Traditional Trades Advancement Program at Catoctin Mountain Park

Student Conservation Association • Thurmont, MD

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Build your hands-on preservation trades skills at Catoctin Mountain Park through
projects addressing a range of historic preservation needs. Over the course of a
26-week immersive experience, TTAP participants train and work alongside
experienced NPS employees to preserve cultural resources and crucial
infrastructure. TTAP interns will obtain a breadth of preservation trades
experience.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) is an internship program of
the National Park Service for aspiring preservation tradespeople. TTAP
participants train and work alongside experienced NPS employees at a specific
park site to preserve historic infrastructure and cultural resources. These
valuable resources need constant thoughtful and careful preservation, repair,
and maintenance. By assisting with preservation projects, participants directly
improve the physical conditions of nationally significant park spaces that are
accessed and enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. Participants gain
practical, hands-on experience and the foundation for a career in historic
preservation. They learn the fundamentals of historic preservation and receive
on-the-job training in one or more traditional trades such as masonry,
carpentry, woodcrafting, landscape preservation, and more. The program is
committed to providing all aspiring preservationists—especially those
underrepresented in the trades—with a unique opportunity to work on important
real-world projects while building professional experience in America’s national
parks.

TTAP interns will perform work on conventional/typical preservation projects for
a variety of historic structures. This entails the full gamut of types including
new construction, major restoration or rehabilitation, complete stabilization,
significant alteration, etc. All work will be completed under the supervision of
higher skilled, journeyman level, National Park Service employees from Catoctin
Mountain Park. The majority of this work will focus on the historic cabin camps
that were constructed in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Carpentry/Woodworking: Reconstructs, restores, or rehabilitates wood structures
by performing work on such elements as structural framing rafters, doors,
windows, floors, staircases, trusses and beams, interior and exterior trim, and
roofing where accuracy, spacing and fit are essential and structural soundness
is important. Selects appropriate materials and uses instruments and tools such
as rulers, try squares, levels, transits, framing hammers and traditional
carpentry tools. Preservation work may require replication of ancient and highly
skilled forms of craftsmanship using specialized tools. Perform work on historic
structures that includes (but is not limited to) carpentry, such as the
restoration of a building or portion thereof to a specific period of time; wood
crafting, such as the reproduction of historic trim and moldings or the
technically complex work of constructing decorative finish work; timber framing
and log work such as the reproduction of hand-hewed timbers or log replacement
in roofs or walls; roofing which requires the reproduction of historic roofing
materials in composition, shape, color, and texture, including wood shingles and
shakes, slate, ceramic, or asphalt, and their installation. The incumbent
computes curves, arcs, tangents, and possess advanced knowledge of carpentry
skills utilizing accepted trade methods and techniques. Incumbent must have the
ability to read, interpret and apply building plans, specifications, blueprints,
sketches, working drawings and building codes.

Masonry: Position repairs, reconstructs, restores, or rehabilitates masonry
structures by performing work such as stabilizing or constructing foundations,
repainting walls, chimneys, fireplaces, and other building elements and
stabilizing or restoring engineered structures such as bridges, stone retaining
walls, using a combination of modern and historic techniques. Executes masonry
work to replace missing or deteriorated mortar and loose stone work. Forms,
pours and finishes concrete work in accordance with accepted trade practices.
Must be able to use a variety of hand and power tools such as brick or napping
hammer, brick or skill saw in cutting and shaping brick and axe, pick, chisel,
and hammer in cutting or shaping stone. The incumbent must be able to select
appropriate brick or stone to match historic materials, repointing using
historic tools to reproduce unique tooling marks, selection and preparation of
mortars to match historic mortars in color, texture, and composition; plastering
to match historic plasters used on interior and exterior walls; and painting,
including surface preparation, and mixing of paints to approximate color and
texture of historic paints.

Requirements

• Interest in historic preservation trades and continuing into the trades field
• Age restrictions: 18 - 30 (or 35 for Veterans)
• Must be able to commit to the project for 26 weeks
• Valid driver’s license and ability to pass DOI driver standards and background check in order to drive a government vehicle.
• Physical effort is heavy to moderate for this position and requires occasional lifting or handling of objects or materials up to 50lbs, unassisted, following proper lifting procedures to avoid injury. Frequently required to stand while working, climb ladders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions.
• Interest in using hand and power tools in an outdoor setting to complete projects
• Ability to commute to meet up location daily
• Follow all safety rules and regulations and participate in ongoing safety culture of the site.
• This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 18 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Nice To Haves

• Strong demonstrated interest in pursuing hands-on trades work as a career path through an official apprenticeship program.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the inspection of historic structures/sites/landscapes onsite to determine physical condition and the type and amount of maintenance required to maintain them in the proper condition.
• Makes technical recommendations to higher-level specialists and professionals regarding type of preservation treatment required to maintain ongoing and/or preventative maintenance.
• Other general craft skills that may be required include reproduction of historic hardware and other architectural metals, use of epoxies or other wood consolidants, and similar skills needed to preserve, repair, restore, or reconstruct the features of structures listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

Benefits

• $1,000 Funding for independent professional development
• Travel and associated expenses for in-person Historic Preservation Fundamentals course
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority (at position completion)
• OSHA 10 Certification
• Training and networking opportunities with NPS and preservation professionals

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed