Stewards VISTA: NEEF - Shenandoah National Park Y1

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards/SIP) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.  

This position is a 365 day (1 year) public service term lasting from January 16, 2024-January 14, 2025.

Living Allowance: $62.69/day ($22,881.85/year)

For more information regarding Stewards, please visit our website.

The education program at Shenandoah National Park has been providing tremendous opportunities for youth from area schools and throughout Virginia for over 30 years. Students can participate in place-based learning at the park, or staff will bring the opportunities to learn about Shenandoah National Park and NPS through engaging offsite in-person, remote learning, and hybrid programs. The AmeriCorps VISTA position will work to continue to connect with local student and youth audiences, particularly with a focus on the after-school programming funded by the National Environmental Education Foundation with a focus on STEM-based learning and citizen science. Shenandoah National Park also focuses on connecting surrounding communities with the National Park Service mission to preserve and protect natural spaces. This position will grow the existing education programs at Shenandoah National Park to blend the stewardship and curriculum messages into phenomenal learning opportunities for students before, during, and after their programs. The after-school programming began in 2022 with a focus on citizen science and pollinators. This year, the goal is to expand knowledge and protected spaces through additional citizen science focused curriculum. This project targets underserved audiences so bringing the stewardship and activities for engagement to them will increase exposure and opportunity for students. This VISTA position will build upon the curriculum to create hands-on learning opportunities for students as well as partnering with the school educators to develop curriculum that aligns with their students’ needs. The VISTA will also have the opportunity to present and expand upon existing Shenandoah National Park curriculum for in-park and virtual learning programming. Educational offerings at Shenandoah National Park typically serves K-12 students focusing on scientific topics such as geology, ecosystems, habitats, adaptations, and climate change.

Program Benefits:

Segal Education Award ($6,895) OR Cash Stipend (~$1,800) upon successful completion of service, Living Allowance(62.69/day, disbursed every 2 weeks, Housing Assistance, Relocation Allowance, Regular Training and Professional Development Opportunities (free and virtual), Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 in-moment support), Childcare*, Healthcare*, Non-Competitive Eligibility upon successful completion of the term*, Networking and Mentorship, Access to a nationwide cohort of like-minded peers.

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm

Terms:

Uniforms provided and required, Car recommended, Permits working at another job during off hours.

Service Areas:

Children/Youth, Education, Community Outreach.

Member Duties: 

This position will provide hands-on education opportunities to K-12 students. The person will learn and develop curriculum-based science programming for in-park and virtual learning that blends with stewardship messages and NPS values. This position will develop and implement curriculum and activities to build the after-school programming with a focus on citizen science and STEM learning. They will evaluate the needs and interests of the Park, schools, and individual students. Special projects associated with after-school programming include collaborating with teachers and community organizations to assess partnerships to aid the success of the grant. The position will identify needs, track progress, and keep goals on task. The goal of this position is to build a sustainable program at each site that can be built upon or replicated in the future as well as to develop activities that can be used in-person and virtually throughout various education program offerings.

For more information, please reach out to Addie Gilkerson (she/her) at agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org.

Stewards Individual Placements does not and will not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application, interviewing, and/or onboarding process, please send your request to the hiring manager in your preferred method of communication.

Skills:

Education, Curriculum Writing, Writing/, First Aid, Community Organization, Public Speaking, Communications, Teaching/Tutoring.