News & Events

Parks in Focus® 2026 Position Announcement: Arizona (Tucson) Trip Leader


Posted: 2/5/2026

The Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Program (Parks in Focus®) connects youth to the Nation’s public lands and natural resources through photography, positive outdoor experiences, and environmental education. Parks in Focus® is a program of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation), an independent Federal agency headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Udall Foundation is seeking two enthusiastic and highly motivated Trip Leaders to join the Parks in Focus® team beginning in spring 2026. The Trip Leaders will organize and lead local Parks in Focus® outings in the greater Tucson area throughout the year, participate in one or more multiday trips to northern Arizona during the summer, and support program operations requirements. The Trip Leaders will receive training on Park in Focus® curricula and will work closely with Udall Foundation staff, partner youth organizations, and program volunteers.

The Trip Leaders will work a base schedule of up to 25 hours per week. Evening, weekend, and overnight Parks in Focus® activities are common, and the Trip Leaders will have an opportunity to earn overtime pay in certain circumstances. These positions may be extended beyond 2026, subject to satisfactory performance, program needs, and available program funding.

PARKS IN FOCUS® DUTIES

Onboarding, Training & Program Preparation

  • Attend a multiday training program.
  • Become familiar with Parks in Focus® mission, goals, curriculum, and resources.
  • Visit activity sites for scouting and risk management planning.
  • Shadow other Parks in Focus® staff during several local outings.

Program Implementation

  • Host informational meetings for participants, parents, and partners.
  • Finalize activity itineraries and handle all logistics.
  • Lead assigned Parks in Focus® activities and field trips.
  • Ensure activities run smoothly and safely.
  • Teach photography curricula and meet educational goals for each activity.
  • Work with participants to develop their photography skills.
  • Engage and motivate participants, partner staff, and volunteers.
  • Ensure activities are well documented through photo and video.
  • Ensure all participant forms and evaluation data are gathered and complete.

Program Reporting & Other Tasks

  • Provide updates and reports to supervisor.
  • Organize all photographs, video footage, and evaluation data.
  • Prepare photo highlights for all participants, staff, and partners.
  • Perform other administrative tasks as assigned.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Appreciation of the outdoors and ability to spark that enthusiasm in others.
  • Experience working with K-12 youth, preferably in an outdoor or camp setting.
  • Comfort with camping, hiking, and being outdoors in various weather conditions.
  • Interest in photography and willingness to learn and teach basic curriculum.
  • Familiarity with local parks and/or the communities served by this position.
  • Ability to assess and manage risks associated with outdoor activities.
  • Positive, upbeat attitude, and ability to adapt to changing demands.
  • Strong writing, communication, teaching, leadership, and teamwork skills.
  • Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation.
  • Must have current First Aid and CPR certifications prior to start date.
  • Wilderness First Aid certification highly desired.
  • Live in/near Tucson (housing is not provided).
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must be willing to provide fingerprints for a criminal background check.

Compensation

  • $21.89/hour regular pay (average 25 hrs./wk.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit the Udall Foundation’s website at udall.gov.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your current resume (2 pages max) and contact information for three professional references via email to:

Ernesto Somoza
Parks in Focus® Program Manager
Udall Foundation
434 E. University Blvd., Suite 300
Tucson, AZ 85705
parksinfocus@udall.gov

PLEASE NOTE

The successful applicants will be required to provide fingerprints that will be used to conduct a background check. Employment for this position will be subject to the Udall Foundation’s review and evaluation of the results of the background check.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

11:59 p.m. (PST) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026

About the Udall Foundation

The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on this Nation’s environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his support of the rights and self-governance of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to also honor Stewart L. Udall, Morris K. Udall’s brother, for his more than 50 years of distinguished national leadership in environmental and Native American policy. The agency is known today as the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation) and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

The Udall Foundation is authorized by Congress to:

  • Award Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships to eligible individuals for study in fields related to the environment and Native American and Alaska Native health care and Tribal public policy.
  • Through the Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus Program, invite youth to participate in education programs and provide training and education programs to professionals who work with youth to (1) increase awareness of the importance of and promote the benefit and enjoyment of the Nation’s natural resources and (2) foster greater recognition and understanding of the role of the environment, public lands, and resources in the development of the United States.
  • Provide funding to the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy to conduct policy research and outreach on the environment and related themes.
  • Provide funding and other assistance to the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management, and Policy, a program of the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, for research, education, and training on Native American and Alaska Native health care issues and Tribal public policy issues.
  • Provide funding to Special Collections at the University of Arizona Libraries to serve as the repository for the papers of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall and other such public papers as may be appropriate and assure such papers' availability to the public.
  • Provide assessment, mediation, collaboration, training, and other related services on a wide range of environmental, natural resources, Tribal, and public lands issues, conflicts, disputes, and potential disputes involving the Federal Government through the John S. McCain III National Center for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
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