TTAP Member – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Yosemite National Park

Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Yosemite National Park, is seeking two members to contribute to landscape stewardship projects alongside Yosemite National Park 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 or historic preservation  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/traditional-trades-apprenticeship-program.htm

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

Start Date: July 1, 2024
Estimated End Date: December 27, 2024
*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Yosemite National Park, California, known worldwide for its spectacular natural beauty is the backdrop for this position. Sitting astride the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the park covers 1,182 square miles of varied wilderness ecosystems, from river valleys to alpine meadows to lofty 13,000-foot-high peaks. Yosemite Valley is located 208 miles from San Francisco, 81 miles from Merced, and 94 miles from Fresno. Shopping, medical, postal and laundry services are available in the park and in El Portal. Elevation at the Valley floor is approximately 4,000 feet and 2,200 feet in El Portal. 

The ACE members will be based in El Portal, CA in the Yosemite Division of Resource, Management, and Science building. A touchdown office space will be provided with the History, Architecture, and Landscapes branch. Work will primarily take place in Yosemite Valley, with other work locations in Wawona, Foresta, El Portal. 

For more information about Yosemite National Park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm.

Position Overview: The ACE members will assist Yosemite National Park staff in the stabilization of up to seven historic orchards and other culturally significant flora throughout the park. Through the work, the ACE members will learn and perform the techniques of horticulture and arboriculture to preserve trees as old as 170 years. Tasks will include pruning, apple picking, clearing dead and diseased trees, and application of herbicide on trees recently cut. Other projects the ACE member may be tasked with are the dating of potentially historic trees and removal of non-historic fruit trees. In addition to working with the History, Architecture, and Landscapes branch, the ACE member will also work with the Vegetation and Ecological Restoration branch, the Wildlife branch, and the Forestry division. 

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: Days/hours will vary throughout the position based on weather and daylight conditions. The ACE member should expect to work 40 hours Monday through Friday between the timeframe of 8:00am-5:00pm PST.

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: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

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.