Education/Ecology Member - New River Gorge National Park

EPIC • Glen Jean, WV

2d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with New River Gorge is seeking ONE Education/Ecology Member to contribute to Visitor Services projects alongside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI) staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: May 17, 2026 (start date flexible) Estimated End Date: Aug 8, 2026 (or 12-weeks after start date ) a 12-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Glen Jean, West Virginia. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI) is located in southern West Virginia and encompasses 70,000 acres and 53 miles of one of the oldest rivers on the continent. NERI is home to a vast array of natural and cultural resources. Renowned for its recreational opportunities, NERI hosts miles of hiking and biking trails, premiere white water rafting, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, bird watching, and camping. Park staff also manages the nearby Bluestone National Scenic River (BLUE) and Gauley River National Recreation Area (GARI). BLUE protects 10.5 miles of free flowing river and offers a rich variety of natural resources and history along the Bluestone Turnpike Trail. GARI protects 25 miles of the Gauley River and 6 miles of Meadow River. Known for its multiple class V rapids, GARI is one of the most adventurous rivers in the east. For more information about New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, please visit the parks website. Position Overview: One member will be mentored by the park's education program manager and aquatic ecologist, with a focus on New River Gorge National Park and Preserve will be expanding education and outreach programming through STEAM ecology activities. The educational programming will have three components: 1)creating authentic experiences, 2) service-based learning, and 3) STEAM activities while reaching underserved audiences in West Virginia and surrounding states. The education duties of the intern will be to assist the Education Program Manager in educational programming. The intern will lead educational programming in the areas of fishing, macroinvertebrate surveys, invasive species plots, and biodiversity inventories. The member will also assist the aquatic ecologist with natural resource management activities. Such activities include water quality monitoring, laboratory analyses of water samples, data management, collection of dragonflies and crayfish, and aquatic plastic trash surveys. This position is 50/50 with education and natural resource management 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: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30, with occasional flexibility necessary to work longer days and weekends to accommodate project needs. Planned changes to the typical schedule will be discussed in advance and hours worked beyond the expected schedule will be compensated on Fridays to maintain workload of 40 hours per week. 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: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. Relocation Allowance: The ACE member will have access to up to (NTE) $400 in reimbursable funds to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process. 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.
• 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.
• 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

• Knowledge of visitor services, natural resources, or West Virginia history
• Ability and willingness to stand for long periods of time, interact with large volumes of people, and perform repetitive tasks
• Deep interest in parks and recreation, conservation, resource management, or history.

Responsibilities

• assist the Education Program Manager in educational programming
• lead educational programming in the areas of fishing, macroinvertebrate surveys, invasive species plots, and biodiversity inventories
• assist the aquatic ecologist with natural resource management activities
• water quality monitoring
• laboratory analyses of water samples
• data management
• collection of dragonflies and crayfish
• aquatic plastic trash surveys

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
• Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service.
• Relocation Allowance: The ACE member will have access to up to (NTE) $400 in reimbursable funds to be used for eligible relocation expenses.
• 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
• Education Level: No Education Listed