2025 NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Logistics and Media Support Member - Yellowstone National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Yellowstone National Park, is seeking ONE member to contribute to the 2025 NPS Academy program alongside the National Park Service Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

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

Start and End dates

Start Date: 05/18/2025

Estimated End Date: 08/30/2025

*a 14 minimum commitment is required and participation in the orientation (March 17th - 21st, 2025) are required for each position*

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.

Location Details/Description:

Mammoth Hot Springs, WY near Gardiner, MT; 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.

Due to the remoteness of Yellowstone, cell coverage is limited and there is limited WiFi at the YCC facility. A personal vehicle can also be helpful but is not required.*YCC has had Wi-Fi for the past 2 years this is new. We assume it will be available again next year.

For more information about Yellowstone National Park, please visit the National Park Service website.

Position Overview:

The member will assist NPS staff with completing important park work by facilitating deferred maintenance projects, education lessons, and recreation opportunities for teen-aged participants. One main project is to take, collect, and organize photos and create a multi-media presentation for two end of session banquets. Serving with the YCC program in Yellowstone requires a good deal of physical exertion while assisting with maintenance work projects and hiking in the backcountry.

Composition of the position is anticipated to be:

25% - take, collect, and organize photos and then create multi-media presentations and engage in social networking for the program

25% - assisting Crew Leaders on NPS-prioritized Yellowstone work projects*may require camping and spending 1-4 nights in a tent. Camping equipment and training is provided.

25% - assisting weekend staff with recreation, education activities, and career development*also may require spending 1 or 2 nights a month camping in the backcountry in Yellowstone.

25% - other program support, projects, and administrative duties

Deferred maintenance projects that the members might contribute to include:

-trail maintenance.

-removing trees and brush from roadways, near buildings, and in housing areas;

-painting and staining: signs, trash cans, picnic tables, bridges, boat docks, and buildings;

-replacing bumper logs in parking lots or roadside;

-repairing and building fences;

-campground and picnic area rehab work; including installing bear boxes in campgrounds

-removing social trails;

-collecting native seed for re-vegetation projects.

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: 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.

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.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2024/25 grant year program, valued up to $1,956.35 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 450-hrs. Please note, AmeriCorps position eligibility is not guaranteed and may not be available for all positions.

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 federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term. 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.

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

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:

• 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.
• 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 located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• 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: Willingness to learn and try new experiences, solid work ethic, team building skills, camping, hiking, natural resource management. YCC is not a summer camp but since we are a residential program it can feel like a summer camp at times. This type of community living is helpful.
• Skills and experience that members will gain from this position: Plant identification, invasive plant species identification and management, experience working with the unique Yellowstone YCC program, Leave No Trace, Bear safety, teambuilding, community living, outdoor recreation experiences, and many more. You will interact with several NPS folks (non YCC) in several different fields or types of careers.

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: 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. Sleeping in a tent is required.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. Strong observation skills due to living in bear country.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: 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.
• Environmental: 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.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: Occasional overnight travel to other areas of the park may occur. Camping, sleeping in tents, making meals in the field should be expected.

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/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the National Park Service or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the National Park Service. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the National Park Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to National Park Service 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 our 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 NPS Academy Member Manager, Deja Charles.

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.