Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) at New River Gorge
Position Title: Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Member with New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
104 Main St.
Glen Jean, WV 25846
Terms of Service: 15 weeks
- Start Date: 07/07/2025
- End Date: 10/17/2025
- Application Deadline: 06/02/2025
- Number of Positions Available: 1
-
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour AmeriCorps Service Term
Stewards Individual Placements & Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) Initiative:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) initiative aims to increase access to the outdoors for everyone. Are you passionate about disability rights and accessibility in National Parks and public lands? Do you have a personal connection to the disability community? Our health, our planet, and our collective future rely on diversity – in thought, ability, experience, and ideas. That’s why we need YOU. Become a Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) member and help make the outdoors more accessible for all!
Role of YES Member at New River Gorge
The New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is a catalyst for drawing visitors and is an economic strength for the local economy. The outdoor recreation in the area is centered around the park and the park is investing in multiple projects with the end goal to provide great and safe experiences and thus attract new and repeat visitation to the area.
Stewards, in partnership with New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, are seeking a YES service member who will work primarily out of the Sandstone Visitor Center with some shifts that will work out of Grandview on projects that will benefit New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and it's gateway communities. The Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Member at New River Gorge National Park & Preserve will serve with the Interpretation and Education Division of the park.
The YES Member will serve as a park ambassador to visitors as well as a park advocate and outreach coordinator within local communities of varying abilities. The role includes frontline interpretation at the visitor information desk, working with rangers to identify accessible outdoor experience locations, improving and/or developing, and presenting accessible programming, as well as opportunities to present educational programs YMCA Day Camp participants. The member will play a key role in developing, updating, and implementing accessible summer educational content—ensuring children and families can benefit from park resources throughout the summer season.
The YES member will us comply with Secretary's Order SO-3426. This Order is intended to ensure that all national parks and national historic sites, which are managed by the Department of the Interior (Department), remain open and accessible for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people and to ensure that the National Park Service (NPS) will provide the best customer service experience for all visitors. YES member will play a crucial role in increasing site accessibility for the public as well as being part of a team, providing summer educational programming to YMCA day camp students.
Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of this YES position, the member will:
- Interact with visitors from across the World at various features of the park including visitor centers, trails, overlooks, boardwalks, and more
- Work with Park Rangers on developing and presenting accessible interpretive programs
- Assist the park in increasing engagement efforts with local communities and organizations
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- Be between the ages of 18-30 (or up to age 35 with Veteran status)
- Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
- Able to commit to 15 weeks of service
- Have a connection to the disability community
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Driving is not required but preferred: A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record
- Knowledge of visitor services, natural resources, or West Virginia history
- Ability and willingness to interact with large volumes of people, and perform repetitive tasks
- Deep interest in parks and recreation, conservation, resource management, or history.
- Ability to learn Microsoft Office products. Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing
- Experience with public speaking
- Six months of general experience which includes experience in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work that provided a familiarity with natural or cultural history; fish or wildlife habitat characteristics; techniques of resource protection and use; recreational use of public lands and facilities; enforcement of laws, rules, or regulations; fire prevention techniques and fire suppression methods; or the practice of interpersonal relations skills in dealing with the general public
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Previous experience and/or education in customer service
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday-Friday, 8:45am-5:15pm, but exact service schedules may vary. A half-hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Disability Awareness training
- Online and hands-on training available for service member in all facets of duties
- Member will learn program methods through mentoring and observation of experienced staff
- Member will attend training with other seasonal employees. Training covers NPS history, NRG history, NRG interpretive themes and techniques, as well as visitor service principals
- Visitor Center operations training
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1956.35, pre-tax
- Living Allowance of $500 per week
- Additional Benefits of $200 per week
- Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
- Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
- Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
- Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.
How to Apply:
To apply, please click on the green “apply” button in the top right corner of the page. In addition to uploading your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please address your experience with the disability community.
Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
This project was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation