Conservation Forest Ambassador

Summary:

American Conservation Experience (ACE), a Non-Profit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking one Recreation Site Design Team Member to work in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF) Carson Ranger District. This opportunity is intended for an enthusiastic, organized, young professional to work in a variety of duties, including education and outreach, on the ground improvements, and data collection of user related resource-impacts.

Start Date: ASAP Preferred, but flexible for the right person

End Date: 6 months after Start date

Location: Reno, NV. The HTNF Carson district covers 406,292 acres of beautiful mountain landscapes surrounding Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Truckee areas. The majority of time will be spent on the National Forest between Reno and the northern edge of Lake Tahoe, but will extend to other parts of the forest as needed.

Project Website:

For more information regarding the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/htnf

For more information regarding the ACE EPIC Program, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Living Allowance:

The member should anticipate serving 40 hrs/wk, including weekends, and will receive a living allowance of $680/wk for food and incidentals, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing:

Not provided, member responsible to find their own housing. However, we offer an additional $175/wk housing reimbursement that will be dispersed monthly to help offset housing costs.

Position Description:

The Forest Ambassador scope of work falls into three program areas: public education and outreach, resource stewardship, and data collection. The primary goal of public education and outreach is to engage with National Forest visitors to provide education related to responsible and sustainable recreational use while visiting the HTNF Carson District. Outreach activities include tabling and roving at high-use areas, trail patrols, resource monitoring, event staffing, and educational events.

Forest Ambassadors will also work with the HTNF to complete stewardship activities including on-the-ground improvements such as trail maintenance, signage improvements, habitat protection, fencing, litter patrols, and vegetation rehabilitation. The Ambassadors work both autonomously and alongside project partners to accomplish objectives established by the U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation (NFF).

While on rounds throughout the District, the Forest Ambassadors will conduct tablet data collection of user-related resource impacts. Two primary forms this include dispersed campsites and social trails. Forest Ambassadors will document the location and intensity of these features, identify associated resource impacts, and provide the data needed to improve long-term management of high-use areas.

Training Provided:

To prepare for the season, Forest Ambassadors will complete Leave No Trace and Interpreter Training provided by NFF. Ambassadors will also receive task specific training and guidance from HTNF staff for individual projects they will lead. The NFF and HTNF will coordinate and develop a schedule of work prior to the start of each Forest Ambassador term. The NFF and HTNF will also identify specific communication materials and public outreach strategies that the Forest Ambassadors will be tasked with implementing. Administrative supervision of Forest Ambassadors will be provided by NFF and direct operational supervision and guidance will be provided by HTNF recreation staff.

Project Background and Objectives:

Heavy visitation to public land in the Eastern Sierra occurs during all four seasons of the year and continues to increase significantly, year over year. Of special concern, the Carson District of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF) is experiencing extremely high levels of visitor use from the surrounding cities of Reno, Carson City, the Tahoe Area, and visitors from across CA and NV. This sustained, high level of visitation is resulting in unmitigated and detrimental impacts to recreational and natural resources across the District.

The resulting negative impacts are greatly outpacing the capacity of the local HTNF recreation staff to respond. In addition to the negative impacts of extremely high use in these areas, many visitors lack information and education on how to recreate responsibly. Forest Ambassadors will be utilized for a range of recreation management tasks (public outreach and education, trail stewardship and maintenance, data collection, waste management, restoration, etc.) that support the HTNF recreation program priorities on the Carson District and improve overall watershed health and sustainability.

The goals of the Forest Ambassador program are to:

1. Provide much-needed, recognizable, on-the-ground USFS capacity,
2. Perform outreach, education, and interpretation to the public,
3. Provide resource stewardship and recreation infrastructure maintenance,
4. Support long-term forest management through data collection activities,
5. Provide local employment opportunities related to the public land and recreation management sector.

Qualifications:

ACE Requirements:

• Members must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts
• Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required. Any history will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
• Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record with ability to provide required documentation. Ability to drive Agency or ACE vehicle is required for this position. ACE will conduct a driving record check upon on-boarding and member must be cleared by ACE to drive.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.

Required for Position:

• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Proven ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group
• Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals and the general public.
• A strong educational and personal interest in interpretation, recreation, natural resources, or other related fields
• Interest in public land management
• Must be able to take initiative and work independently, as well as participate effectively in collaborative efforts
• Ability to work outside in varying climatic conditions.
• A commitment to designated safety practices and personal protective equipment

Preferred:

• Experience tabling outreach events
• Comfortable educating the public on forest use, such as fire risk reduction, leave no traces principles, importance of watershed resources and infrastructure
• Experience with trail work and/or ecological restoration efforts
• Collection of Geospatial data
• Report writing

**This position is subject to change/close at any time**

To Apply:

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section, located on the upper right-hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservationepic.applicantpool.com/jobs/

Note:

Early consideration will be given as applications are received. If you have any questions regarding this placement opportunity, please contact ACE EPIC Special Projects Manager, Josh Haussler at jhaussler@usaconservation.org

EEO:

American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for Conservation Forest Ambassador Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC