NPS Cultural Education Internship - Coolidge, AZ

Title: Cultural Education Internship (1 position)   

Start/End Date: March 27, 2023 to August 11, 2023 (anticipated)

Stipend: $640 per week ($540 living allowance + $100 housing allowance)

Term: 20 weeks 

Reports To: Sara Sutton (Education Coordinator)

Location: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge, AZ  85128)

Status: 675-hour AmeriCorps Service Term.

Benefits: AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,474.27 upon successful completion of the term; Public Lands Corps Certificate*; both with successful completion of the internship.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30, inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

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 era 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.  

National Park Service (NPS):  

The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service’s Interpretation and Education program provides dynamic, vibrant, and essential support in fulfilling the NPS mission. The stewardship of park resources is highly dependent upon an engaged and supportive public. By facilitating meaningful and enriching park experiences, Interpretation and Education services provide a mission-critical role by helping visitors discover why they care about park resources so that they will want to help care for those resources.

Friends of Casa Grande Ruins:

The Friends of Casa Grande Ruins is a non-profit organization that was formed to support Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and assist in the preservation, protection, interpretation, and enjoyment of the monument for present and future generations.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument:

One of the largest prehistoric structures ever built in North America, Casa Grande (“Great House”) was no longer used by 1450 C.E. Constructed by Ancestral Sonoran Desert People, its purpose inspires curiosity. Casa Grande Ruins was declared to be a National Monument on August 3, 1918, and management of the Ruins was transferred to the National Park Service. Continuing research, repairs, interpretive programs, and visitor center remodeling are all part of the continuing effort to provide the best visitor experience possible, and to fulfill the National Park Service's mission to protect, preserve and make available for present and future generations the many wonders of Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.

Position Summary: 

The intern at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument will benefit local communities by conducting curriculum-based in-person and virtual field trip programs for school groups, formal and informal interpretive programming for the general public, as well as on-site family programming, activities and self-guided materials. These will provide students, visitors and nearby communities with relevant, lived cultural perspectives both now and in the future through education programs, interpretive programs, and activities that will serve future generations of park visitors. The intern will gain hands-on experience supporting education and interpretive programs at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in order to prepare for future opportunities with the NPS or other public lands agencies. Some training in formal and informal interpretation, curriculum-based education, and interpretive writing will be provided. There will also be opportunities to shadow cultural resources staff conducting preservation work.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions: 

• Prepare and update program materials and educational materials.
• Prepare and present in-person and virtual field trips.
• Develop and present interpretive programs.
• Staff visitor center front desk providing information, orientation, and interpretation.
• Assist with development of family programming and self-guided materials.
• Assist with conducting programs for families and students.
• Research and develop activities and identify locations for program activities.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Preference will be given to Native American applicants.
• Interest in education and interpretation.
• Ability to engage and communicate clearly with the public, students, user groups, and agency staff in a professional manner. 
• Applicants must pass a Department of Interior security background check and must possess a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Classroom teaching or public speaking experience.
• Background in education, history, archaeology or cultural resources.
• Comfort level to talk and present to students and the public and share their tribal perspective.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint 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.

Physical Requirements: 

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc... May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Participation and Expected Behavior:  

• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason. 
• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. 
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program. 
• Appropriately represent AmeriCorps, Arizona Conservation Corps, and the National Park Service at all times, including properly wearing the internship uniform. 

 Safety and Judgement:  

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of dangers others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury, or need of 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 appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises that may arise. 
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others. 

Substance Free: 

• In accordance with 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 AZCC Individual Placement Program Coordinator, Preston Sands at psands@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information on Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, please visit nps.gov/cagr/index.htm.

For more information about Arizona Conservation Corps, please visit azcorps.org/. Arizona Conservation Corps is a program of Conservation Legacy.