Individual Placement - Visitor Service Participant

Student Conservation Association • Fergus Falls, MN

7d • $600 • Onsite

About The Position

The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center is a regional destination that provides outdoor education opportunities for more than 20,000 schoolchildren from 30 local communities annually. It is also home to the Fergus Falls School District’s Prairie Science Class. Its goal is to foster a sense of wonder, connection to nature and grow our next generation of conservation stewards. The individual will be supporting the Visitor Services Team with that mission by facilitating lessons to the Prairie Science Class, visiting schools and public events. Additionally, some time may be spent in the Visitor Center interacting with the public, assisting other staff with habitat projects around the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District and some administrative tasks to support programming.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, and much more across the country.

This position is part of SCA’s National Direct Opportunity Youth Service Initiative (OYSI). OYSI is a partnership between SCA, AmeriCorps, and The Corps Network which engages youth ages 18–24 who are disconnected from school or work in hands-on conservation service that protect and restore public lands, waters, and recreation resources nationwide. The program provides job-skills training, support, and career pathways in environmental stewardship and infrastructure fields, while prioritizing placements for participants who meet opportunity-youth eligibility criteria.

Requirements

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently or with a team
• A genuine desire to work with children, and some prior experience
• Experience leading/facilitating youth through structured activities
• Able to engage and manage groups of youth and/or adults for 2+ hours
• Passion for the environment and working outdoors
• Enthusiasm for outdoor education, environmental stewardship, and experiential learning
• Willingness to learn and receive feedback in a structured, growth-oriented environment
• Ability to supervise and engage children in both structured and unstructured settings
• Strong communication skills and a positive attitude
• Ability to serve outdoors in all weather conditions (sub-zero temps to heat and humidity)
• Driver's license
• Personal vehicle required
• Competence in customer service without constant supervision
• Be comfortable talking to members of the public
• Being a citizen, permanent resident, or national of the United States
• Being at least 18 years or older
• Having a high school diploma or equivalent or actively working to complete
• Being willing to undergo National Service Criminal History Check after acceptance of position, including criminal background, sex offender, and FBI checks.
• All participants must be between the ages of 16 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.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in related field (environmental or outdoor education, interpretation, geography, ecology, etc.) and/or some work experience that is relevant to the position (park ranger, naturalist, environmental educator), preferably for a land management agency
• Artistic skills in graphic design or other visual arts
• NAI certification
• CPR/1st Aid

Responsibilities

• Assist with curriculum-based environmental education programming primarily for students in grades K-8
• Assist with educational and interpretive projects such as developing field trips, interpretive programs, and materials
• Assist with greenhouse duties
• Provide quality visitor services by assisting at the visitor center
• Assist staff in the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District with field projects
• Administrative tasks
• Assist with creating media products and performing minor labor or custodial activities
• Perform collateral duties in alignment with the member’s personal/professional interests.

Benefits

• Housing available in the Dormitory.
• One-time relocation allowance: $1,100
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $7,395
• Eligible for childcare assistance through AmeriCorps
• Eligible for Federal Student Loan forbearance and interest payment deferment through AmeriCorps for qualifying student loans

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED