Education and Outreach Member (Cades Cove) - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

EPIC • Townsend, TN

4h • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking ONE Education and Outreach Member to contribute to implementing and delivering interpretive programming to park visitors alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: May 25, 2026 Estimated End Date: November 21, 2026 (Or, 26 weeks after start date) a 26-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend, TN Cades Cove is a broad, grassy valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing and has a large collection of historic structures for visitors to explore. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists and cyclists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. For more information regarding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the parks website. Position Overview: Independently provide high quality visitor services through contacts in Cades Cove, interpretative programs, and special events to improve the public's understanding and appreciation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Develop and thoroughly research programs that meet National Park Service standards and share information about the park's natural and cultural resources. Lead curriculum-based education programs during the fall for students in grades K-12. Present programs to large groups of 20-100+ people. Write and create interpretive media including articles, social media posts, and bulletin board displays. Assist visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park by orienting them to recreational activities such as hiking, biking, wildlife viewing and other activities within the park. Manage traffic and wildlife jams independently or on a team using radio communications. Rove trails to provide hiker information, promote safety, and assist with clean-up. Initiate tactful conversations about park resources with visitors to encourage compliance with rules and regulations. Explore the work of the National Park Service by shadowing a variety of careers within the park based on the intern's interests and future career goals. 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: 5-4/9 schedule - work one 5-day work week and one 4-day work week each pay period. Friday-Tuesday (days off Wednesday, Thursday and every other Friday). Hours - 7:30 am - 5 pm, one day every 2 weeks will be 7:30 am - 4 pm. 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. This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website. Housing: Shared park housing may be available. There is no cell phone reception in Cades Cove and a personal vehicle is required due to the site being remote with no reliable public transportation. The Member will have use of a government vehicle for work and project-related travel. Wi-Fi is available in the office and park housing areas but can be unreliable at times. 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.

Requirements

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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.
• If driving is required : A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as environmental education, interpretation, biological sciences, natural resource management, ecology, history, education, cultural resources, park management, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge and skills in the principles of education and interpretation.
• Knowledge of, or willing to research and learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
• Excellent public speaking skills.
• Enthusiastic about serving with audiences of all ages.

Responsibilities

• Independently provide high quality visitor services through contacts in Cades Cove, interpretative programs, and special events to improve the public's understanding and appreciation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Develop and thoroughly research programs that meet National Park Service standards and share information about the park's natural and cultural resources.
• Lead curriculum-based education programs during the fall for students in grades K-12.
• Present programs to large groups of 20-100+ people.
• Write and create interpretive media including articles, social media posts, and bulletin board displays.
• Assist visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park by orienting them to recreational activities such as hiking, biking, wildlife viewing and other activities within the park.
• Manage traffic and wildlife jams independently or on a team using radio communications.
• Rove trails to provide hiker information, promote safety, and assist with clean-up.
• Initiate tactful conversations about park resources with visitors to encourage compliance with rules and regulations.
• Explore the work of the National Park Service by shadowing a variety of careers within the park based on the intern's interests and future career goals.

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.
• This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service.
• Housing: Shared park housing may be available.
• The Member will have use of a government vehicle for work and project-related travel.
• Wi-Fi is available in the office and park housing areas but can be unreliable at times.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern