POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Education Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction, Oregon
Can this position be fully remote: No
Number of positions available: 2
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: No
Start Date: 05/04/2025
End Date: 11/02/2025
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hour
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.00 upon successful completion of position.
- Living Allowance of $565.00 per week.
- Relocation Allowance of $400.00 distributed as a one-time lump sum.
- Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
- Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).
APPLICATION TIMELINE
The position will close after receiving 75 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, 19 January, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 19 January, 2025.
PURPOSE
This Education Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will help to create and maintain our curriculum-based programming and our presence in the community at local outreach events.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This is an environmental education focused position within the Division of Interpretation, at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. The member will work with the park education specialist and focus on preparing and presenting Earth science education programs and activities geared for fourth through sixth grade students, including a tour through the Oregon Caves in both the spring and fall. Summer duties will include leading guided tours of the cave for the general public (up to 3, 90 tours each day) and participation in public outreach events. Guides will lead general Discovery tour daily, including two additional specialty tours in the summer months. The specialty tours consist of 90-minute Kids and Family tour and a 60-minute historic candlelight tour.
KEYWORDS: Education, Interpretation, Geology, Tours, Visitor Services
DELIVERABLES
The result will include new teaching materials, with a focus on climate change, and made available to instructors who visit Oregon Caves with their students and online for those who cannot.
QUALIFICATIONS
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
- Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
- Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the NPS site location.
- The applicant must be available to participate for 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants need a strong understanding of the Earth sciences, especially Geology; enthusiasm to learn more as it relates to the caves and the Klamath-Siskiyou Region; and a desire to share that knowledge verbally with the public, especially kids, and the ability to write well.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is located within the rugged and beautiful Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon, an area widely recognized for its rich geological and biological diversity. The visitor center and historic lodge are nestled around the cave entrance under a lush green canopy of conifers, maples, and madrones. The elevation is 4,000 feet. The small town of Cave Junction is located 20 miles to the west and offers all of the basic amenities. Grants Pass is 50 miles to the north and offers a wide range of amenities, including a hospital. Crater Lake and Redwood National Parks and the Pacific Ocean are all within a 3-hour drive.
Physical Position Environment: Much of the work is in a cave environment leading up to 3, 90-minute tours per day. The temperature inside the cave is a constant 44 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring weather will vary from highs of 60 to lows below freezing. You can also expect periods of snowy and rainy weather during this time.
VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Housing is dormitory style in the historic chalet. It has a shared kitchen, laundry room, and communal bathrooms. Rooms are sparse and may be shared with a roommate. The participant must supply their own bedding (twin) and towels. Satellite TV and a DVD player are available in a shared entertainment room. Wi-Fi is available in the dorm, but on a limited basis (no streaming or gaming). Cell service is very limited. The nearest grocery store and gas station is 20 miles away.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
- Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
- Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
- Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff or the Ecological Society of America.
- Opportunity to join one (or more) SIP Affinity Groups. Groups include: DEIJ Change Makers, Women+ in Science, BIPOC, or Pride in STEM.
- Opportunity to present the outcomes from the SIP position at national scientific meetings held by the Ecological Society of America and Geological Society of America.
EVALUATION AND REPORTING
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Oregon Caves National Monument will host a Education Assistant.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements.
If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”