Individual Placement - SCA Educator Finger Lakes State Parks

Student Conservation Association•Town of Ulysses, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The AmeriCorps Members will help create/deliver programs that will enhance the visitor experience and reach visitors that cannot physically hike the gorge trails to experience the park in a different and meaningful way. SCA members will also lead gorge tours at Watkins Glen and tours and programs at Taughannock Falls, Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Parks. The Finger Lakes Region of New York State Parks sees millions of visitors from around the world each year. Parks like Watkins Glen State Park will see well approximately 1 million visitors on its Gorge Trail between May and October. The overlook area Taughannock Falls State Parks is visited by as many as 2 million visitors each year. With growing attendance each year at all our facilities the need for education and interpretation has also grown. By providing education at multiple facilities our visitors experience will be enhanced by understanding how areas like our gorge parks formed, what our natural resource challenges are, stewardship work underway, the history of each site, why rules certain rules are in place and what local hazards exist. SCA members will embody the mission of NYS Parks first by helping our visitors enjoy the parks safely as well providing interpretation to substantially enhance their visit. The programs created and delivered in our parks will be seen by thousands of visitors. Programs will focus on geology, natural history, park history and local history. Members will learn how to research and create programs that are dynamic and that will be usable by multiple educators. Members will also receive instruction and training to help become very effective presenters and educators utilizing multiple styles. Second, by participating in trail maintenance and stewardship activities with regional staff and the FORCES program SCA members will be directly enhancing and protecting the natural, cultural and historical resources in ways that regional staff rarely has time to. Stewardship projects will likely include working on projects related to the invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA), Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), hydrilla, and pale swallowwort, just to name a few. Along with restoration work SCA members will be part of projects that help guide management decisions and habitat restoration. Experience working with FORCES and stewardship staff will allow SCA members to design and deliver robust stewardship education programs. The Student Conservation Association New York State Parks Corps program is a seven-month residential program focusing on trail construction, environmental education, cultural interpretation, volunteer coordination, event planning, administrative assistance, invasive species removal, and more! The program is a partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The New York State Parks Corps program aims to give those early in their career first-hand experience while also providing valuable service to New York State. Members live with one to five other members in a state park or DEC property and are supervised day-to-day by OPRHP or DEC staff. The SCA New York State Parks Corps is an AmeriCorps program.

Requirements

We seek a person with passion and enthusiasm for sharing the natural world with others.
Computer skills and digital design experience is a plus.
Comfortable with public speaking.
Works well in small groups and individually, as well as with remote work.
Comfortable working outdoors and walking 5 miles or more per day.
Basic knowledge of area natural history (training will be provided).
Personal Vehicle Required

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in education, environmental studies, or science preferred; relevant experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Members will help create/deliver programs that will enhance the visitor experience and reach visitors that cannot physically hike the gorge trails to experience the park in a different and meaningful way.
SCA members will also lead gorge tours at Watkins Glen and tours and programs at Taughannock Falls, Robert H. Treman and Buttermilk Falls State Park.
Members will research and deliver programs that highlight the rich history of our parks and historic sites, including, but not limited to, Newtown Battlefield State Park.
Members will research and format presentations to have solid content but to be dynamic enough to be used by multiple educators and styles.
SCA members will also work with FORCES (Friends of Recreation, Conservation and Environmental Stewardship) on a variety of projects and initiatives including but not limited to HWA (hemlock wooly adelgid) surveys, mapping projects, trail work, and volunteer coordination.
Members might also be asked to help staff large events in the region such as the Cayuga Lake Triathlon, I Love My Park Day, Summer Concert Series and/or Silent Movie Under the Stars.

Benefits

Defensive Drive Training
First Aid/CPR
Mental Health First Aid
Interpretive Skills
Certified Interpretive Guide
Wilderness First Aid Training
Leave No Trace Level 1 Educator Training
Possible ACA Canoe Training
Health Insurance
AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required
Amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award being offered for successful completion of the member’s term of service in 2026: $5,176.50
Amount of Living Allowance member will receive: $440/week, and Free housing provided