Bat Monitoring Members - Mammoth Cave National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking TWO Bat Monitoring Members to assist National Park Service staff and researchers in assessing the impacts on bat populations relating to White Nose Syndrome, a disease which is devastating bat populations in the eastern United States, including endangered species. Members will also be tasked with monitoring bats' usage of toured areas of the cave to assess the risk of bats interacting with tours.

For more information about ACE, please visit our usaconservation website

Start Date: January 6, 2025

Estimated End Date: March 29, 2025 (or 12 weeks after start)

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Mammoth Cave National Park - Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Mammoth Cave was established as a national park in 1941. It was later designated a World Heritage Site in 1981 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990. In 2021 the park was certified as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

Mammoth Cave National Park is a park on two levels - 52,830 acres of reclaimed hardwood forest and winding riverways, and below it, the longest known cave system in the world, surveyed at 412 miles to date. Located within a day's drive of major population centers, it offers camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, canoeing, picnicking, and cave tours.

The Mammoth Cave area offers dozens of attractions, plentiful accommodations, and ample dining opportunities. There is a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities in the local communities and a major tourist attraction located just 23 miles away at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

For more information about Mammoth Cave National Park, please visit the park's website at the parks website

Position Overview:

The mission of the Mammoth Cave National Park Service is to preserve, protect, interpret, and study the internationally recognized biological and geologic features and processes associated with the longest known cave system in the world, the park's diverse forested, karst landscape, the Green and Nolin rivers, and extensive evidence of human history; and to provide and promote public enjoyment, recreation, and understanding.

The primary purpose of these positions is to monitor bat use along tour trails, monitor bat activity at the entrances to major bat roosts, and assist with winter bat hibernation counts. Participants may assist or conduct a variety of other research projects associated with the study and management of bats relating to White Nose Syndrome. Participants will also have the opportunity to work with Science and Resource Management staff, researchers, and park cooperators on other park projects. Participants may also take part in the park's cave radon monitoring program.

How the anticipated applicant connects within the organization or agency:

1. Members will generate the following data products:

1. Location and status of bats along tour trails.
2. Assessments of bat activity at the entrance to major roosts.
3. Winter population estimates of cave and rock-shelter roosts.

This data will significantly aid the park in achieving goals associated with threatened bat populations and assessing impacts of White-nose Syndrome (WNS) on bats in the park.

1. Cave radon data from monitoring.

1. Additionally, members will gain:

• An understanding of the natural and cultural resources of Mammoth Cave National Park, their significance, and how they are connected within and beyond the boundaries of the park.
• Hands-on, practical experience performing operational and scientific techniques needed to conduct field work with focus on bat identification and monitoring, training and guidance on caves and caving.

1. The park will provide:

• Orientation to the park, OSHA and project specific safety briefings.
• Required gear for cave and bat work, and training for participants on proper safety techniques and use of personal protective equipment.

• Guidance on resume preparation, especially for potential federal job opportunities.

1. Educational/Recreational Opportunities available to members include:

• A wide variety of recreational opportunities within the park including hiking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, camping, and bicycling.
• An opportunity to participate in monthly Cave Research Foundation expeditions (approval required).
• Gaining experience with program management and leadership by working with the park's volunteer program. Members may assist with coordinating logistics for individual positions and group events, leading and interpreting surface and in-cave service projects, recruiting volunteers, and project/event closeout procedures.

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:

The Bat Monitoring positions will be under the supervision of the park's Cave Management Specialist within the Science and Resources Management (SRM) Program. SRM staff work a flexible schedule to accommodate various field projects that may be conducted outside of normal business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time). The Bat Monitoring members may work late evenings and/or weekends throughout the term when monitoring events are scheduled. The supervisor will work with the members to adjust their schedules accordingly.

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.

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 on our usaconservation website.

Housing:

The Park may provide no-cost housing to the members for the duration of their term and will be expected to work a minimum of 40 hours per week to remain eligible for housing.

Housing assignments are made based on the timing of the housing request and current park housing pandemic plan. Occupants could be housed in a co-ed/mixed gender housing unit. Occupants will be asked their preference prior to arrival and will be considered when the final housing assignment is made provided there is adequate availability. The Park cannot guarantee all preferences can be accommodated.

The housing units are multi-occupancy houses and apartments. Capacity limitations will be set based on the current housing management plan. Occupancy restrictions are subject to change in accordance with CDC guidelines. Any updates to the housing policy will be communicated in a timely fashion.

All housing units are well ventilated with a central heat and air conditioning system. The water supply in each house unit is from the local water treatment plant and is safe for drinking, cooking, and showering.

Distance needed to travel between park housing and primary work site:

The park's housing units are located within 10 minutes from administrative offices, the Visitors Center, and several front-country surface trails. These areas can be reached by biking in 3-5 minutes, walking in 5-7 minutes, or by driving in 2-3 minutes.

A bicycle and helmet can be issued to travel back and forth from housing to the office as well as for recreational use if desired.

This position is not strictly an office-based position, and the members may work in various locations around the park and beyond. Tasks include field work/monitoring on the surface and in the cave, job shadowing, training, coordinating and leading volunteer events and projects. Locations for duty may range from 3 minutes to 2-hours from housing and can be located on the surface (multi-use trails, Visitors Center, or day-use areas) or underground (along cave trails).

The housing area is located between 15 - 35 minutes from local communities where limited groceries and household items can be purchased. There are major department stores and grocery stores located approximately 40 minutes away in larger cities with a wider range of options.

All local communities have at least one restaurant available for daytime and evening dining opportunities, with diverse and international cuisine options. There are multiple recreational opportunities in the local communities and bigger cities as well.

Due to the remote location of the park, it is required that the members have a personally owned reliable vehicle. The member will need their own vehicle to travel to purchase groceries and other personal items. Additionally, there are numerous recreational activities located outside of the park that would require driving their personal vehicle to them.

There has been a strong sense of community among other interns and seasonal staff living in park housing, however, there may be times when occupancy in park housing occupancy is very low.

Communication: WIFI and Phone Service

Wi-Fi is not available in housing units. There are public Wi-Fi access locations at the Visitors Center, Headquarters Campground, and Mammoth Lodge as well in the local communities.

Please note that bandwidth is very limited where Wi-Fi is available. If high speed internet is required for personal use, occupants may drive to a local community to access the computer lab or wireless internet at a public library. The Edmonson County Public Library is the closest library and is located 9 miles west of the park in Brownsville, Kentucky.

Cell phone service is limited and varies depending upon location as well as carrier. Verizon Wireless users typically have the best coverage and service in the park with AT&T being the worst, although all wireless service is spotty and unreliable in many locations within the park. Locations nearest to Interstate-65 are better, with locations near cave entrances and the river being the worst. A two-way park radio can be checked out when the members are working in the field to radio for help if cell phones are unable to contact emergency services.

Landline telephones, cable/satellite, and televisions are not provided in housing.

A landline office phone and laptop with network access will be provided for official duties once the Background Investigation is complete and a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card has been issued.

Access to Cultural, Recreational, Educational Activities:

Mammoth Cave National Park is a 53,820-acre unit managed by the National Park Service. Located in the tri-county area of Barren, Edmonson, and Hart Counties, the park is situated among rural farming, forestry, and light industrial communities.

There are boundless opportunities for the interns in the park and surrounding areas. Within the park, there are numerous front-country and backcountry hiking trails, a multi-use trail for biking, walking, or jogging, a mountain bike trail, campgrounds, and canoeing and kayaking on the Green and Nolin Rivers. The intern will be able to participate in guided cave tours and other interpretive programs in the park that cover a variety of cultural and natural resource topics.

The intern will be encouraged to join biologists, archaeologists, physical scientists, and others during work activities throughout the park that will include water quality sampling, air quality monitoring, cave historic and archaeological evaluation, bat mist netting, rare plant monitoring, and more. Over several decades, the park's interpretive rangers have assembled an impressive reference library covering all aspects of the park that will be available to the intern for self-guided learning and research. Outside the park, south-central Kentucky offers a rich heritage of food, drink, music and more.

Each summer the park's housing units are occupied by a variety of seasonal employees working in interpretation and maintenance, as well as interns from all park teams. This is a dynamic community that often socializes in the evening. The bat monitor members will be part of a broader community of housing occupants that includes Seasonal Staff, Interns, and Volunteers that work in other programs such as Interpretation, Facilities Management, Science and Resources Management, and the Cumberland Piedmont Network.

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: Bat Monitor members will be required to have a personally owned, insured, and reliable vehicle. They must successfully undergo a federal background investigation to use a government computer and be issued keys to government spaces. Members must be capable of driving a government owned vehicle that may range from 4-door sedans, 7 passenger vans, and 4-wheel drive trucks in various conditions including paved highways and single-lane gravel roads.

• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our usaconservation website

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a high school degree at minimum and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as biology, mammalogy, or environmental science.
• Knowledge of scientific subjects such as biology, mammalogy, ecology, or environmental science.
• Ability and willingness to:
  • Work independently or in teams in the field.
  • Use a GPS to find sites in the backcountry.
  • Hike on cave trails.
  • Hike on surface trails and in the backcountry off-trail.
• Deep interest in resources management, environmental science, biology, or related fields.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• • Physical requirements of this work include:
    • Ability to hike at least 4 miles on trails or 3 miles in off-trail areas.

• Ability to hike in rough terrain.

• • Ability to climb stairs on cave trails.
  • Frequently sitting while using the computer to enter data.
  • Ability to work in unlit caves using headlamps.
  • Ability to use tools to assist with maintenance of data loggers.
• Vision requirements of this work includes: Close vision to assist with bat banding.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to frequently move items and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds, and ability to move up to 35 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may occasionally require domestic travel.

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/interns or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS 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 the usaconservation 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 ACE EPIC NPS Eastern Member Manager, Emily Oostveen.

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 with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee 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, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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 Bat Monitoring Members Mammoth Cave National Park Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC