TITLE: RECREATION INTERN (1 OPENING)

START/END DATE: January 9, 2023 to September 29, 2023 (anticipated)

STIPEND: $590 /week

TERM: 38 weeks

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS/ TRAVEL FUNDS: $2,000

REPORTS TO: Kendrah Madrid (Branch Chief Cultural & Recreation)

LOCATION: BLM Las Cruces District Office (1800 Marquess St., Las Cruces, NM 88005)

STATUS: 1200-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Education Award $4,546; Health Insurance Eligible; Public Lands Corps Certificate; both with successful completion of the internship.

SUMMARY:

CONSERVATION CORPS NEW MEXICO (CCNM):

 Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Individual Placement Program is managed from the CCNM program office in Las Cruces New Mexico.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Bureau of Land Management Recreation and Visitor Services Program works to enhance recreational opportunities for the public. The BLM manages recreation resources and visitor services to offer the greatest benefits possible to individuals and communities and to better enable communities to achieve their own desired social, economic, and environmental outcomes.

The Las Cruces District Office recreation program is in need of an intern to assist the BLM to connect with the public to carry out the mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The intern will work with the Outdoor Recreation Planners, Park Ranger, and Supervisor by developing, mapping, and monitoring recreation sites, assisting with special recreation permits, assisting with trail planning and development, monitoring Wilderness Study Areas, inventorying Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, assisting with developing business and spending plans for the District recreation sites, staffing visitor centers, and assisting with educational outreach for the public.  This work will help form the framework for management to provide visitors with the most positive visitor experience possible.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

• Support BLM recreation staff with the overall management of the recreation program for the LCDO.
• Developing, mapping, and monitoring recreation sites, assisting with special recreation permits, assisting with trail planning and development, monitoring Wilderness Study Areas, inventorying Lands with Wilderness Characteristics, assisting with developing business and spending plans for the District recreation sites, staffing visitor centers, and assisting with education outreach for the public.
• Wilderness Study Area Monitoring & Lands with Wilderness Characteristics Inventorying:
  • conduct surveillance of aerial imagery in an office setting and ground truth GIS data by conducting field work for comparison and completing proper documentation for tracking purposes.
• Support BLM recreation management staff with public outreach efforts:
  • develop interpretive programs, conduct independent research of topics using sources such as records, books, files, etc., and present a variety of formal and interpretive programs to include but not limited to, orientation talks, environmental education programs, conducted walks, demonstrations, and campfire programs.
• Business Plan Development / Updates:
  • create and update business plans for Three Rivers Recreation Site, and Lake Valley Recreation Site. The plans will address how the sites plan to implement or eliminate fees, expand or limit the recreation fee program, and implement fee level changes. These plans will also cover how current fees for entry, Special Recreation Permits (SRP), and donations are handled and spent within the District. The plans will also cover projected fee increases that may be scheduled periodically over a depicted time span. The Intern will conduct market research in the nearby areas to ensure that proposed fee changes reflect the current market values.

Required Skills

REQUIRED SKILLS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of term and the ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting.
• Associates degree or five semesters completed in Recreation Planning, Environmental Studies, Outdoor Activity Management, or similar field of study
• Ability to communicate with public in a pleasant and respectful manner.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check, and be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Teamwork-oriented, motivated, and self-reliant with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged terrain.
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Tour guide, teaching, education, or interpretive program experience.
• Wilderness First Aid training.
• Experience using GIS software and GPS equipment.
• Ability to work well with others as well as independently.
• Ability to organize electronic and paper filing systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Most work will be performed out of doors, in all types of weather conditions, terrain, and elevations. Work may take place in an extremely remote environment and may require primitive camping and living skills. Indoor duties are performed in a normal office setting.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings . If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@conservation.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.

Required Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Full vaccination against COVID-19 by the first day of term and the ability to provide proof of vaccination before starting.
• Associates degree or five semesters completed in Recreation Planning, Environmental Studies, Outdoor Activity Management, or similar field of study
• Ability to communicate with public in a pleasant and respectful manner.
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check, and be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
• Teamwork-oriented, motivated, and self-reliant with clear, direct communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle on rugged terrain.
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Tour guide, teaching, education, or interpretive program experience.
• Wilderness First Aid training.
• Experience using GIS software and GPS equipment.
• Ability to work well with others as well as independently.
• Ability to organize electronic and paper filing systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Most work will be performed out of doors, in all types of weather conditions, terrain, and elevations. Work may take place in an extremely remote environment and may require primitive camping and living skills. Indoor duties are performed in a normal office setting.

PARTICIPANT ESSENTIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept
• Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

SAFETY AND JUDGMENT: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

SUBSTANCE FREE:

• In accordance to a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

BACKGROUND CHECK:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. THIS PROCESS WILL DETERMINE THE INTERNSHIP’S EXACT START DATE.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings . If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator SamJean Simmons at ssimmons@conservation.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.