Youth Engagement Individual Placement at Rock Creek Park

Title: Youth Engagement Individual Placement 

Positions: 1 

Service Site: Rock Creek Park, based out of Washington, D.C.  

Dates of Service: Oct. 13, 2025 – Oct. 9, 2026 (52 weeks)  

Pay: $920/week paid biweekly ($630/week living stipend + $290 additional member benefit)  

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

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org  

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.   

As an AmeriCorps program, Individual Placements commit to a term of service in order to 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:  

Our Youth Engagement Individual Placement will support the growth of the volunteer programs at Rock Creek Park, particularly among youth and young adults. They will initiate new community relationships and assist with the coordination of park events. They will support Rock Creek Park’s Volunteers-in-Parks (VIP) program administratively and help to manage the park’s SOLVE (Sustaining Our Lands with Volunteer Energy) program. 

The IP will also work to provide support to current Rock Creek Park youth and youth affiliates that engage with the park. They will assist with future youth planning by developing a long-term strategic plan. The IP will help identify new opportunities for youth to get involved, conducting outreach to local educational institutions and imagining new internship opportunities within the park. They will build on the components from previous interns and write projects to help support park staff. 

The IP will be provided opportunities to learn about the National Park Service through participation in programs and events in neighboring parks, at the regional offices and virtually. In working on projects with multiple divisions, park partners, youth and volunteers they will develop their understanding of the stewardship of park resources and communication of this to the public. 

Housing is NOT provided for this position.  

Essential roles and responsibilities include:  

• Build partnerships through community engagement with DC area schools, universities, and institutions
• Develop volunteer events and activities specifically for high school students
• Assist park staff with incorporating youth volunteers into current volunteer programs
• Coordinate youth professional development events (e.g., workshops, panels, resume sessions)
• Assist, as needed, with administrative elements of the park’s Volunteer-In-Parks Program
• Assist in managing the park’s SOLVE Program
• Plan, coordinate, and lead volunteer events, particularly in celebration of National Service Days such as MLK Day of Service and National Public Lands Day

General Qualifications:  

To qualify, 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. In addition, applicants must:  

• Possess a valid driver’s license

Desired Skills/Qualifications:  

• Passionate about working with youth and young adults
• Engaging presence and willingness to interact with the public

Schedule:  

• These positions are full-time, 40 hour/week
• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

Benefits:   

• $920/week paid biweekly ($630/week living stipend + $290 additional member benefit)
• $7,395 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)
• $4,300.00 for professional development fund and commuting reimbursement.
• Option to enroll in health, vision and dental insurance
• 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
• Additional subject-specific certifications and trainings may be offered (Chainsaw training, pesticides, etc)
• 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

Our Promise: 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, 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 reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.