AgCorps Adopt-A-Trailhead Specialist

Service Position Summary:

Adopt-A-Trailhead Montana (AATM) and Pull-Your-Share (PYS) are cooperative volunteer programs that help protect Montana’s trails from the spread of noxious weeds. Noxious weeds at trailheads will lead to infested backcountry, city parks, and recreation areas which threatens Montana’s tourism economy, wildlife habitat, and native plant communities. These programs aim to stop and control noxious weeds at the trailhead, educate the public about noxious weeds and provide ways they can act against spreading noxious weeds when recreating.

AATM started in 2015, and since then there have been 74 kiosks installed with around 42 of those trailheads adopted. Volunteer groups work with state, city or federal agencies to adopt a trailhead or park and are responsible for hosting at least one weed pull per year. PYS was created by a Great Falls teacher and involves both classroom instruction and a field trip where teachers and students pull weeds at a site and learn about natural resource careers.

This service member will maintain all current kiosks, recruit volunteer groups for new or existing trailheads without adoptees, conduct kiosk installs, run volunteer days at weed pull events, conduct classroom instruction, host school field trips, maintain social media and outreach for the program, work with other agencies and NGOs to strengthen the program, and assists other noxious weed programs at the department as needed.

This position will be in the field and on the road about 40% of the time. The remaining 60% will be conducted in a typical office environment. Transportation or mileage reimbursement, per diem, and hotel fees will be provided for program events.

Essential Functions and responsibilities:

• Coordinate AATM and PYS program events
• Recruit volunteer groups for new and existing trailheads
• Develop social media and outreach for the program
• Organize volunteer groups and weed pull events
• Conduct kiosk and sign installation and maintenance
• Conduct outreach activities at schools and community events
• Assist other department noxious weed programs as needed
• Attendance at mandatory trainings (orientation, Symposium, mid-service training and end of service training)
• Participation in evaluation and reporting (monthly reporting, bi-weekly timesheet submission and monthly check-in calls)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Ability to interact with community members of all demographics
• Knowledge of design and editing software (i.e., Canva, Adobe, etc.)
• Communication and public speaking skills
• Understanding or willingness to learn about noxious weeds in Montana
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel long distances
• Ability to be part of a collaborative team
• Excellent time and project management skills and attention to detail
• Adhere to program policies and procedures
• Demonstrate the ability to balance service activities
• Demonstrate professional behavior and use of appropriate language
• Demonstrate the ability to be flexible and serve cooperatively
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts

AmeriCorps Program Benefits:

• Members receive a living allowance to cover basic expenses while serving
• Upon successful completion of service, members receive a $7,395 education award
• While serving, members may qualify for student loan forbearance
• Healthcare/ childcare services are available while serving
• A monthly housing stipend if eligible
• Other benefits include being part of an incredible community, being surrounded by professionals in multiple fields, and job shadowing opportunities
• AmeriCorps alumni benefits include access to nationwide alumni network, many career resources, access to AmeriCorps alumni emails and updates