Individual Placement-Alaska-Winter Interpretation Ranger

Student Conservation Association•Ketchikan, AK

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Join the team at the Tongass National Forest’s Southeast Alaska Discovery Center (SEADC) in Ketchikan and work in the largest visitor centers in Alaska! We’re seeking two people enthusiastic about sharing the state’s cultural heritage, economic diversity and natural beauty with Discovery Center visitors. During the off-season, SEADC remains busy with multiple weekly homeschool programs, a weekly community-based Friday Night Insights lecture series, and monthly art classes. Our facility also co-hosts larger events including rotating art shows in our exhibits, movie nights, workshops, or even a haunted house. We begin preparing for cruise ship season in late winter. Exhibits are revitalized and annual chores are checked off. The off-season officially ends with our Alaska Hummingbird Festival, a month-long birding extravaganza celebrating the 5 billion birds who migrate to Alaska each year. From our landmark downtown location, we are surrounded by the largest in-tact temperate rainforest in world. The Tongass National Forest’s 17 million acres spans the majority of Southeast Alaska. While winter may not be thought of as the ideal recreation or wildlife viewing season in Alaska, there are amazing experiences that come with the quieter seasons.

Requirements

Strong communication skills.
Great public speaking skills, or the willingness to build this skill.
It is strongly recommended candidates be enthusiastic with the idea of living in a secluded, small town.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the geography, cultures, and ecology of Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska.

Responsibilities

Welcome and orient visitors, open and close visitor center, provide information, and show refuge film.
Participates in the development and management of a high-quality Interpretative Center by orienting and guiding visitors along their trip or about their backyard. Create and present interpretive programs on a variety of Southeast Alaska topics.
Run the day-to-day operations of the Discovery Center, including checking admission tickets, answering visitor questions, maintaining the grounds, and operating audio-visual equipment.
Assist the Discovery Center’s Director and Assistant Director with creating programs and activities.
Curate interpretive content for exhibits. Maintain museum exhibits.
Assist with planning and presenting special events and activities within the Discovery Center.
Identify potential partnership activities within the local community. Maintain relationships with local partners (such as museums, state and local government, schools, and non-profit organizations). This could include visiting local schools, guest hosting a ranger themed radio show, helping our history museum with hanging their new summer exhibit, or representing the Forest Service at a career fair.
Create and present outdoor environmental education programs at our Ward Lake location.
Develop content for the Discovery Center’s strategic marketing, including updating the Forest’s social media streams.
Record or present virtual programs for distant learning in classrooms throughout Alaska.
Seek out trainings that would advance your career and meet the Visitor Center’s needs.