NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead Member - Multiple Parks

Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Acadia National Park and Yellowstone National Park is seeking THREE NPS Academy YCC Crew Lead Members as part of the 2024 National Park Service Academy cohort. During these 12-14 week positions and an additional week of March Experience, the members will learn trail maintenance and crew leadership skills while simultaneously learning about the National Park Service (NPS) as a career path.

For more information about NPS Academy, please visit: npsacademy.org.For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

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

Locations and Start Dates: This posting is for TWO distinct locations. Please indicate the location(s) you would like to be considered in your cover letter.

Acadia National Park: Bar Harbor, ME (1 Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead Member), June 24 - August 16, 2024- 12 wks

Yellowstone National Park: Gardiner, MT (2 Youth Conservation Corps Crew Member), May 19 - August 24, 2024 - 14 wks

Start and end dates are potentially flexible for the right candidate and are dependent on the Park needs. If your availability falls mostly within these dates, please apply. More information regarding specific dates will be shared in the interview process.

*the weekly minimum commitment and participation in the orientation (March 4th-8th, 2024) are required for each position*

Location:

The NPS Academy YCC members will have opportunities to explore and learn about Yellowstone National Park resources and the surrounding region; participate and teach resource education lessons; act as a liaison to enrollees and set a positive example for all; lead by actions, attitude, and enthusiasm; and nurture and encourage participants to excel within the boundaries of the program.

For more information about Acadia National Park, please visit Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)l.For more information about the Acadia YCC program, please visit https://go.nps.gov/AcadiaYCC.

For more information about Yellowstone National Park, please visit nps.gov/yell.For more information about the Yellowstone YCC program, please visit https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/yccjobs.htm or see Yellowstone YCC 2022 Blog

Position Description:

Acadia National Park:The Assistant Crew Leader supports the Crew Leaders in the physical and emotional safety of AYCC program participants at all times, supervising the safe completion of conservation and maintenance projects, teaching resource education, problem-solving, motivating crews, and participating in physically demanding projects. The Assistant Crew Leader is expected to demonstrate active leadership and be a role model for AYCC participants. The NPS Academy member will also be responsible for the documentation of AYCC activities through photos and videos, and the creation of a multimedia presentation at the end of the season. Additional duties in support of the program, such as administrative tasks, may be required for this position.

Projects may include trail and carriage road maintenance, vegetation management, invasive species removal, social science data collection, painting, and other projects. Training is provided for most, if not all, of the projects before and during the season.

Yellowstone National Park:This member is responsible for physical and emotional safety of YCC program participants at all times, demonstrating active leadership, supervising safe completion of conservation and facility projects, problem solving, motivating crews, and participating in physically demanding projects. Crew Leaders camp 4 nights a week with the youth crews and help with meals, clean up, Leave No Trace camping skills, drive daily, and help lead night recreation opportunities in the nearby areas.

Project types may include the following: bear box installation, social science (data collection), community science investigations, trail building and maintenance, fence construction, park maintenance, painting, and other projects.

Crew Leads are also responsible for leading a variety of field training (~5 hrs/week).

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week (less any applicable taxes) to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. NPS Academy allowances are designed to prepare members for similar allowance structure at entry-level positions at their service site and some variation exists due to local cost of living differences.

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

Housing:

Acadia - NPS Academy members will be accommodated in provided park service housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing varies by park site.

Yellowstone - NPS Academy members will be accommodated in provided park service housing at no cost for the duration of the term. Housing varies by park site. Housing is within walking distance from the work site. Accommodations are shared dormitory-style rooms or in tents up to 4 nights a week if serving as a crew leader.

Due to the remoteness of Yellowstone, cell coverage is limited and there is no WiFi at the YCC facility. A personal vehicle can also be helpful but is not required.

Scheduling:

Acadia - Length of service days will typically be 8 hours, 7:00-3:30, for a total of 40 hours per week. Occasionally, work projects off-island require overnight stays and staffing during the evening hours.

Yellowstone - Length of service days will typically be 8 hours but might be as long as 12 on some days, with breaks, because of evening programming for youth participants. An average of 40 hours per week will be anticipated. Members will begin at 8 am. The varied schedule will include nights, weekends, and holidays.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for a 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $1,824.07 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 450 hrs.

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 hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects are subject to specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for the PLC, you are still eligible to apply for the NPS Academy position with ACE. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility.

Outdoor Perks: As an ACE EPIC member, you will be eligible to receive pro deals which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices on 100s of established outdoor gear brands.

Preferred skills and experience:

An important reminder: all skills needed for this position will be trained on the job; a good attitude, curiosity for learning and plants, and a willingness to positively contribute to the team are the only skill prerequisites to finding success.

Acadia - Ability to work well with others, general interest in natural resource management, plants, and botany

Yellowstone - Ability to get along with others; a desire to work with youth ages 15-18 in a multi-day and night program setting, a willingness to learn and work hard outdoors in sometimes harsh conditions (cold, wet, snowy, hot, dry); demonstrated skills in risk management, strong leadership, and judgment.

Additional skills and experience that are helpful:

Acadia - Willingness to learn about plant identification, restoration ecology, plant propagation, and/or natural resource management

Yellowstone - Willingness to learn and try new experiences, solid work ethic, team building skills, camping, hiking, natural resource management

Skills and experience that members will gain from this position:

Acadia - plant identification, native plant propagation, native plant restoration, invasive plant species identification, and management specific to various regions in the US (Rocky Mountain, northeast, etc)

Yellowstone - plant identification, invasive plant species identification and management, experience working with the unique Yellowstone YCC program, Leave No Trace, Bear safety, team building, community living, outdoor recreation experiences, and many more

ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

ACE Requirements:

• 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.
• Acadia only: A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
  • Yellowstone only: A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check.
• 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 https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Driving is not required at Acadia, however it is at Yellowstone.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:Please use this information to determine personal ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Physical Demands:

Acadia--The work is partially sedentary with prolonged standing, walking, and bending often required. Requires the ability to walk up to five miles over uneven terrain in extreme weather conditions and stand on their feet for lengthy periods of time, and sometimes in wetlands (Acadia-waders provided)

Yellowstone - The work requires regular physical exertion such as walking or climbing over wet, rough, uneven, and/or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, or reaching; in some situations, the work may require physical exertion to prepare soil for planting and planting activities, and camp overnight in backcountry locations. Heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, must be lifted and carried on a regular basis. May be required to hike several miles in a day.

Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: -Frequently moves up to 25 pounds, occasionally moves up to 50 pounds.-Heavy items (e.g., equipment and packs up to 50 pounds) must be moved and carried on a routine basis (for Rocky Mountain and Glacier only)

Yellowstone: Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Heavy items, such as equipment packs weighing up to 50 pounds, may be lifted and carried on an occasional basis.

Vision Requirements: -Must have adequate vision to walk on uneven, rocky, or terrain covered with vegetation. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. -Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

Yellowstone - Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Strong observation skills due to living in bear country.

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. At Acadia, summer temperatures range from 40-85 degrees.-Work takes place both in indoor and outdoor settings. Work can include moderate risks or discomforts that require safety precautions (e.g., exposure to extreme temperatures, climates, rough terrain, wild animals, pests, and insects.)

Yellowstone - The work is performed primarily in the field. The work performed in the field involves regular and recurring exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals.

Travel: -Overnight backcountry travel is optional but available. 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.-Occasional overnight travel to other areas of the park may occur.

Yellowstone - Occasional overnight travel to other areas of the park may occur. Camping, sleeping in tents, making meals in the field should be expected.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest in the position and the NPS Academy program, as well as contact information for three references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/?keywords=academy. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time but will close by January 6th at the latest. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC Outreach and Recruitment Specialist, Emanuel Aragon Cruz at ecruz@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 nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead Member Multiple Parks Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC