Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, River Raisin National Battlefield Park – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

Site Location: River Raisin National Battlefield Park

River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 333 North Dixie Highway, Monroe, Michigan 48162

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 2/23/2026
• End Date: 2/5/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

River Raisin National Battlefield Park, headquartered in Monroe, Michigan, preserves, commemorates, and interprets the pivotal January 1813 battles of the War of 1812 and their lasting aftermath. Located in Southeast Michigan (near Detroit and Toledo), the park highlights a conflict that resulted in both the greatest U.S. defeat and a massive victory for “Tecumseh’s Confederation” during the war.

The battles were a “national calamity” for American forces, leading to the rallying cry, “Remember the Raisin!” This cry later inspired the decisive U.S. victory at the Battle of the Thames, which secured the western theater for the U.S., tragically claimed the life of the Shawnee leader Tecumseh, and led to the end of the American Indian Confederation. The legacy of these battles includes the subsequent implementation of Indian removal from the Northwest Territory, an issue that continues to influence the United States today.

Park Volunteer Program

The park’s mission is significantly supported by a dedicated volunteer program. Currently, 117 active volunteers contribute over 30,000 hours annually to help preserve, interpret, and manage the park’s resources and programs.

Join the team at River Raisin National Battlefield Park as a Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) and play a crucial role in expanding our park’s reach and impact.

This dynamic position is focused on building and strengthening community partnerships across Southeast Michigan. You will be responsible for creating new connections with educational institutions (colleges, universities), leveraging existing collaborations with local organizations, and representing the park at community events to share our mission.

A core function of this role is innovating and expanding our volunteer programs. You will directly contribute to the park’s interpretive offerings by establishing new specialized groups, including a Historic Trades Volunteer Group and a Docent/Living History Program. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful youth outreach and education, introducing inner-city youth from varied backgrounds to the National Park Service and inspiring the next generation of public lands professionals.

Description of Duties:

• Building Community Partnerships

The CVA will engage in the following activities to build and strengthen the park’s community network:

• Community Event Tabling: Participate in community events with a park information table. This will provide direct engagement with the public, allowing the CVA to share the park’s mission and history, and build relationships with a broader audience
• Networking with Educational Institutions: Establish connections with local colleges and universities, such as Monroe County Community College, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. This includes attending career fairs and workshops to recruit new volunteers and promote career paths within the National Park Service and public lands management.
• Leveraging Local Organizations: Collaborate with established partners like Lake Erie Metro Parks and the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. The CVA will help coordinate joint initiatives and shared resources, like the corporate volunteer programs that have helped build parts of our education center.
• Facilitating Career Opportunities: By building relationships with schools, the CVA will help introduce students and young professionals to potential careers in public history and resource management. This will position the park as a real-world learning environment that inspires the next generation of public land professionals.
• Expanding Volunteer Programs

Develop a Historic Trades Volunteer Group: Cultivate a group of volunteers with a passion fortraditional crafts and trades. This will allow the park to integrate skilled volunteers into its interpretive programs, providing a richer, more dynamic experience for visitors.

Establish a Docent and Living History Program: Develop and recruit a core group of volunteers to act as docents and living history interpreters. These volunteers will roam the new education center and bring the exhibits to life for visitors and students.

Youth Outreach and Education: Engage with inner-city youth through partnerships with organizations like the Metro Detroit YMCA introducing young people to the national parks, fostering an early appreciation for nature, conservation, and heritage.

Qualifications:

• Enrollment Status: Must be currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within 12 months), from an accredited college or university.
• Motivation & Attitude: Must be a self-motivated individual with an outgoing, friendly attitude who is excited to take on the responsibility of volunteer program management. Flexibility, teamwork, and a positive attitude are a must!
• Interest in Mission: Demonstrated genuine interest in the mission of the National Park Service, public lands management, and the history interpreted at River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
• Basic Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, for interacting with park staff, volunteers, and the public.
• Reliability & Professionalism: Proven track record of reliability, responsibility, and professionalism in previous academic, volunteer, or work settings.
• Interpersonal Skills: Basic comfort and ability to interact with various groups of people, including youth, seniors, and community partners.
• Organizational Aptitude: Ability to manage time effectively, follow instructions, and maintain organization in daily tasks.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to participate in outdoor activities and perform tasks such as standing for periods, light lifting (e.g., setting up display tables), and traveling locally for events.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Local Connection: Preference will be given to applicants who are local residents or currently attend an educational institution in the Southeast Michigan/Northwest Ohio area (e.g., Monroe, Wayne, or Toledo counties).
• Educational Background: Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate (within the last 12 months) of a degree program in History, Communications, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management, Park/Recreation Management, or a related field.
• Outreach & Engagement: Proven experience (through prior positions, volunteer work, or school projects) in community outreach, public engagement, or volunteer management/coordination.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills necessary for public speaking, professional networking, and developing program materials.
• Interpersonal Abilities: Demonstrated ability to build rapport and network effectively with various partners, including university staff, community leaders, corporate partners, and volunteers of all ages.
• Program Development: Interest in or experience with developing educational or interpretive programs, particularly those involving history, historic trades, or living history.
• Organizational Skills: Excellent organizational and project management skills to independently coordinate and execute events, volunteer schedules, and outreach initiatives.
• Technology Proficiency: Familiarity with or willingness to learn how to use digital platforms (social media, basic website editing) for targeted outreach and promotion.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.  

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills
• Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development
• $750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training

Additional Position and Community Information:

A Unique Opportunity at River Raisin National Battlefield Park

This position offers a truly distinctive experience, combining professional development with immersion in a significant historical site:

• Immersive Educational Environment: Work directly within our impressive 20,000 sq ft immersive education center. As the center is partially open while still under development, you will gain rare, hands-on experience in launching and refining new interpretive programs and exhibits—a chance few participants receive.
• Flexible Schedule & Support: Benefit from flexible scheduling that helps accommodate academic needs, allowing you to effectively manage your work-life balance while gaining valuable experience.
• Deep Historical Engagement: Explore a unique and complex history that moves beyond single narratives, encouraging you to develop programs that interpret the various, often conflicting, perspectives of the War of 1812 conflict and its aftermath.
• Focus on Living History: Take a leading role in creating and supporting living history volunteer opportunities. You will be instrumental in recruiting and training docents and interpreters, bringing history to life for visitors and contributing directly to a richer, more dynamic visitor experience.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• 10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave

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.

How to Apply
Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.

The CVA position will start on Monday, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026

Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.

For Application Questions:

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.