We are recruiting two interns to join the refuge visitor services team. You will join refuge staff, volunteers, and partners making an intentional effort to support local communities to connect with local nature, while also meeting other community priorities. This is a great opportunity to work with a small but growing team to help the refuge become a trusted community asset, reflective of the entire community, that is equitable and collaborative in pursuit of our conservation mission.
The Youth Engagement Coordinator will work with the community to co-design environmental education programs, develop and lead new programs that strengthen the voices of youth in conservation, and ensure that programs are inclusive and accessible to diverse communities. This intern will:
- Work with community partners to identify youth activities that both address community priorities and highlight local opportunities to connect with nature in meaningful ways.
- When possible, work with partners to co-design and co-implement interpretive, environmental education, recreation, and stewardship programs that address those community priorities and inspire participants to extend their connections with nature.
- Facilitate interpretive, environmental education, recreation, and stewardship programming for youth and other target audiences.
- Identify barriers that limit access to refuge programs, then implement solutions to dismantle those barriers.
- Participate in other refuge visitor services projects, including:
- Helping plan events at the refuge and in the community.
- Conducting community outreach and engagement.
- Engaging with refuge visitors, at the visitor center and elsewhere, to provide a safe and welcoming experience and to ensure understanding of refuge regulations.
- Helping develop, coordinate, and implement site or issue specific outreach and communication.
The Volunteer Coordinator will work with Refuge staff, volunteers, and partners to improve and expand Refuge volunteer programs, including ensuring that refuge volunteer programs are inclusive and accessible to diverse communities. This intern will:
- Recruit, orient, and train volunteers, communicate with new and existing Refuge volunteers about volunteer opportunities, organize volunteer recognition events, and manage the volunteer database. Current volunteer projects include habitat improvement, wildlife monitoring, environmental education, visitor services, maintenance, and more.
- Collaborate with partners for volunteer recruitment and management.
- Coordinate some individual and group volunteer projects.
- Work with community partners to identify and co-design on- and off-site stewardship activities that address refuge and community priorities.
- Identify barriers that limit access to volunteer engagement and retention, then implement solutions to dismantle those barriers.
- Participate in other refuge visitor services projects, including:
- Helping plan events at the refuge and in the community.
- Conducting community outreach and engagement.
- Engaging with refuge visitors, at the visitor center and elsewhere, to provide a safe and welcoming experience and to ensure understanding of refuge regulations.
- Helping develop, coordinate, and implement site or issue specific outreach and communication.
Preferred qualifications
The ideal candidate for these positions is someone who:
- Is bilingual Spanish-English.
- Is passionate about nature and about connecting marginalized communities with outdoor recreation opportunities and resources.
- Is able, with instruction, to teach environmental education and interpretation programs and coordinate a volunteer program.
- Is able to connect with diverse audiences.
- Is open-minded and willing to learn.
- Is good at networking and creating partnerships.
- Has strong written and oral communication skills.
- Has strong organizational skills.
- Is comfortable and capable of working independently and as part of a team.
- Is a creative problem solver.
- Has community outreach or engagement experience.
- Has experience working with adults and children in outdoor settings.
- Has knowledge of social media platforms and video editing programs.
- Has excellent customer/visitor service skills.
- Is able to work outside in all weather conditions.
Minimum Qualifications
- Available to work full-time (40 hours per week) for 52 weeks. Position requires some evening and weekend work.
- Valid driver’s license and good driving record. Drive government vehicle as required for position.
- Interns must undergo a government background check if selected.
- Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
You will work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (www.fws.gov), one of the world’s premiere conservation organizations with a mission to protect wildlife and their habitats for the benefit of current and future generations. Part of the United States federal government, USFWS employees are dedicated public servants who are unapologetic super-fans of plants, animals, and people who receive nature’s many benefits and contribute to its sustainability. National Wildlife Refuges (www.fws.gov/refuges) are a unique type of public land, managed by the USFWS, that focus on ensuring both people and wildlife thrive in nature. Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is considered an “urban” National Wildlife Refuge (https://www.fws.gov/program/urban-wildlife-conservation) because it represents an awesome opportunity for nearby nature exploration for a large, diverse, and vibrant population.
Please provide a 1-2 page professional resume as an attachment to your SCA application.
Member Benefits
- $600* weekly living allowance (paid bi-weekly)
- $1,100* to/from travel allowance (paid once)
- $1,000 Duty Related Travel or Member Expense reimbursement funding (Receipt required)
- Monthly Health Insurance (Optional)
- All Weather Uniform (provided by SCA & Arborwear)
- Housing provided on-site
- Eligible for AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,895, received upon successful completion of position
- Eligible for the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority upon successful completion of position (640hrs minimum service)
*All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes
SCA1957
Position ID: PO-00735662
Expected Dates: October 2, 2023 - September 29, 2024
Location:
13751 Upper Embankment Road
Nampa, ID 83686
US
Training Provided: First aid/CPR, social media, and other training may be available. Cultural Competency and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice training will be provided. There will be opportunities to shadow and assist with wildlife/habitat mgmt., maintenance, etc.
Educational/Recreational Opportunities: Refuge opportunities include wildlife watching/photography, hunting/fishing, boating, hiking, and swimming. Local parks provide more activities, and there are desert and mountain areas nearby. The Boise metro area has many educational opportunities.
Handicap Accessible?: No
Main Area of Focus: Education and Interpretation
Further Details
AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible
Driving Logistics: Recommended
There is no public transportation accessible from refuge housing. The closest grocery store is 2.5 miles and the closest restaurants and other stores are at least 3.5 miles away. Biking is a possibility, but many roads do not have designated bike lanes.
Housing or Stipend Provided?
A. Partner will provide suitable housing for the member
Housing is available in a lava-rock house built for the first refuge manager by the Works Progress Administration. Each intern will have a single bedroom in this 3-bedroom, 1-bath house. You will likely share the house with others. The house is at the refuge maintenance area, and is a 3-mile drive, or 1.5-mile hike or bike ride, from refuge headquarters where you will serve.
Indoor/Outdoor: Inside
US Citizenship: Yes