The Youth Employment Centre asked the Junior Forest Rangers (JFR) to answer a few questions about their company.
How long have you been in business?
The Junior Forest Rangers (JFR) Program has been around since 1965. Though a lot has changed since then!
How many locations do you have in Calgary and nationally/internationally? What locations are hiring locally in Calgary and area?
We have 8 or 9 crews stationed in 10 different forest areas around the province each summer. One of these locations is the Calgary Forest Area, but there are 9 other locations each with their own opportunities and beauty!
How many people does your organization employ? How many locally?
Each crew consists of a Crew Leader, Sub Leader, and 6 high school aged crew members. We have 8 or 9 crews stationed across the province, which means that the JFR program employs 16 to 18 crew leaders and 48 to 54 crew members every summer.
What type of positions do you offer? (ex. Full time, part time, seasonal, contract etc.)
Our program offers full-time seasonal positions. Leaders work from middle of May to end of August. Our crew members work a total of 7 weeks in July and August.
What are the benefits of working for your company? Staff discounts, incentive programs, scholarships etc.
There are so many opportunities for professional and personal development as part of the JFR program. Leaders participate in many training programs including hand-tool and brush saw training, indigenous cultural protocol, wildfire orientation, mental health awareness sessions, radio operation, an optional three day chainsaw course, and many leadership and conflict management sessions.
Our crew members also participate in a wide variety of training courses at the beginning of their employment, which includes wildfire orientation, leadership and team development, indigenous awareness, bush craft, and tool and brush saw training. There are additional opportunities in each district and each leader pair is given a training budget to put towards a certificate for them and their crew. This could include Remote First Aid, ATV Operation, PAL, or Paddle Canada Canoe certifications.
Meals and accommodations are covered all summer for everyone employed by the JFR program.
Describe opportunities for advancement.
The JFR program is designed to be a stepping stone for Crew Leaders and Crew Members alike. Throughout the summer there are many opportunities to meet and network with project partners and office staff. For leaders who have worked one or more summers with JFR, we love to see them returning in future seasons to work with another group of people and experience a new district. Most years we employ a second year crew for returning members. They focus on more leadership aspects and careers in natural resource management. We encourage everyone to learn as much as they possibly can and make connections that will carry them towards their personal and professional goals!
How would someone find out about opportunities at your company? How can a candidate apply?
Learn more by visiting our website (www.albertajfr.ca), Facebook (Alberta Junior Forest Rangers), and Instagram (@albertajfr). You are also welcome to email any questions to JFR.info@gov.ab.ca
Candidates can apply online through the Government of Alberta’s online application system. JFR Crew Leader and Sub Leader job postings are up Mid December to January 31 each year. The JFR Crew Member job posting is up from February 1st to April 1st each year.
Describe your hiring and interview process?
Once all applications are in, JFR headquarters staff screen all applicants and schedule interviews. Leader candidates are required to submit answers to 3 job related questions prior to their interview. Member candidates apply for an interview with a personal interest form and letter of intent, the JFR Fitness test and Par Q, and 2 references.
What do you look for in an employee?
Ideal leader/sub leader candidates will have demonstrated experience in forestry, outdoor education, and/or environmental related fields. Individuals will have good communication skills, experience in organizing groups, project management skills, the ability to learn quickly and adapt, be creative, and work well in a team setting.
Preferred applicants are university or technical school students or graduates in outdoor education, recreation, forestry, environmental science or related disciplines. They will have experience working with youth and project planning, proficiency with MS Office, will have outdoor skills, gravel road driving experience, and power tool experience.
All successful candidates must have an unrestricted, Alberta class 5 driver’s license (non-GDL) (or equivalent), a minimum of Standard First Aid with Level A or C CPR certification, a defensive driving certification (online course is acceptable), a completed JFR fitness form and Par-Q readiness form (see JFR website), a clear criminal record check with vulnerable sector check, and an acceptable drivers abstract.
Crew member applicants must be full-time high school students, between the ages of 16-18 as of July 1 of the current year. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience working with other individuals in sports teams, clubs and/or groups. Individuals will have experience working outdoors or taking part in outdoor activities, the ability to learn quickly and adapt, be creative, and looking to work on communication and leadership skills
The following skills are considered an asset for Crew Member applicants. First Aid and CPR certification, experience on a team or club (sports, JFW, hobby clubs, D&D etc.), experience and comfortability working and living in the outdoors, leadership experience and/or the desire to improve those skills, active lifestyle.
What type of education/training/equipment do you require?
For Crew Leaders, a high school diploma plus one-year related training/courses and six months related experience is required. For Crew Sub Leaders, a high school diploma plus some related training/courses and six months related experience is required.
Crew member applicants must be full-time high school students and comfortable working and living outside in a team environment.
What is the minimum age required to work for your company? Are there different age requirements for different positions?
Eligible Crew Leaders and Sub Leaders must be at least 18 years old.
Eligible Crew Members must be between 16 and 18 as of July first of the current year.
Provide a wage range for entry level positions.
In the 2022 season Leader wage ranges for positions are:
- $22.99 to $28.31 per hour for Crew Sub Leaders (NR3) and $23.78 to $29.36 per hour for Crew Leaders (NR4)
- There is an additional 11.2% added to the hourly rate in lieu of receiving vacation and benefits.
- In addition to daily work Monday to Friday, leaders will be compensated for evening and weekend supervision during July and August, when applicable.
In the 2022 season Member wage ranges for positions are:
- $15.00 per hour for First Year Crew Members and $16.00 per hour for Second Year Crew Members
- There is an additional 11.2% added to the hourly rate in lieu of receiving vacation and benefits
What are the hours of the business and general shift times? Are there a minimum number of hours someone needs to work per week? Is there flexibility regarding school schedules?
In the months of May and June shifts are Monday to Friday working hours are 08:15 – 16:30. When Crew Members arrive in July, shifts are 12 days on 2 days off with leader pairs alternating weekends off.
Crew Members work Monday to Friday 08:15 – 16:30 p.m.
Is a uniform provided or do employees have to pay for it?
Uniforms are provided. Each Leader and Subleader receive 2 sets of Nomex 2-piece coveralls and 3 cotton undershirts. Each member receives 2 Nomex coveralls.
We provide hard hats, hearing protection, personal first aid kits, safety glasses, and gloves to all employees. Steel toed boots are required, but not provided.
We also hand out all sorts of JFR swag including t-shirts, polo shirts, water bottles, toques, soft shell jackets, stickers, and patches!
For more information about the Junior Forest Rangers please visit their website here.
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