POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4413
Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Williamsport, Maryland
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/18/2026
End Date: 8/10/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 1,956.35 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 600.00 per week, fixed rate
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
- Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Rare plants, restoration, conservation, botany, ecology
PURPOSE
This Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. C&O Canal NHP provides important protected habitat for over 200 state listed species, with some populations being the best representations in Maryland. To further conserve some of the highest priority species, the park began a propagation and out planting project. To determine the efficacy, we need an participant to visit the sites and determine the portion of the out planted individuals that have survived and are reproducing. Some sites will be visited after one year and others up to three years after planting. Obtaining the survivorship data will give park managers indications of which species are most suitable for future propagation projects and the habitats that are most receptive to the out plantings.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The C&O Canal NHP contains over 200 state rare, threatened, or endangered vascular plant species and numerous globally rare habitats. Given the importance of these botanical resources, park staff have been working on rare plant restoration through augmenting populations with propagated individuals. Since 2023, over 3,500 rare plants of 24 different species have been planted to support high priority conservation populations. To determine the efficacy of these efforts, it is important to measure the survivorship of the propagated individuals. This service opportunity will focus on continuing efforts to assess each plant's survival and reproductive status. Sub-meter GPS points were taken for groups (1-3 individuals) of plants after they were planted. The participant will return to each of these points to determine the number of plants that are alive and which are showing reproductive characteristics through flowering or fruiting. Data will be taken using an external GPS receiver and iPad to add survival data to the points for either one, two, or three years after planting.
Additionally, the participant will be responsible for coordinating the planting of any plants received from the greenhouse. This will include scoping out and mapping appropriate habitats for the plantings, coordinating personnel and/or volunteers, watering as needed, and conducting initial survival checks and 2-3 weeks after plantings. The participant will also be responsible for maintaining the GIS layers and data collected in the field.
This participant will serve with multiple natural resources staff and will have the ability to cross train with other programs to gain skills in vegetation monitoring, rare plant surveys, habitat restoration, wildlife surveys. The participant will attend NCR Natural Resource Advisory Team meetings in order to learn about region-wide issues and have networking opportunities. Training in other areas such as cultural resources, safety, museum management are also encouraged.
DELIVERABLES
The participant will be responsible for collecting field data and maintaining the GIS layers in NPS Portal. A clean, up to date layer will be produced and data will be downloaded and organized on a shared drive. At the completion of this project, survival data for each point and EO will be calculated. An internal report will be supplied that summarizes the methods used and survival results by years planted, species, habitat, number of individuals planted, etc. Tables and figures will be produced for the report. The participant will also be expected to hold a presentation to park staff and volunteers about their findings. Data and reports may be shared with other conservationists interested in propagating rare plant species.
QUALIFICATIONS
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
- Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
- Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the host site.
- The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Requirements for this position include the ability to safely traverse steep, difficult terrain through various weather conditions. The participant should be familiar with collecting GPS points in the field and navigating to sites using GPS and iPad. Botanical identification skills are necessary to correctly identify rare plant species and the participant will be expected to use dichotomous keys for species identification. This project will require basic GIS and data analysis skills. participants should have experience with written, from emails to report writing, and oral communications, from public interactions to group presentations.
Bachelor's or graduate degrees in a biology or ecology related fields are ideal.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The setting for this service opportunity will primarily be field focused (80%), with some office projects (20%). Field conditions can vary but include difficult, steep terrain, often with uneven or rocky ground. The participant will serve in various conditions including sun, heat, and rain. The participant will projects throughout the 184.5 mile extent of the park between Cumberland, MD and Washington DC along the Potomac River. Areas of the park can range between being remote with limited cell service to urban/suburban adjacent areas outside of Washington, DC. Amenities such as shopping, medical, and food are accessible within 1 hour from the park at the most remote locations.
Office projects will take place at CHOH headquarters building in Williamsport, MD. The participant will projects at a desk station among other resource management personnel. The participant will report to CHOH headquarters every day for both field and office projects. A government vehicle will be available for use to travel to field locations.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is available in either Sharpsburg, MD. The housing is located 16 miles from park headquarters. It is a one bedroom, one bath upstairs unit that is fully furnished.
The housing is adjacent to recreational activities including the towpath, hiking trails, and Potomac River.
OUR COMMITMENT
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
- This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary based on project needs. Lunch breaks and days off will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
- Member will receive pertinent project and site training from host site throughout term
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff
EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of minimum AmeriCorps hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect, or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Scientists in Parks program will host the Ecology Assistant at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact Us!”
