Interpretation Intern
Conservation Begins Here.
Interpretation Intern
About us:
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and community green spaces across the country.
Program Description:
The Medicine Wheel is an ancient stone structure built on top of Medicine Mountain at 9,640 feet (2,938 m) above sea level. The site is staffed seven days a week for 10 hours each day. Interns will work at the interpretors cabin near the main parking area and at the Medicine Wheel, which is 1.25 miles away. Staff at the cabin greet visitors as they arrive and provide interpretation of the site, forest information, and answer general questions about the area. All Staff help maintain the site by performing duties, such as cleaning bathrooms, painting facilities, repairing fences, clearing pathways, etc.. Staff is required to walk the 1.25 miles between the Medicine Wheel and Interpreters cabin each day. Weather on Medicine Mountain can change rapidly from one extreme to another. Occasional snow can be expected during the early and later parts of the season, and thunderstorms with lightning and hail are common throughout the summer.
The site is a Sacred Native American Traditional Cultural Property and National Historic Landmark where hundreds of Native Americans make a pilgrimage each year, with many having either public or private ceremonies. Many people from around the world visit the site to learn a about Native American culture. Approximately 10,700 visitors came to the Medicine Wheel in 2018. We are looking at establishing one or two guided tours each day, but generally, interpretation will be impromptu and often cursory. Various chronometric data sources, including dendrochronology, radiocarbon dating, and projectile point chronologies have been used to establish the duration of Native American use of Medicine Mountain, which extends nearly 10,000 years into the past.
Lodging will be provided at the nearby Porcupine Ranger Station. This facility serves as living quarters and as a Forest Service work center. Other seasonal and permanent employees will be housed periodically at the site. Past interpreters often spent time socializing with interpreters and staff at the Burgess work center and Shell Ranger Station. Opportunities to work with Forest Service staff conducting a variety of Forest Service management tasks will also be available.
Position Dates: 06/03/2024 - 09/01/2024 (13 weeks)
Member Benefits
- $350/week* Living Allowance, paid bi-weekly
- $1,100* To/From Travel Allowance, paid once with first paycheck
- USFS bunkhouse Housing provided on-site
- Forest Service compound with housing is approximately 4 miles from site. Transportation is provided to and from site for work. Housing is usually a Co-ed bunkhouse, and may or may not have a roommate, shared living areas, kitchen, and bathrooms. Washer and dryer are in each building
- Eligible for AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,824, received upon successful completion of position and 450 service hours
- Eligible for the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority upon successful completion of position (640hrs minimum of service)
*All Allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes
Member Qualifications:
- Driver's license
- Personal vehicle HIGHLY recommended
Additional:
- Must be eligible to serve as an AmeriCorps Member. This includes:
- Being a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States;
- Being at least 18 years or older;
- Having a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Being willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks.