Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placement

Title: Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placements

Dates:   05/01/2023 - 10/27/2023

Stipend: $18/hours, 40 hour work weeks

Term: 26 weeks (6 months), full time

Reports To:  National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park

Location: P.O. Box 7, Mesa Verde CO 81330

Status: Non AmeriCorps internships

Housing:  Yes NPS housing is provided

Open Positions: 2 Mesa Verde National Park TTAP Individual Placements

Benefits:  Professional development opportunities, opportunities to travel to Historic Preservation Training in Frederick MD or Grand Tet. Interns will receive the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Health Insurance will be offered through Conservation Legacy to the selected individuals.

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. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

National Park Service Mission:

Our 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.

The National Park Service and Historic Preservation Training Center are seeking individuals to participate in the Traditional Trades Advancement  Program (TTAP) at Mesa Verde National Park. Members will receive introductory training in preservation masonry and will develop an understanding of historic resource stewardship while helping to preserve our nation’s historic resources. This program provides participants with marketable skills and excellent exposure to the historic preservation career field within the NPS as well as the private sector.

Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placements (IP) Overview:

This internship position will work with archeologists and preservation masons on the Stabilization Crew to preserve Ancestral Puebloan sites in Mesa Verde National Park. This location is in Southwest Colorado. The park entrance is 10 miles from Cortez, Colorado, and 8 Miles from Mancos, Colorado. Mesa Verde NP shares its southern boundary with the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. The duty station and housing is 25 miles (45-minute drive) into the park from the entrance. The position works 10-hour days for four days a week (Monday through Thursday). Dormitory style housing is available with a private bedroom and a shared kitchen, living area, bathrooms, and free laundry facilities.

Ancestral Puebloan stone structures in Mesa Verde date from around 600 CE to 1300 CE and include cliff dwellings and mesa top communities. The exceptional cultural and historical significance of Mesa Verde was recognized when it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

Masonry focused projects requiring dry stone masonry, wet stone masonry, stone shaping, re-pointing, preparing amended and earthen mortar mixes. Major preservation projects this year include:

1) Opening Maintained Archeological Sites for the Season:

This project will re-open sites for visitors on Chapin Mesa, including Far View Sites, Megalithic House, Mesa Top Loop sheltered sites, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Square Tower House; and sites on Wetherill Mesa, including the Badger House Community Sites. Opening sites for the visitor season involves assessing sites to make sure they are safe for park visitors, weeding and removing overgrown brush, sweeping, assessing the sites for damage such as potential rock falls and damage from burrowing rodents, and opening the hurricane shutters on sheltered sites.

2) Stabilization and Preservation of Far View Reservoir:

This project will address deferred maintenance on the Far View Reservoir, an ancient water control feature. The site represents one of only a hand-full of known prehistoric reservoirs in Mesa Verde NP. The project includes repointing, resetting loose cap and mid-wall masonry, replacing deteriorated masonry wall surfaces, and contouring to improve drainage.

3) Stabilization and Preservation of Long House Cliff Dwelling:

This project will repair and stabilize Long House, the second largest cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde NP that includes approximately 150 rooms, 21 kivas, and a large ceremonial plaza interpreted as an open Great Kiva. Long House is considered to have dually served as a large habitation and a gathering place for the surrounding community. The project has two components. The first addresses the removal of partially detached and loose bedrock on the alcove ceiling that poses a hazard to visitors and park staff. The second component will address basic fabric repairs to site architecture.

Minimum requirements:

• Moderate to heavy physical effort is required for this position, including, lifting, or handling of objects over 50lbs using proper techniques.
• Standing or kneeling for long periods and will be required to climb ladders, work from scaffolding or platforms, work on uneven or angled surfaces, and/or be able to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to work 10 hour days in heat and sun
• Ability to hike rough, uneven terrain
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Positive Attitude
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must pass required background checks 
• Must be 18-30 years of age, maximum 35 for Veterans with DD-214
• Driver's License with a clean driving record within the last 3 years