CRDIP Interpretation and Visitor Services Member - Pipestone National Monument - American Conservation Experience - EPIC

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and through the Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program, is seeking an Interpretation and Visitor Services member to support Pipestone National Monument in sharing the cultural and spiritual significance of the Indigenous site with the public.

For more information about ACE, please visit our usaconservation dot org website.

Start Date: May 27, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 16, 2024

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP) is a professional development internship that introduces students and recent graduates, from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities within Cultural Resource Management in the NPS. CRDIP participants will have the opportunity to attend several professional development webinars as well as write blogs or create videos about their projects throughout their term. To learn more, visit the NPS website.

Location Details/Description: Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone MN

Pipestone National Monument is a storied landscape. Numerous tribes around the country have oral traditions connecting them to this site, Euro-Americans have been visiting and writing about it since the 1600s, and archeologists have found evidence for over 3,000 years of human activity here. Today, Pipestone National Monument formally consults with 23 tribal nations, and Indigenous people from across the country keep ancient quarrying traditions alive to this day. For more information about the park, please visit the NPS website.

Having a personal vehicle is not required, but is highly recommended for commuting and to access groceries and other needs on days off. Public transportation and ride share are not available or dependable.

Position Overview: The member will research material provided for them to create an original 20-minute talk that clearly lays out the cultural and spiritual significance of a site where the active, living traditions span 3,000 years and multiple Indigenous nations. This will also result in their ability to engage with visitors from diverse backgrounds on a daily basis and help them quickly but thoroughly understand the interpretive themes of the park. The ACE member will have the opportunity to learn directly from cultural educators and traditional knowledge keepers in the community as well as cross-train with other park divisions to better understand the NPS mission as a steward of public lands. They will work with a diverse and inclusive team that prioritizes safety, morale, collaboration, and professional excellence.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Full-time position Wednesday-Sunday; 8:15am-4:45pm.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $1,824.07 upon successful completion of a complete service term and service hours.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service, and park staff are committed to assisting with future career opportunities. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information on our usaconservation website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. However, park staff will assist as much as possible and provide information about housing in the local area. A reimbursement not to exceed $1,400/month will be provided to help offset the cost of housing, in addition to the weekly living allowance.

Relocation Expenses: ACE members will have access to up to $500 to be used for relocation expenses to the area.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include on-site training regarding the history of the site, Sun Dance protocols and attendance (upon invitation, which has been extended to staff annually), field trips to other sites, etc.

Qualifications

Required:

• Ability to actively listen
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Speak to groups from a wide variety of backgrounds
• Adapt to schedule changes
• Familiarity with conducting research and determining source quality
• Speak about cultural and spiritual topics in a respectful but meaningful way
• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required three-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our usaconservation website.

Preferred:

• Possess a degree, experience, and/or demonstrated interest in anthropology, archeology, Native American studies, public history, education, or a related discipline
• Lived knowledge and experience of Native American cultural traditions

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, and reaching with hands and arms. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Mostly office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled. Additionally, staff engage with the public daily around a paved, ¾-mile trail that includes steps in some parts. Temperatures will typically be 80-90 degrees (sometimes more) and the prairie around the trail hosts over 300 types of plants and numerous insects (such as bees and wasps). The site does not contain any venomous animals. A portion of the work may take place outside or in non-climate controlled facilities, such as outbuildings, basements, or storage facilities..
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards such as pest excrement and/or mold but will be provided proper protective equipment. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, or cultural resources.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position on our usaconservation website. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact CRDIP Member Manager, Samira Rosario Martinez, at srosario-martinez at usaconservation dot org.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.