TTAP Member – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Hampton National Historic Site

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Hampton National Historic Site, is seeking one member to contribute to landscape stewardship projects alongside Hampton National Historic Site Staff.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of landscape preservation or horticulture. No background or previous experience in horticulture is necessary. 

For more information about the National Park Service’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) – Landscape Stewardship Corps please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/landscape-stewardship-corps.htm

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

Start Date: March 4, 2024
Estimated End Date: August 30, 2024
*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: The landscape of Hampton National Historic Site includes a grand Georgian house surrounded by formal terraced gardens, state champion trees, rolling meadows and woodland, as well as the original farm, with historic main house, barns, dairy, farm structures and the houses for enslaved people and servants.  All reflect the evolution of American social, economic, and cultural history from 1745 to 1948.  Hampton National Historic Site is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Towson, Maryland, about nine miles from Baltimore.  For more information about Hampton National Historic Site, please visit https://www.nps.gov/hamp/index.htm.

The ACE members will also work occasionally (about 33%, but subject to change) at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland.  Birthplace to our National Anthem, Fort McHenry is a peninsula of rolling turf and trees surrounding the historic star-shaped fort that once protected the Baltimore Harbor from British invasion. For more information about Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, please visit https://www.nps.gov/fomc/index.htm.

Position Overview:  The ACE member will experience the full range of behind-the-scenes preservation and maintenance activities required in managing a nationally significant historic landscape and will receive training and mentoring from experienced park staff. The position may also require the member to work independently on some projects and assignments.  Planned work will include plant identification, integrated pest management practices, restoration of a pollinator meadow, and re-establishment of an evergreen screen near the formal parterre gardens.  Technical skills trained-in, developed and practiced will include weeding, mowing, string trimming, blowing, fertilizing, pruning, mulching, invasive plant management, watering, planting, raking, plowing, tilling, and composting. 

Schedule: Upon starting, the anticipated work schedule is from 7:00 am –3:30pm (Eastern Time Zone), Monday-Friday, however this schedule does change as the sun rises earlier and daytime heat begins to increase.  Schedule change also occurs to take advantage of daylight time without park visitors.  This schedule will change at some point in the spring to 6:30 am-3:00pm Monday-Friday, and finally 6:00 am-2:30pm, Monday-Friday, starting around Memorial Day through the term’s completion.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

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. 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 the NPS.

Professional Development Stipend: The ACE Member will receive $1,000 of professional development funds that can be used for approved purposes.

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 will include OSHA-10 Certification and a Landscape Stewardship Fundamentals course.