TITLE: INTERPRETATION & VISITOR SERVICES INTERNSHIP (1 OPENING)
START/END DATE: March 9, 2020 – August 21, 2020 (anticipated)
STIPEND: $400/week
TERM: 24 weeks
REPORTS TO: Marie Malo, Park Ranger
LOCATION: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (Desert View)
STATUS: 900 hour AmeriCorps Service Term
BENEFITS: AmeriCorps Education Award $3,047.50 after successful completion. Housing provided.
SUMMARY:
ARIZONA CONSERVATION CORPS (AZCC):
Arizona Conservation Corps, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. AZCC is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent area military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. AZCC operates programs across Arizona that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. AZCC has program offices in Flagstaff and Tucson.
POSITION SUMMARY:
As an AmeriCorps program participant, work effectively as one of two interns providing interpretive and visitor services around Grand Canyon National Park’s Desert View area. Interns will be expected to assist in providing interpretation and orientation, and in planning and development of the Desert View Tribal Cultural Heritage Center. This position will also involve providing customer service to park guests from the Desert View Visitor Center front desk. Government housing provided during the term.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:
- Provide interpretive services, including the development of 15-20 minute discussions for a diverse public audience.
- Coordinate the logistics of public demonstrations and cultural presentations, including assisting in set-up and break down of public events.
- Research & document information to be used for the development of museum quality exhibits and interpretive materials related to tribes traditionally associated with the Grand Canyon.
- Coordinate with local tribes & outside agencies for new development opportunities.
- Work at the Desert View Visitor Center desks to provide information to visitors in a busy setting.
- Weekly schedule to include occasional evenings & weekends with a mix of daytime and some overnight projects.
Required Skills
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Preference will be given to Native American applicants.
- Must be at least 21 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license. Applicants can be between the ages of 18-20 if they have held a valid driver’s license for 3 consecutive years.
- Interest in park visitor and resource protection, and interpretation/education.
- Ability to engage and interact with the public in a professional manner.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong computer skills with efficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Strong attention to organization and detail.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with a range of government and partner organizations.
- Familiarity with ‘Leave no Trace’, ‘Tread Lightly’ and similar principles and a strong ability to apply education about such principles to encourage voluntary visitor compliance with rules and regulations.
- Previous Conservation Corps or AmeriCorps experience.
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 differences.
- Contribute to a safe learning environment; no harassment of others for any reason.
- Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.
- Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
- Appropriately represent Arizona Conservation Corps, the National Park Service, and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all times.
- Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment can vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather with difficult access to advanced medical care.
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 winds.
- Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards.
- Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
- Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
- If taking prescriptions medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.
- Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
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.
TO APPLY: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application. If you have questions, contact Marissa Strong, AZCC’s Individual Placement Program Director at mstrong@conservationlegacy.org.
For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit www.azcorps.org. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.
Required Experience