Visitor Services and Education IP at Antietam National Battlefield

Title: Visitor Services and Education Individual Placement at Antietam National Battlefield 

Location: 302 E Main St, Sharpsburg, MD 21782 

Position Dates:  Flexible start in June or July for a 48 week term 

Pay Rate: $800/week (living and housing allowance) + health/vision/dental benefits 

Status: This is a full-time exempt, 1700 hour AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Contact: accrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org 

How to apply: Apply via the link on our website by May 1st. A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for this position. 

The 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 the communities in which they serve.  

Position Summary: 

Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service-protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862.  The area, situated on fields among the Appalachian foothills near the Potomac River, features the battlefield site and visitor center, a national military cemetery, stone arch Burnside’s Bridge, and a field hospital museum. 

The Visitor Services and Education Individual Placement is a 12 month internship position working directly with National Park Service Staff. The IP will be the face of the park, help at the park visitor center presenting 30-minute Battlefield Orientation talks and greeting visitors as they enter the visitor center and orient them to the park. The Corps Member will hand out park literature, tell visitors about the park, and attempt to meet their informational needs. Over the course of time, the Corps Member is expected to become familiar with the resources available at the front desk, such as park handouts, maps of the area, and monument location guides.  

This position is focused on engaging the public by sharing information on the history of the park, while developing skills like public speaking and interpersonal communication. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Youth Education-Work with local schools, students, and visiting youth to provide education opportunities and activitiesfor kids from kindergarten to college.
• The Member will be responsible for responding to inquiries from teachers and scheduling on and off-site field trips for the education staff and assist in development of new Parks as Classrooms at ANTI and to work with neighboring schools to increase student visitation to the battlefield.
• They will present curriculum-based programs to students and a variety of summer youth groups and will operate a youth activity tent in the summer at Antietam and present third person living history programs.
• Study assigned research materials. Developan accurate, in-depth knowledge of 19th century American History.
• Special eventsduties such as photographic documentation, set-up of chairs and traffic cones, vehicle parking, traffic control, crowd control, and first aid.
• Other interpretive programs such as interpretive walks and talks that cover the history and cultural resources of the battlefield. Corps Members may also do informal or “roving interpretation” at various stops on the battlefield driving tour.
• From time to time, the volunteer/Corps Member coordinator and/or visitor center supervisor may ask the Corps Member to help with a variety of office duties, such as making copies, answering the phones, and stuffing envelopes.

The most important factors in evaluating a Corps Member’s performance are: 1) Polite and pleasant interactions with the visiting public and coworkers (volunteers, rangers, and other staff members). 2) Reliable attendance, punctuality, and professionalism. 3) The accuracy of information provided to the public, interpretive/public speaking skills, and adapting information to the needs of the audience. 

IPs receive formal training in interpretation and education skills, Civil War History, customer service, first aid/CPR certifications, and safety. Additional training and professional development opportunities may also be available. If you love learning, sharing what you’ve learned with others, and working hard in a team environment, this position will be incredibly rewarding. 

General Qualifications: 

To qualify for an 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. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Interest and/or knowledge in U.S. History and the Civil War
• Curriculum/program development and facilitation
• Valid driver’s license
• Public speaking and presentation skills and abilities
• Professionalism in working with project partners and park visitors
• Background in customer service or education/teaching/public presentation
• Two year degree or relevant experience in education, parks and recreation, or history
• Interest in pursuing a career with a public land management agency

Benefits:  

• $600/week living stipend, paid bi-weekly
• $200/week housing allowance, paid bi-weekly
• $6,895 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 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/dental/vision benefits.
• $732 in professional development funds
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
• Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Subject-specific certifications and trainings
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths

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, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 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.