Cultural Steward Individual Placements

Dates of Service: May 19th, 2025 – November 14th, 2025 (26 weeks) 

Positions Available: 3 Internships 

Pay: $720/week ($600/stipend + $120/additional member benefit) 

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org     

Applications will be accepted until March 20th or until the positions have been filled. Submit your resume and cover letter through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements 

Appalachian Conservation Corps:  

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.  

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.  

Position Summary: 

The Werowocomoco Cultural Stewards Individual Placement Program is based in Jamestown, Virginia, headquarters of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail). Trail staff are responsible for the protection of Werowocomoco in Gloucester, VA. and collaborate with seven tribal nations to gather information about Werowocomoco and understand it as a Native place.  

Werowocomoco is an internationally significant Native place where the leader Wahunsenacawh, also known as Powhatan, lived and received the newly arrived English leaders. Archaeology shows that Native people had been living at Werowocomoco for thousands of years, and that by the year 1200, many homes were along the river bluff.  

Continuing in 2025, the National Park Service will host three people in this Individual Placement program that will introduce participants to major aspects of national park operations and then work with NPS staff to apply new skills at and for Werowocomoco as circumstances allow.  

Individual Placements will train with NPS staff from the Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Colonial National Historical Park as well as with other non-profit partners, to learn and apply principles from the divisions of Interpretation and Education, Law Enforcement, Facility Management, and Resource Stewardship and Science. IP’s time will be divided between the divisions as opportunities allow.  Examples of opportunities provided may include:  

• estimating the deer population at Werowocomoco
• inventorying native and invasive plant species
• assisting with archeological monitoring and excavation
• participating in collections management
• observing/ride-along with law enforcement rangers
• caring for the grounds and buildings at Werowocomoco
• developing interpretive programs
• participating in summer camp and school group programs

Participants will be provided a thorough two-week training upon onboarding, including Introduction to the NPS, trail history, NPS regulations and policies, how to present interpretive programming, customer service, conflict resolution, and an introduction to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. 

Additional training offerings (if available) include Operational Leadership, kayak certification, off-road vehicle certification, and safety trainings such as CPR and First Aid. 

Job Responsibilities are varied and change often during the IP’s term. Daily tasks include but are not limited to:  

• Manage email and personal work calendar
• Participate fully as a trail team member, including attending weekly all-staff meetings, required NPS policy trainings and provide document review.
• Participate in day-to-day operations of a national trail, including public outreach, workshopping programs with teammates, answering inquiries, managing inventory of materials, event preparation
• Develop and present interpretive programming
• Research time to complete and support project goals
• Multiple professional development training opportunities are provided, both virtual and in-person.
• Additional duties, projects and tasks will be assigned based on IP’s personal interests and skillset.

The goal is for the participants to develop potential career paths leading to opportunities with the National Park Service and other federal sites. The position provides the Individual Placement with noncompetitive hiring authority under the Public Lands Corps Act. This hiring authority lasts for two years and makes the Individual Placement eligible for certain job positions within the NPS and other federal land management agencies.   

Typically, Individual Placements will primarily report to work at trail headquarters in Jamestown, VA. Additional work locations include Yorktown and Gloucester, VA and the local vicinity for other work-related training opportunities. Individual Placements will undergo a background check to attain the necessary credentials for accessing NPS buildings, computers and vehicles. 

Benefits:  

• $720/week ($600/living stipend + $120/housing allowance), paid bi-weekly
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award ($3,697.50) upon successful completion of service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)
• Professional development fund of $1,434
• Option to enroll in medical, vision, dental, and mental health insurance.
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – non-competitive hiring status for two years
• Possible student loan forbearance
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill academic internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to cultural resource career paths

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Familiarity with Virginia tribal communities.
• Experience in public facing roles, customer service.
• Experience working with Native American youth and young people or experience working in Native American communities.

General Qualifications: 

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award. In addition, applicants must:  

Possess a valid driver’s license  

Our Promise: 

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

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 job functions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.