NPS Valles Caldera National Preserve Interpretive Individual Placement
Title: NPS Valles Caldera National Preserve Interpretive Individual Placement
Stipend: $680/week
Dates: 07/11/2022 - 11/04/2022
Term: 14 weeks, full time
Number Of Positions: 2 Individual Placements
Reports To: National Park Service
Location: 90 Villa Louis Martin, Jemez Springs, NM 87025
Status: 450-hour AmeriCorps Service Term
Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award $1,678.57 after successful completion of term
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ (ALCC) Mission
It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being. The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps is specifically designed to engage Native American youth and young adults. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local tribal communities in the regions we operate. Native American applicants are preferred.
National Park Service Mission:
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
NPS Valles Caldera National Preserve Interpretive Individual Placement (IP) Overview:
The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps and NPS Valles Caldera National Preserve is seeking two Interpretive Individual Placements. The two (2) Individual Placements will work to produce self-guided science activities that can be done by visitors to Valles Caldera and will benefit current research needs. One project will focus on monitoring dark skies at Valles Caldera as part of maintaining International Dark Sky status. These activities will consist of 1) educational information about the topic, 2) step-by-step guide for visitors to conduct a science experiment, and 3) how to submit the results. The products will be a publication of the activity and any associated materials visitors need to conduct the experiment.
The (2) interns will work closely within the interpretation team at Valles Caldera, will be able to shadow NPS interpreters and learn how to run visitor facilities, provide visitor services, give interpretive talks, and guide interpretive walks. They will also be able to interact with the park's Education Specialist and Visual Information Specialist on developing the publications and companion materials for the citizen science projects.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
The NPS Valles Caldera National Preserve Interpretive Individual Placements will work to complete tasks and projects outlined below.
1) Select resource topic as focus of citizen science project.
- Meet with resource management staff to determine the different research projects that are ongoing and which projects could use citizen science support.
- Research the resource topic to get a better understanding of the topic, the issues the resource is facing in Valles Caldera, and what we are hoping to learn from the research.
- Share project proposal with chief of interpretation, including the citizen science concept.
2) Participate in field studies and conduct tests of citizen science project.
- Individual Placements will shadow resource management staff while they conduct field research to gain a better understanding of how field research in conducted.
- Individual Placements will interview resource management staff to get a better sense of how citizen science can assist them.
- Individual Placements will work with the interpretation team to develop a citizen science project.
- Individual Placements will test the citizen science project in the field with the support of interpretation and resource management team members.
3) Design, write, and produce a citizen science project.
- Write the educational content for the topic the project focuses on.
- Layout the handout using computer software.
- Elicit feedback on drafts from the interpretation and resource management teams.
- Send the final proofs to GPO for publication.
Required Skills
- Ability to plan and organize complex projects.
- Strong social and cultural skills to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds.
- Written communication skills.
- Interest in biology, ecology, or other environmental fields.
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Required Experience
Some educational or practical background in geology, biology, ecology, or astronomy.
**Applicants must be within the ages of 18-30 due to AmeriCorps age restrictions. Indigenous candidates are preferred.**