Lead Summit Steward – Acadia National Park

EMPLOYMENT PERIOD: May 18 – November 7, 2025

JOB SUMMARY:   

The Summit Stewards are an interdisciplinary team that work alongside Acadia National Park (ANP) staff to improve the visitor experience and reduce visitor impacts in the park by engaging with over 15,000 visitors annually. Summit Stewards traverse the trails of Acadia promoting Leave No Trace stewardship, interpreting the natural and cultural resources, and performing trail maintenance to preserve trail sustainability. Summit Stewards spend 2 days per week on Cadillac Mountain’s trails and summit and 3 days per week on trails and summits throughout Acadia. Summit Stewards work under ANP’s Visitor Experience and Education Division and therefore must comply with National Park Service volunteer agreements and standards. 

In addition to serving in the field as a Summit Steward, the Lead Summit Steward assists the Program Coordinator with daily team functions and organizational assistance. While some duties occur throughout the work week, they are primarily during the Coordinator’s days off.    

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Program Organization and Administration (35%): 

• Oversee Summit Stewards’ daily operations on the coordinator’s days off.
• Develop resource education and trail work plans for inclement weather with the coordinator.
• Assist with training coordination and assess efficacy of trainings.
• Maintain organization of office materials and gear inventory throughout season.
• Records daily patrol log of work activities and observations.
• Ensure quality control of program statistics through weekly verification of patrol logs.
• Document and provide photos of staff in field.
• Shadow the team in the field to provide meaningful feedback.
• Assists coordinator with end-of-season reporting and presentation.
• Assists with special events: Take Pride in Acadia Day, FOA Annual Meeting and Benefit, etc
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Interpretation and Education (50%):    

• Educates, engages, and assists diverse visitors on Acadia’s trails and summits by: teaching Leave No Trace principles and the natural and cultural history of ANP while utilizing interpretive techniques; offering trail guidance, regulatory information, information about FOA and ANP, maps, and first aid. Summit Stewards may interact with a few hundred visitors a day.
• Communicates professionally with park visitors, members of the Summit Stewards team, and Friends of Acadia (FOA) and Acadia National Park (ANP) staff while assisting with all assigned job duties.
• Assist with the development of new interpretive materials for the program, as needed.

Trail Maintenance (20%):  

• Builds rock cairns and destroys misleading rock stacks (REQUIRES HEAVY LIFTING) and performs small-scale trail maintenance such as: blocking social paths, pruning, picking up trash, installing signs, etc.

Resource Management and Visitor Protection (20%): 

• Staffs Cadillac Mountain summit during midday and sunset once each per week, including times of inclement weather, to perform all duties with an added component of traffic monitoring.
• Provide basic first aid and assist with ANP search and rescue operations.
• May conduct or distribute surveys for visitor use monitoring and research projects.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Excellent communication skills. Motivation to engage and inspire an average of 100 visitors/day.
• Outdoor experience. Must be capable of hiking up to 8 miles per day wearing a pack weighing up to 25lbs, working in inclement weather and on steep terrain, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Applicant should be reliable, prepared for field work daily, and capable of managing their daily schedule, as well as multiple schedules during Lead days.
• Flexibility to adapt to quickly changing work demands and schedules.
• Possess strong work ethic and ability to work on one’s own and as a team.
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable vehicle for driving to job sites. Applicants will be expected to use their own automobiles and will be reimbursed for mileage beyond their daily commute.
• Must be able to attend the Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor course in June which may include one night of camping.
• Familiarity with word processing and data entry.
• Applicants must be available for the entire season.
• Applicants will be required to pass a background check.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• One season providing informal interpretation or education in outdoor spaces.
• A strong attention to detail while working in an efficient and organized manner.
• Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor (formerly known as Trainer) or the dedication to minimizing recreational impacts through following the Leave No Trace Principles.
• Passion for the conservation of public lands, especially Acadia National Park.

Uniforms/Equipment: Summit Stewards maintain appearances consistent with Acadia National Park’s uniform and grooming standards. Uniform shirts, rain jacket, fleece, hat(s), safety-toe boots, puffy jacket, first aid kit, backpack, and personal protective equipment are provided. FOA will reimburse up to $150 for the purchase of pants or shorts that meet uniform standards.  

Hours: 40 hrs/wk including holidays and weekends. Shifts are regularly from 8 am – 4:30 pm, with one sunset shift (late shift) per week. Special events may require different hours. Employees will have 2 consecutive days off per week. Unpaid days off can be scheduled with your supervisor. Employees earn one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work. 

Housing: Not provided. Applicants will be expected to find their own housing; however, we support your search by providing leads and sources. Work Environment: Most work is performed outside in all weather conditions. There is some office work based at ANP’s headquarters.