Outdoor Recreation Intern

Title:  Outdoor Recreation Intern

Start/End Date: Spring 2023 – Fall 2023(anticipated; open to May starts for graduating seniors)

Term:  36 weeks

Stipend: $520/week

Reports To: Jesse Vinson, BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner

Location: 111 Blackjack Pershing, Fort Stanton, NM 88323

Status: 1200-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits: housing allowance $200/week; professional development $3,552; AmeriCorps Education Award $4,546 and Public Lands Corps Certificate* - both with successful completion of the internship; health insurance eligible; housing available in the form of bunk housing – more information will be given during interview

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

Conservation Corps New Mexico, a program of Conservation Legacy, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Position Summary:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Roswell Field Office Outdoor Recreation department works to maintain relationships and agreements with other organizations, agencies, and user groups to further improve, develop and promote opportunities and awareness for Outdoor Recreation throughout the Fort Stanton Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) and the remainder of the field office.

The intern will work with Outdoor Recreation and other Roswell Field Office resource staff and specialists to benefit the community and the environment by creating opportunities for a wide range of uses and user groups while also mitigating negative impacts to BLM managed land. The intern will inform the public of recreation opportunities and create avenues of use that remove barriers for certain user groups with the goal of encouraging the surrounding communities to responsibly enjoy their public lands. This position will learn the importance of working together as a part of a team to accomplish goals and missions and the importance of communication within the team.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Provide maintenance and improvements to camp sites and campground infrastructure.
• Update and manage reservation system (Recreation.gov) at campground.
• Collect Federal Lands and Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) funds and count with other qualified field office staff.
• Provide maintenance, improvements, and reclamation to trails on the NCA.
• Collect data on trail use and compile reports.
• Assist with monitoring signs and trail conditions and document areas needing attention using GPS.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Interest in performing the work of an outdoor recreation planner.
• Applicant must be capable of communicating with the public on a regular basis.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team, communicate effectively, and remain flexible/adaptable to changing situations in the field.
• Enthusiasm to learn more about the local Field Office BLM lands and all state BLM lands.
• Have the ability to present a professional image to the public and co-workers at all times.
• Applicants must pass a DOI security background check.

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. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participant Essential Eligibility Requirements/Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the BLM and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for 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
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

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.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report to duty. The BLM will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after an intern has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start the internship. This process will determine the internship’s exact start date.

Interns will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Interns must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

*To be eligible for a Public Lands Corps certificate, interns must be between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins the term of service.

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, 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 a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

To Apply: Please submit an updated resume and cover letter along with the online application at https://corpsnm.org/individual-placement-openings . If you have questions, contact CCNM’s Individual Placement Program Coordinator, Kati DePaola at kdepaola@conservationlegacy.org.

For more information about Conservation Corps New Mexico, please visit www.corpsnm.org. Conservation Corps New Mexico is a program of Conservation Legacy.