Park Steward/Interpretation Member – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Park Steward/Interpretation Member – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Summary:

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) is seeking 1 Member to contribute to stewardship and youth programs alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: May 6, 2024

Estimated End Date: November 1, 2024

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock, VT)

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is located in the year-round resort community of Woodstock, Vermont – an area of great natural beauty alongside the Ottauquechee River in the foothills of the Green Mountains. The park opened for the first time to visitors in 1998 and is the first unit of the National Park System to focus on the theme of conservation history and the changing nature of land stewardship in America. It manages and interprets the early 19th century Billings/Rockefeller mansion and grounds complex. The park also includes a 500-acre forest on the slopes of Mount Tom where hiking, nature study, and cross-country skiing are popular with visitors. The park is also home to the NPS Stewardship Institute and the Northeast Temperate Inventory and Monitoring Network (NETN).

Vermont has many affordable communities nearby that offer an outstanding quality of life. Full-service communities near Woodstock include Lebanon and Hanover, New Hampshire, and White River Junction, Queechee, and Bridgewater, Vermont. Boston is 2.5 hours from Woodstock, VT while Montreal, Quebec, is just over 3 hours away.

For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/mabi/index.htm

Position Overview:

The Member will support and assist NPS Staff with visitor orientation and information at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center and on trails, assist with informal interpretation, short interpretive programs, pop-ups, and special events, as well as crafting social media posts for the park’s social media accounts.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: This position will work 40 hours per week Friday through Tuesday.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: Members are expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $560/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly, as well as an additional $700/month to offset the cost of housing.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 900-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $3,447.50 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 900 hrs.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Qualifying Child Care Coverage: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. A $700/month allowance is included to offset the cost of housing.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $800 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include site and agency orientation, interpretation techniques, park natural and cultural histories, working with youth, and safety.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as interpretation, history, biology, education, youth development, or similar subjects.
• Deep interest in natural and cultural history.
• Public speaking experience, or the interest/ability to practice that skill.
• Independent research, or the interest/ability to learn and practice.
• Professional writing, or the interest/ability to practice that skill.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for the use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 15 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: The work is performed in an office and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Approximately 50% of the work will be in a climate controlled, shared office setting or standing at a desk in the climate controlled visitor center. The other 50% will be primarily outdoors. Summers are typically mild to hot with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s to 90s and evening temperatures in the 50s or 60s. Spring and Fall are typically mild to cool with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s and evening temperatures in the 30s or 40s.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: Occasional travel up to 20 miles between parks may be required. All driving on duty will be in a government vehicle. Upon being hired the initial background check will require fingerprinting at a facility that may be up to 2 hours from a given residence. This will need to be completed prior to the start date.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: Members may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the agency or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the agency. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to the NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.