Job Description

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with USFWS-Canaan Valley NWR, is seeking 1 Intern to work directly with the Canaan Valley NWR staff and assist with public use, including interpretation, environmental education, volunteer coordinator, recreation management, support groups, communication/media, and permits/concessions.  Time may be spent performing duties such as staffing the information desk, serving as a roving interpreter on trails, monitoring visitor facilities, and reporting situations which may harm resources.  Lastly, time may be spent performing special projects/miscellaneous assignments that are designed to develop knowledge of the Refuge System’s functions and operating policies/procedures and knowledge of specific programs and operations, all while following practices appropriate to personal, visitor, and staff safety.  

These opportunities are intended for enthusiastic individuals with a background in Wildlife Biology or Forestry who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of Wildlife Conservation and Management.

Start Date: October 4, 2021

End Date: 52 weeks later 

Location: Canaan Valley NWR, Davis, WV

Project Website: For more information about Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, please visit  https://www.fws.gov/refuge/canaan_valley/ 

For more information regarding the ACE Internship Program, please visit: www.usaconservation.org 

Compensation: ACE Intern is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $400/week to cover the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. A travel allowance of $600 is also included. 

AmeriCorps: This position may be eligible for a 1700 hour AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of internship service hours. Additional enrollment is required.  

Housing: ACE interns will be accommodated in Refuge housing at no cost for the duration of the internship.  

Position Description Duties:

50% of time: 

Interpretation: Develops and presents a variety of interpretive programs including orientation talks, conducted walks, and demonstrations to a variety of general public audiences or school groups using a variety of audio-visual equipment.  Initiates or assists with development or revision of interpretive materials, such as brochures, guidebooks, handouts, and exhibits.  

Environmental Education: Prepares and conducts on and off-site environmental education programs for a variety of audiences.  Initiates or assists with development or revision of environmental education materials.  Assists in conducting teacher training and orientation programs while maintaining stock of environmental education materials, equipment, and supplies.

Volunteer Coordination:  Assists with recruitment and training of candidates for a volunteer program and assists in developing volunteer work projects and schedules for visitor services.  May assist in developing and scheduling work projects for program areas outside of visitor services.  Monitors progress of volunteer projects and drafts volunteer job descriptions and other volunteer materials.  Helps with report generation for USFWS.

Recreation Management:  Assists with the management of wildlife dependent recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and/interpretation as described in the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 and with secondary recreational uses such as camping, and horseback riding in support of one or more of the primary uses.  Provides orientation, interpretive, and regulatory information relating to site specific regulations, hunting and fishing programs, and other visitor activities.  

Support Groups:  Assists with maintaining working relationships with Friends organizations and other partners by attending a variety of events and functions, giving informative talks, and asking for volunteer or other assistance.

Communication/Media:  Communicates effectively with visitors and staff by writing or through interpretive activities that aid in implementing the refuge’s outreach program.  Drafts a variety of written materials including news releases, articles, correspondence, and event flyers to increase understanding of the Service mission, encourage attendance at or assistance with special event, explain the goals and objectives of the refuge and its practices, or related issues.

Permits/concessions: Assists with issuing special permits for wildlife dependent recreation activities or other appropriate and compatible special events or activities

25% of time: 

Staffs information desks in visitor center or contact stations, providing interpretive, and orientation information to the public.  

Monitor visitor facilities for safety, cleanliness, and accessibility; performs routine maintenance on visitor service facilities, and reports on or remedies obvious maintenance, health, and safety deficiencies.  Assist with planning and designing visitor service facilities.

Protects refuge natural and cultural resources by observing conditions and reminding visitors to stay out of closed or restricted areas.  Reports situations which may harm resources.

25% of time: 

Follows practices appropriate to personal, visitor, and staff safety.  Identifies and reports potential safety hazards to appropriate staff.  Administers basic first aid when necessary. May operate passenger vehicles, trucks, and off road vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles and small watercraft.  

Performs special projects/miscellaneous assignments that are designed to develop knowledge of the Refuge System’s functions and operating policies/procedures, skill in the effective use and protection of resources, and knowledge of specific programs and operations.  

Qualifications: Applicants for the position must hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Wildlife Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Education, Interpretation, and Forestry or related field.

Required:

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• A valid driver’s license and a clean driving record are required (documentation to be provided upon request). Interns must be 21 to apply for any ACE position that requires or anticipates operation of agency or ACE vehicles for duties.
• Ability to work alone and in a group
• Proficient in English
• Ability to undergo a federal criminal background check is required
• Wearing a clearly visible ACE-EPIC uniform component is required at all times

Preferred:

• Knowledge of a wide range of concepts, principles, and practices of visitor services management sufficient to assist in planning, organizing and implementing interpretive, educational, and wildlife oriented recreation activities and a National Wildlife Refuge.
• Skill in oral and written communication
• General knowledge of natural resource management and conservation and their application to visitor management.
• Knowledge of public outreach and communication tools and techniques to identify public audiences and messages.  
• May require the ability to operate passenger vehicles and light trucks, offroad vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles and snow machines, and small watercraft.
• Interpretation:  Knowledge of interpretive concepts and a variety of media to convey effective interpretive messages to the public
• Environmental Education: Practical knowledge of traditional and current concepts of environmental education programming.  Ability to use these concepts to educate school classes and teachers about refuge resources and their conservation and management.
• Ability to use computer technology to maintain and retrieve information from automated data systems, develop spreadsheets, and use word processing and statistical software programs in order to develop reports.
• Ability to communicate in writing in order to assist in the preparation of wildlife management survey summaries
• Ability to operate small watercraft, cars, trucks and trailers.
• Ability to work doing strenuous activity for significant periods of time, often walking over rough terrain and in muddy conditions; on rough or uneven surfaces; wading through vegetation choked marshes, lifting and carrying heavy objects, and in many instances during difficult weather conditions. 
• Collection survey data requires good vision and fieldwork results in exposure to such things as: poison ivy insects, sun, wind, temperature variation and many varieties of pollen. 
• Seasonal field studies involve considerable physical demands, such as frequent, extensive travel on foot; bending; crouching; and climbing; exertion from lifting and carrying equipment; and energy drain from cold, wet and windy weather. 
• Must be in good physical condition and anticipate the demands of each field trip. Occasionally lifts containers weighing up to 35 pounds.

ACE Interns must be willing to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.  Drug users should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Internship. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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