Historical Interpretation - National Capital Parks of East - Conservation Legacy

Position Title:  Historical Interpretation Member - AmeriCorps 

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: National Capital Parks - East
1900 Anacostia Dr. SE, Washington, DC 20020

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 01/13/2025
• End Date: 08/08/2025 (30 weeks)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources.  National Capital Parks-East (NACE) includes a portfolio of 14 National Park sites, parkways, and statues covering more than 8,000 acres of historic, cultural, and recreational parklands ranging from Capitol Hill to the nearby Maryland suburbs. The Historic Homes (Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, and Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Sites) are a part of NACE and celebrate the contributions of African Americans in the United States and throughout the world. The mission of NACE is to conserve and manage these resources for the benefit of the public while promoting education, recreation, and cultural understanding.

Stewards, in partnership with the National Capital Parks-East are seeking three (3) Historical Interpretation members to serve at Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, and assist in the opening of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. 

The 3 selected applicants will serve as AmeriCorps service members and will gain hands-on experience while learning about the National Park Service. Under the mentorship of seasoned professionals, they will develop and present a variety of formal and informal audience and learner-centered interpretive experiences, provide orientation at visitor center desks, develop content for webpages and social media, and help to plan special events. The selected applicants will also get the opportunity to gain on-the-ground experience at unique and nationally significant sites within the heart of the nation's capital. From historic landmarks to neighborhood parks, they will play a vital role in preserving, interpreting, and promoting these cultural treasures.  Additionally, the selected applicants will join the Historic Homes team at NACE in time for the reopening of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling journey with NACE, apply now, upload your resume and cover letter, and take the first step towards a rewarding career with the National Park Service!

Description of Duties:

• Work with NPS staff to learn the principals of interpretation
• Complete a variety of trainings including completing the Basic Principles of Interpretation courses from the Eppley Institute
• Study and research key figures: Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Dr. Carter G. Woodson in order to be well-versed on each historical figure for interpretation and programming
• Work with NPS staff on best practices to deliver audience-centered programs
• Provide house tours, walking tours, and grounds tours
• Support visitor centers at their respective sites by greeting the general public, answering questions, preparing information requests, and fulfilling Junior Ranger programs
• Write short articles for webpages and social media outlets
• Support the implementation and facilitation of special events such as Black History Month events, Women’s History Month events, Juneteenth celebrations, Fourth of July, Mary McLeod Bethune’s Birthday, and the grand reopening of the Carter G. Woodson Home NHS

 
Qualifications:

• Be a United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Be between the ages of 18 – 30, or up to age 35 with Veteran status
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Bachelor’s Degree in history, African American studies, museum studies, or public history
• Experience working in museums or historic homes
• Experience in social media and marketing
• Applicants should possess an interest and appreciation in American History, African American History, Women's History, and/or Public History
• Applicants should want to make a difference.
• Applicants should want to enhance their public speaking skills

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Tuesday to Saturday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. 

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities
• Members will complete the Basic Principles of Interpretation courses from the Eppley Institute
• Audience-Centered Experiences (ACE) Training
• First Aid/AED/CPR training

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3697.50
• Living Allowance of $600 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $200 per week.
• Loan forbearance, if Eligible 

Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.  Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.