Interpretation Intern​ – C&O Canal National Historical Park

Location: C&O Canal National Historical Park, Potomac, MD 

Positions Available: 3 Internships 

Dates: 5/15/2024 – 11/8/2024 (runs on a Wednesday – Sunday schedule) 

Pay Rate: $650/week ($400/stipend + $250/housing allowance) 

Status: This is a full-time, temporary 900 hour AmeriCorps National Service position.  

Contact: ​Questions? Email ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org​​​ 

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 their communities.   

Position Summary: 

Through interpretation and visitor services, the intern will assist with fulfilling the preservation mission of the National Park Service and the C&O Canal National Historical Park by providing relevant and provocative audience-centered experiences through a wide variety of interpretive and educational programming services. 

The C&O Canal National Historical Park receives approximately 5 million visitors a year. To maintain relevancy, the C&O Canal must engage new and diverse audiences. To achieve this, the C&O Canal will recruit an intern to engage diverse audiences with 21st century interpretive methods including living history programming. Traditional interpretive practices are becoming less effective at providing enjoyment and connections for audiences, while social, technological, and demographic changes provide a demand and opportunity for developing skills for 21st century citizenry through continuous growth and exploration. Utilizing the park’s primary interpretive themes, the interns will develop new 21st century interpretive and visitor use programs that incorporate the replica Charles F. Mercer canal boat, historic Great Falls Tavern, and adjacent scenic landmarks such as the Great Falls on the nearby Potomac River. 

The intern will promote a closer relationship between the park and the large visitor community through a wide variety of interpretive and visitor use engagement methods. This includes staffing an indoor Visitor Center, informal roving in areas of the park with high potential for visitor contact, and through popular formal programming. The intern’s job responsibilities will increase visitor understanding of the organization’s mission which in turn ensures environmental protection of the park’s unique cultural and natural resources. Main intern responsibilities include: 

• Conduct informational/educational-related visitor contacts and site introductions through a variety of methods.
• Research, develop and present formal interpretive talks that have a beneficial effect on visitor understanding and appreciation of the park.
• Assist visitor services and interpretive staff with front desk visitor center operations and work with animal livestock, specifically mules, with routine maintenance and upkeep.

Housing may be available on site. 

Benefits:   

• $650/week ($400/stipend + $250/housing allowance) paid biweekly
• $3,447.50 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 900 hour 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)
• Option to enroll in free health, vision, dental and mental health insurance
• $435 professional development funds
• Non-competitive eligibility when applying to federal jobs through the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority
• Possible Federal student loan forbearance
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths

General Qualifications: 

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, 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. Must have a valid driver’s license. 

Preferred Qualifications:   

• Public speaking experience
• Basic first aid/CPR/AED certification
• Enjoys working as a member of the team
• Interest and comfort working with animals (specifically mules)
• Outgoing and enjoys engaging people in an active manner
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Interest in subjects like History, Biology, Communications, Drama, or similar

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 a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.