Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Interpretive Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: North Cascades National Park, Sedro-Woolley, Washington

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: 05/05/2025

End Date: 07/28/2025

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 play an important role in the park complex’s Bear Interpretation and Education program, part of the interdivisional Bear Management Plan, through conducting informal bear roves and delivering standardized formal bear programs throughout the season. They will also have the opportunity to shadow wildlife biologists through the bear management program.

Additionally, formal interpretive programming will address natural resource management by speaking to at least one of the following parkwide interpretive themes:

North Cascades Landscape, Ecosystem, and Biodiversity. Geological and ecological processes have sculpted a “sea of peaks.”

Glaciers, Rivers, and Lakes. More than 300 glaciers and a vast array of glacial-fed rivers, tributaries, and lakes have carved a natural landscape that links high mountain wilderness to the sea.

Wilderness. The Stephen Mather Wilderness is part of a national and international resource that is essential to the spirit and health of many people.

Culture and History. From native peoples, pioneers, explorers, and entrepreneurs to current visitors, people have found and continue to find refuge, challenge, resources, and inspiration in the North Cascades.

Research and Education. As a library, laboratory, and classroom, the park complex invites us to explore and understand the natural world and our place in it and apply the acquired knowledge to regional, national, and global challenges.

Climate Change. The rapid pace of human-caused, long-term changes in climate— higher temperatures, lower snowpack, and altered precipitation patterns—imperils the ecosystem and may irreparably alter species diversity, natural fire regimes, economics, and recreation.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The member will develop and present new interpretive programs and create social media products focusing on park interpretive themes, as well as bear interpretation and education. The member will hone public speaking and communication skills by providing orientation and safety information to visitors at the visitor center, design and present short formal interpretive programs, and provide roving interpretation on topics ranging from history and geology to the plants and wildlife of the park. This position is ideal for someone looking to develop customer service, interpretive, education, and teamwork skills with a land-management agency, through important frontline services that provide visitors the opportunity to make intellectual and emotional connections through their experience at the park and virtually through a robust social media presence. It is also an excellent experience for those looking to build skills for future applications to Park Ranger positions, or those looking to try out a summer season at a national park site. Duties Include: Staff the Visitor Center (30%), develop and present short formal interpretive programs and other community or education programs (20%), provide roving interpretation (20%), create social media outreach opportunities for the park (30%).


KEYWORDS: education, interpretation, communication

DELIVERABLES

The member will research and write at least one formal interpretive program and present it 10-15 times. The program will include a theme, link tangible resources to intangible meanings, have strong organization, support park themes, and incorporate audience-centered techniques. The member will generate relevant interpretive content for review and posting to the park’s social media, contributing at least two completed interpretive social media posts (interpretive text and photos) per month (6 total for the 12-week position).


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

  • Favorable federal background investigation
  • Ability to use computers or willingness to learn (primarily for email, photo and file-sharing, word processing, web research)
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing
  • Ability to deal with stressful situations
  • Ability to tolerate a variety of weather and working conditions while working outdoors
  • Must possess a valid state driver’s license
  • Ability to work well in a team environment, and collaborate to tackle challenges or unexpected situations

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

North Cascades National Park Service Complex (park complex) is a remote, mountainous wilderness, about two hours from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Temperatures vary considerably in the summer months, as does the weather in general. From cold, light showers to heavy fog, or dry heat to smoky conditions from wildfires, all of these conditions are likely to be seen between the months of May through September. The duty station for the position is the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem, WA, a small utility company town within the park complex. Park housing is located in Marblemount, WA, a 13-mile drive from the visitor center. Generally, the program hosts one member, but there are occasionally members in other park programs, up to 3-5 members across the park complex. The work requires standing for extended periods of time at the information desk or while out on trails. Reaching for objects above head-level, as well as lifting boxes of brochures up to 30lbs are common requirements. The member must be able to operate government vehicles safely along a busy, two-lane highway (often operating multiple makes/models of vehicles within a single summer). Communications from one area of the park to the next may vary, with some areas having little to no cell service available. Park radios are the primary means of communication while at work, and in some areas, only satellite phones or in-reach devices will adequately allow staff to communicate. Walking on uneven terrain such as gravel, sandy soils, or smooth surfaces interrupted by jutting stones and roots is part of the daily rotation of duties for this position. Wildlife that poses risks to workers include mice, bears, stinging/biting insects, and more.


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. Shared housing is available in Marblemount, WA. The park housing that is available is shared housing with up to five other people in the house, and the member may share a bedroom with one other person. Housing units have three bedrooms and one bathroom. Housing has wifi and are fully furnished; there will be basic kitchen items, dishes, etc., but if there are any specialty items (like a blender) that the member would want, they should plan on bringing those. Housing is provided at no cost to the member.


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 North Cascades 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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