2025 NPS Academy Visitor and Resource Protection Member - Mount Rainier National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Mount Rainier National Park, is seeking TWO Member(s) to contribute to the 2025 NPS Academy program alongside the National Park Service Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

About NPS Academy: National Park Service Academy aims to support the development of a more representative NPS workforce by connecting dynamic, young adults through an experiential program designed around three themes - Connections, Diversity, and Legacy. Through participation, members build their conservation ethic, intercultural awareness, and career readiness skills and competencies. NPS Academy introduces participants to the NPS Universal Competencies that are foundational to all NPS career paths within a cohort of like-minded peers.

Program Goals:

The main goals of NPS Academy are:

• Connect a diversity of young adults sharing a passion and curiosity for careers within the NPS
• Deepen participants' knowledge of and personal network within the NPS by fostering an NPS mentorship relationships
• Develop a network of emerging conservation and park leaders by building ambassadorship, storytelling, and leadership skills
• Create a more inclusive and representative future for public lands

Start and End dates:

Start Date: 05/18/2025

Estimated End Date: 09/06/2025*

a 16 minimum commitment is required and participation in the orientation (March 17th - 21st, 2025) are required for each position*

Location Details/Description: (Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire & White River areas) Mount Rainier National Park was established as the nation's fifth National Park in 1899. The park preserves iconic wildflower meadows, old growth forests, and the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. An active volcano, Mount Rainier's glaciers are the headwaters for five major river systems. The majority of the park is now managed as federally designated wilderness, where people can encounter abundant wildlife, visit historic fire lookout towers, and make personal connections in a place that is largely unmodified by human activity.

For more information about Mount Rainier National Park, please visit the National Park Service website.

Position Overview:

The NPS Academy Visitor and Resource Protection Members will:

• Make visitor contacts to provide: general park info, backcountry camping info, climbing info, wilderness education, Leave No Trace best practices, wildlife/food storage best practices, visitor safety checks, trip planning assistance, wilderness and climbing permit needs, weather/environmental conditions updates, problem solving.
• Learn how to operate the Wilderness Information Center and use Recreation.Gov to issue backcountry and climbing use permits and educate users on best practices during their trips (safety topics and permit requirements)
• Conduct backcountry patrols: to learn the park, to help maintain trails and backcountry structures, to provide a positive presence to the public and be available for visitor inquiries, and serve alongside rangers on projects
• Study, explore, patrol, and maintain primary backcountry area(s) of responsibility.

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: 10 hour workdays with ~80 hrs per 2 week pay period (exact schedule layout is to be determined but is likely to be 4 days on / 3 days off).

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2024/25 grant year program, valued up to $1,956.35 upon successful completion of [a complete service term and 450-hrs. Please note, AmeriCorps position eligibility is not guaranteed and may not be available for all positions.

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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

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

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $1000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Allowance: There is no gear allowance, but camping and backpacking equipment will be available for check-out and use, if needed.

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.

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 criminal history checks
• 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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement or as defined by AmeriCorps.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

Essential skills and experience: Ability to work a flexible schedule and adapt to a dynamic work environment, greet the visiting public in a friendly and professional manner, stand/walk for long periods of time in all weather conditions and carry out tasks and assignments with a "safety-first" attitude.

Additional skills and experience that are helpful:

• Ability to hike 6+ miles in rugged terrain

• Willingness to travel in bear country (training provided)

• Willingness to conduct overnight patrols at a backcountry camp (gear provided)

• First Aid/CPR

Skills and experience that members will gain from this position:

• How to run a wilderness information center

• Learn how to be a backcountry ranger in a wilderness park

• Leave No Trace training

• Basic navigation using map and compass (and gps)

• Bear Awareness Training

• Water Crossing techniques/good decision making

• Spring Snow Travel techniques/good decision making

• Exposure to an emergency response program that includes: Search and Rescue (SAR), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Wildland Fire, Law Enforcement

• Exposure to many work groups (trail crew, climbing rangers, resource, education, interpretation, maintenance, etc)

• Tools to work through negative visitor contacts

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing and walking, and carrying a backpack weighing up to 35 pounds
• Vision Requirements: Must have adequate vision to walk on uneven, rocky, or terrain covered with vegetation. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 45 pounds uphill / downhill.
• Environmental: The work environment varies constantly. Most work is outdoors, and is performed in temperatures from 90 degrees F to below freezing. Severe mountain weather conditions can result in extreme heat, rain, snow, and high winds.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: Overnight backcountry travel is encouraged. Backcountry overnight trips could vary from one night up to four nights, if interested, and could include tent camping or stays in a backcountry patrol cabin.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) 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 National Park Service or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the National Park Service. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the National Park Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to National Park Service and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact NPS Academy Member Manager, Deja Charles.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you! ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Current Openings for 2025 NPS Academy Visitor and Resource Protection Member Mount Rainier National Park Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC