Serve alongside other SCA interns at the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest!
Updated Positions Dates: 10/2 – 12/24
- Serve as a lead guide on two completely different tours normally involving up to, but in some cases exceeding, 34 visitors (per tour). Performs work to provide a range of guide services for small parties that can be easily accommodated within the physical area.
- Greets each tour group, collects tour tickets, explains tour rules, policies, and procedures, identifies any special needs of your members, and screens group to eliminate pets, intoxicated visitors, children under 12 without adult supervision, etc. Orderly loads and unloads groups into and out of elevators and buses to and from the tour sites.
- Tours that include visits to caverns involve special procedures. During the course of the tours presents an interpretive message about the caverns and the surrounding area including such points of interest as cave formations, history, fauna, flora, geology, cave-surface relationships, etc. Also answers a large variety of related questions. Maintains control of the group, advises on hazardous areas, and tactfully enforces safety regulations and rules of conduct such as the prohibition against smoking, touching formations, etc.
- Also serves as a trail guide. As such, follows the tour group to ensure the group stays together, turns off lights, and assists in answering questions and handling emergency situations. Observes and learns from more experienced guides serving as lead guide on the tour.
- Serves in an information booth in the Visitor Information Center greeting visitors, answering questions about the Forest Service, the caverns exhibits, recreational opportunities in the surrounding area, and providing recreational maps and brochures to the general public.
- Perform routine cleaning and visitor service duties at the caverns and in the recreation complex. The recreation complex includes day-use areas and campgrounds. Maintenance tasks include sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning/stocking restrooms, cleaning windows, mowing and edging the lawn, blowing/raking leaves, removing downed limbs and hazard trees, picking up litter, and emptying trash and recycle bins.
- Perform a variety of duties in support of the district trails and wilderness programs. This position will serve as a member of the trail maintenance team to maintain and repair trails throughout the District to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat and water quality in addition to improving recreational access to forests lands
- Perform routine maintenance at trailheads and dispersed recreation sites, including site cleanup and naturalizing. Patrolling and maintaining trails, dispersed, and remote developed recreation sites.
- Interact with forest visitors and volunteers, providing information on recreation opportunities. Educate the public and volunteers on trail maintenance and cleanup. Conducts education programs addressing Leave No Trace camping.
- Interns will be working in a recreation-centered field which will require weekend and holiday work. Daily uniform wear is expected. Uniforms and facilities should always be well presented to the public.
Living Allowance: $300 per week
Relocation Travel: $1,100.00 one time
This position qualifies for an AmeriCorps Education Award.
*All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
It is SCA’s policy that all AmeriCorps-required background checks must return cleared results prior to the position’s start; this includes being fingerprinted for the FBI check. Otherwise, the AmeriCorps award will be removed or the position’s start date will be delayed due to non-compliance.
Conditions of Employment
“For SCA’s COVID guidance, please refer to www.thesca.org/covid.”
SCA1957
Position ID: PO-00734850
Expected Dates: August 7, 2023 - November 12, 2023
Location:
704 Blanchard Road
Fifty Six, AR 72533
US
Training Provided: CPR/AED/First Aid Interpretive Training Visitor Services Leave No Trace Trail Maintenance Facility Maintenance Cave Basics Cave Rescue Concepts Recreation Management
Educational/Recreational Opportunities: Karst Ecology Caving Hiking Kayaking/Canoeing
Handicap Accessible?: No
Main Area of Focus: Recreation Mgmt
Further Details
AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible
Driving Logistics: Recommended
The duty station for the interns, Blanchard Springs Caverns, is 14 miles away from the District Bunkhouse. Car pooling opportunities may be available, but not guaranteed.
Housing or Stipend Provided?
A. Partner will provide suitable housing for the member
The six candidates will be housed in the District bunkhouse. This is a three-bedroom, two-bath facility, located adjacent to the District Office in Mountain View. Candidates should expect share a bedroom. One bedroom has bathroom attached.
Indoor/Outdoor: Combination
US Citizenship: Yes
