Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Interpretive Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Shenandoah National Park, Luray, Virginia

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 08/04/2025

End Date: 10/27/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.00 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 Interpretive Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will contribute towards the conservation, stewardship, and interpretation of the natural resources that define Shenandoah NP. As a relatively wild, natural place in the east near many urban areas, we have the opportunity to provide our diverse visitors with engaging educational programs and informal interactions in the field on the topic of natural resources and public land stewardship and how our visitors’ experiences and values relate to and effect the park’s mission. ​

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

​​The participant will join our seasonal and permanent staff in providing various visitor services to include operating a visitor center, conducting interpretive programs to the public, and providing assistance and information while on park trails and at other visitor areas in the field. • The participant will perform regular/recurring duties in connection with staffing visitor centers (25% of their time) and roving park trails and visitor use areas (25% of their time). This aspect provides the opportunity for both brief and more-in-depth visitor contact interactions while providing basic orientation, resource education information, and regulation and safety information and assistance as needed. Informal visitor contact work in the field would include hiking trails of 1-5 miles as well as other areas of high visitor use like paved overlooks, campgrounds, and picnic areas. • The member will develop and present at least one recurring professional thematic interpretive program (such as a guided walk, talk, junior ranger program, or evening program) about the Park’s significance to a wide variety of audiences (25% of their time to include project preparation and research). Depending on the member’s experience and interest as well as the park’s needs, the member’s programs will focus on the park's geologic story and emerging critical issues such as climate change, air quality, and preservation of night skies, or other relevant Park topics like wildlife and species diversity, hydrology, etc. Our programs are given in a variety of park locations including campgrounds, trails, and at visitor centers, and typically range in length from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. Audience sizes can vary from 5 to 100+ people depending on location and time. • As time and member interest allows, other special projects may include contributing to the park’s interpretive media such as providing photographs for park use, social media posts, short videos, and website content.​


KEYWORDS: ​​Education, interpretation, visitor services, visitor center , public programs​

DELIVERABLES

​​The goal of this position is three-fold: to support the park’s interpretive program mission to educate and inspire our visitors while protecting the resource, to enhance the diversity of our interpretation and education staff at Shenandoah National Park, and to provide the member with the knowledge and experience to qualify and successfully compete for paid positions in education and interpretation in public lands or other related organizations. This position will provide the necessary training and experience as an interpretive park ranger capable of developing and delivering original interpretive ranger programs, to rove park trails and visitor use areas providing safety information and interpretive connections, and proficiency working a visitor information desk to offer information and assistance. The deliverables for the member will be the training and experience in conducting interpretive and educational programming, developing original interpretive program outlines and associated visual aids for a variety of programs, and operating a visitor contact station while also gaining greater experience in exploring and recreating in a park. There will also be the opportunity and guidance for the member to create a current resume in a format recognized and preferred by the NPS and other federal land management agencies.​


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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
​​• Upper-level college coursework in natural and/or cultural resources and science in related subject matter such as archaeology, paleontology, history, ecology, geology, wildlife biology, botany, evolution, climate change, earth science, and environmental studies. • Good public speaking skill is crucial, as is a desire to work with the public. • Proficiency with computers and basic office equipment is essential. • A valid driver’s license with a good driving record and submit to a standard background investigation as per National Park Service regulations. • Although not required for this position, a personal vehicle is highly recommended for the member to be able to more easily get to their work location as well as for attending to personal business outside the park.​

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

​​Shenandoah National Park lies along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in north central Virginia. The park consists of more than 197,000 acres of mountains, forests, meadows, and streams including 79,579 acres of designated wilderness. The park includes the famously scenic Skyline Drive, more than 500 miles of hiking trails, and numerous historical sites. Weather is variable throughout the season from cold, wet conditions in early Spring to hot, humid mid-Summer conditions, and crisp, cool Fall days. Temperatures are usually 8-10 degrees cooler on the mountain than they are in the surrounding lowland areas. Once the participant has completed their initial training and orientation, they will independently conduct interpretive programs throughout the park at a variety of locations to possibly include amphitheaters, visitor centers and overlooks/pullouts. They will deploy a variety of visual aids and materials to enhance their programs. Being able to lift ~20 pounds is a necessity as is walking at least 2 miles or for 45 minutes. At visitor centers, the member will work alongside or in rotation with other staff to provide visitor assistance and information and will participate in basic operational duties to include light cleaning, stocking supplies, and opening/closing associated facilities. Due to the variability of work duties, a sturdy pair of hiking boots is necessary. A government vehicle will be provided for commuting on work time from their duty station to programs and events. The location of daily shifts will vary throughout the park to include visitor centers, hiking trails, outdoor amphitheaters, picnic areas, overlooks, etc. There are numerous species of insects in Shenandoah National Park including gnats, stinkbugs, and ticks. Some ticks carry Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses so members will have to use precautionary practices and be diligent about performing daily tick checks; tick-related safety information will be provided during orientation and throughout the season. The park is home to approximately 500 black bears, 2 species of venomous snakes, and a variety of other wildlife. The member will be trained in how to safely share bear-habitat. The park enjoys the full four seasons and the member’s work will be conducted indoors and outdoors during occasional inclement weather and during very warm or cool/cold days. ​


VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
  • A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Housing will be in a single or double bedroom in a shared house at one of the following locations within the park: Park headquarters (near Luray) or Dickey Ridge (near Front Royal and Dickey Ridge visitor center). The member will share a kitchen, bathrooms, and living area with other members, volunteers, and/or seasonals and may share their room with one other staff person. The occupant will have to bring bedding, towels, pillow, and cooking utensils. Depending on the location of the participant's housing, the distance to the nearest large grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, doctor's offices, etc. ranges from 5-10 miles. ​


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 Shenandoah National Park will host a Interpretive 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!”

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