Interpretation Members (North District) - New River Gorge National Park

EPIC • Glen Jean, WV

7h • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with New River Gorge is seeking THRE Interpretation Members 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 Estimated End Date: August 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: The ACE members will be mentored by the park's Interpretation Team, with a focus on developing and presenting interpretation programs, interacting with visitors, and assisting with visitor center operations. The ACE members will assist visitors, staff information desks, may participate in handling transactions/money, provide roving interpretation at popular visitor destinations, develop and present formal talks, assist with interpretive hikes, conduct outreach for youth, and assist with Get Active in the Park programs. Week 1: The members will report to their duty station and begin staff introductions, orientation, work training, and safety training. Through one-on-one mentoring with park interpretive staff, the members will learn how to operate park visitor centers, provide informal roving programs, and answer visitor questions. The members will receive training in interpretive operations, interpretive skills and techniques, customer service, first aid and CPR, NPS mission and park significance, and natural and cultural resource management. Week 2-11: The members will work on respective projects and programs while being mentored by park rangers. The members will develop a presentation and customer service skills while interacting with visitors at information desks and will develop informal interpretive programs for use when roving and engaging visitors in the park. Week 12: The members will complete final project tasks, return equipment, and complete the off-boarding process. 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: The schedule will be 5 days a week with 8-hour days, 2 consecutive days off, expected to work on weekends.

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.
• 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

• 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 visitors
• staff information desks
• may participate in handling transactions/money
• provide roving interpretation at popular visitor destinations
• develop and present formal talks
• assist with interpretive hikes
• conduct outreach for youth
• assist with Get Active in the Park programs

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.
• 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: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed