DOI AmeriCorps VISTA Position Available

Date: December 8, 2014
Contact: Angela Allison, 304-465-6508

Glen Jean, West Virginia, December 8, 2014–New River Gorge National River is currently recruiting for a new AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA). The selected VISTA will serve in this position from February 2015 to February 2016, for one full year. The position was created for a three year term, so the park is seeking an interested candidate for year two of this program. The VISTA will develop programming for Camp Brookside, an environmental education center and residential youth camp located near Hinton, WV. Duties of this position include researching funding opportunities, collaborating with partners to develop an operation plan for the camp, and implementing pilot programs in preparation for the camp's opening in 2016. Interested Candidates should apply to the program through the AmeriCorps portal at:my.americorps.gov search for "DOI" or "OSMRE" to find the site listings. Candidates can also link to the announcement from the park's website at the following link: https://www.nps.gov/neri/parkmgmt/jobs.htm.

New River Gorge National River was designated as a unit of the National Park Service in 1978 protecting 53 miles of one of the oldest rivers in the world. The park protects 72,808 acres along the New River from the Bluestone Dam to the Hawk's Nest Lake. Here in southern West Virginia, the New River carved the deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to the abundance of natural, scenic, and recreational offerings in this National Park Service unit, the park also provides a glimpse into the unique cultural history of the New River Gorge including coal mining and railroad history. Education is a primary focus for park staff that regularly provides curriculum-based education programs to schools in five neighboring counties. Education, community engagement, and youth programs are critical in protecting park resources and encouraging stewardship of our public lands.

In partnership with the Department of Interior and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Conservation Legacy VISTA Program places AmeriCorps VISTAs in impoverished communities for a year of service centered on the connection between environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, civic engagement, and the development of healthy futures. The DOI/VISTA Team serves communities across the country in partnership with public land agencies such as the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, fostering economic opportunities through experiential outdoor education, conservation corps development, internship programs, STEM Education, and public land access improvements. The DOI/VISTA Team has a special focus on serving at-risk youth through the development of experiential outdoor education that leads to economic opportunities in conservation and land management fields.To learn more about these innovative teams, visit www.coalcountryteam.org orwww.hardrockteam.org.

New River Gorge National River is proud of its partnership with the Conservation Legacy VISTA Program. Through this partnership, a year-long VISTA position is offered at the park as a part of a three year project to build the capacity of Camp Brookside. Restoration of this site will be completed in the fall of 2015.     

This is not a staff position and does not include a salary;rather it provides a living allowance of approximately $900 a month. It includes limited health benefits, child care assistance, and an education award valued at $5,550 or a cash stipend of $1,500 at the end of service. Candidates relocating more than 50 miles for service are eligible for $550 relocation/settling in allowance. The park has affordable housing available. The position will begin in February 2015 and requires a one year commitment.

Requirements

·Bachelor's Degree preferred

·Strong writing skills, public speaking and computer proficiency

·Experience in grant writing and fundraising is preferred

·Experience working with partners, community organizations and volunteer recruitment

Goals

The goal for this position is to build the capacity in the southern district of New River Gorge National River to enhance community engagement, economic opportunity and environmental stewardship through the development of programming at Camp Brookside. Additionally, the candidate will:

·Research and write grants to obtain funding to sponsor pilot programs, workshops and training.

·Create operational estimates and a marketing strategy to present to park management and external stakeholders.

·Develop volunteer outreach and recruitment plan for Camp Brookside in collaboration with park's Volunteer Coordinator.

Tasks

The tasks associated with this project include, but are not limited to:

·Grant writing and fundraising

·Public speaking

·Partnership building

·Community development

Park updates will be posted to the park's website atwww.nps.gov/neri. You can also find updates on the park's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/newrivergorgenps or follow us on Twitter at https://Twitter.com/NewRiverNPS.