Medicine Bow-Routt Forests and Thunder Basin Hiring Seasonal Workers for Recreation

National and local Forest Service offices are expanding seasonal hiring ahead of the summer recreation season, a move that promises more hands to maintain trails, campgrounds, and visitor facilities across public lands relevant to Albany County residents. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced plans to hire up to 2,000 seasonal positions nationwide to support active management work and improve access and experiences on national forests and grasslands.

The Medicine Bow–Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland posted a recruitment notice on February 12, 2026 stating, "The Medicine Bow–Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland (MBRTB) is recruiting seasonal employees for the upcoming recreation season. Positions include recreation and visitor services, trail and recreation site maintenance, and active resource management." Those categories align with routine summer work that keeps trailheads open and recreation sites serviced for local users.

At the national level, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the move as part of a broader fiscal and staffing reset, saying, "Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is restoring fiscal responsibility, efficiency and accountability so that Americans can count on services that endure." Rollins added that the agency has "addressed millions of dollars in salary deficits inherited from the previous administration" and that the Forest Service is "now on a path to fiscal solvency and able to fill these critical seasonal positions to improve services for visitors this summer."

Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz emphasized the local and operational effects of the program. "Hiring these seasonal positions is essential to delivering the services visitors rely on," Schultz said, adding that seasonal staff keep "forests open and accessible, campgrounds and other facilities clean, and neighboring towns thriving." He further said, "This year, we're focusing our recruitment within the communities we serve. Local residents bring invaluable knowledge, pride, and a strong connection to the places we care for."

District and forest offices are matching the national push with local needs. One unit is seeking up to 35 technician positions for the recreation season, with technicians slated to work in duty areas such as Shasta Lake and Mount Shasta. Forest Supervisor Rachel Birkey described seasonal staff as central to summer operations, saying, "Our seasonal employees are the backbone of summer operations, keeping our campgrounds, trails, and recreation sites open, safe and welcoming for visitors." Officials note these recreation hires are in addition to seasonal fire hiring already underway.

The Forest Service says it has streamlined hiring to shorten timeframes so seasonal employees can begin work earlier, opening more opportunities for rural applicants. Interested applicants are instructed to apply through USAJOBS and to review job announcements closely for qualifications, start dates, and deadlines. For Albany County residents, the hires mean increased summer employment opportunities, continued maintenance of local access to public lands, and staffing that helps preserve the quality of trail and campground experiences. Expect local forest offices to post specific job listings and hiring events in the weeks ahead as recruitment moves into full swing.