coat becomes a sauna coat. Everybody is different.

When I worked here before, we wore army surplus rainpants that we got for $5. They ripped, but we carried duck tape. The $70 dollar ones wear about the same so you need duck tape.