POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4367
Position Title: Interpretive Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: North Cascades National Park, Sedro-Woolley, Washington
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 05/03/2026
End Date: 07/26/2026
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: Interpretation, education
PURPOSE
This Interpretive Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The SIP participant will play an important role in the park complex’s Bear Interpretation and Education program through conducting informal bear roves and delivering standardized formal bear programs throughout the season. They will also have the opportunity to shadow wildlife biologists through the bear management program.
Formal interpretive programming will address natural resource management by speaking to at least one of the following parkwide interpretive themes:
North Cascades Landscape, Ecosystem, and Biological Variety. Geological and ecological processes have sculpted a “sea of peaks” that provides a great range of elevations, variability in environments, and variety of habitats.
Glaciers, Rivers, and Lakes. More than 300 glaciers and a vast array of glacial-fed rivers, tributaries, and lakes have carved a natural landscape that links high mountain wilderness to the sea.
Wilderness. The Stephen Mather Wilderness is part of a national and international resource that is essential to the spirit and health of many people.
Culture and History. From native peoples, pioneers, explorers, and entrepreneurs to current visitors, people have found and continue to find refuge, challenge, resources, and inspiration in the North Cascades.
Research and Education. As a library, laboratory, and classroom, the park complex invites us to explore and understand the natural world and our place in it and apply the acquired knowledge to regional, national, and global challenges.
Shifting Environments. The rapid pace of human-caused, long-term changes in the environment— higher temperatures, lower snowpack, and altered precipitation patterns—imperils the ecosystem and may irreparably alter species ecological variety, natural fire regimes, economics, and recreation.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The SIP participant will develop and present new interpretive programs and create digital media products focusing on park interpretive themes, as well as bear interpretation and education. The SIP will hone public speaking and communication skills by providing orientation and safety information to visitors at the visitor center, design and present short formal interpretive programs, and provide roving interpretation on topics ranging from history and geology to the plants and wildlife of the park. This position is ideal for someone looking to develop customer service, interpretive, education, and collaboration skills with a land-management agency, through important frontline services that provide visitors the opportunity to make intellectual and emotional connections through their experience at the park online. It is also an excellent experience for those looking to build skills for future applications to Park Ranger positions, or those looking to try out a summer season at a national park site. Duties Include: Staff the Visitor Center (30%), develop and present short formal interpretive programs and other community or education programs (30%), provide roving interpretation (20%), create digital media outreach opportunities for the park (20%).
DELIVERABLES
The SIP participant will research and write at least one formal interpretive program and present it 10-15 times. The program will include a theme, link tangible resources to intangible meanings, have strong organization, support park themes, and incorporate audience-centered techniques. The SIP will generate relevant interpretive content for review and posting to the park’s digital media, contributing to at least one interpretive page for the park website and one social media post (interpretive text and photos) per month (3 webpages and 3 social media posts total for the 12-week position). Webpage content will be discussed with the supervisor for specific topics and can include updates to current pages on the website.
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
- Favorable federal background investigation
- Ability to use computers or willingness to learn (primarily for email, photo and file-sharing, word processing, web research)
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing
- Ability to deal with stressful situations
- Ability to tolerate a variety of weather and working conditions while working outdoors
- Must possess a valid state driver’s license
- Ability to complete projects well in a team environment, and collaborate to tackle challenges or unexpected situations
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
North Cascades National Park Service Complex (park complex) is a remote, mountainous wilderness, about two hours from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. Temperatures vary considerably in the summer months, as does the weather in general. From cold, light showers to heavy fog, or dry heat to smoky conditions from wildfires, all of these conditions are likely to be seen between the months of May through September. The duty station for the position is the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem, WA, a small utility company town within the park complex. Park housing is located in Marblemount, WA, a 13-mile drive from the visitor center. Generally, the program hosts one SIP participant, but there are occasionally seasonals in other park programs, up to 3-5 seasonals across the park complex. The project requires standing for extended periods of time at the information desk or while out on trails. Reaching for objects above head-level, as well as lifting boxes of brochures up to 30lbs are common requirements. The SIP must be able to operate government vehicles safely along a busy, two-lane highway (often operating multiple makes/models of vehicles within a single summer). Communications from one area of the park to the next may vary, with some areas having little to no cell service available. Park radios are the primary means of communication while at work, and in some areas, only satellite phones or in-reach devices will adequately allow staff to communicate. Walking on uneven terrain such as gravel, sandy soils, or smooth surfaces interrupted by jutting stones and roots is part of the daily rotation of duties for this position. Wildlife that poses risks to participants include mice, bears, stinging/biting insects, and more.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Shared housing is available in Marblemount, WA. The park housing that is available is shared housing with up to five other people in the house, and the selected candidate may share a bedroom with one other person. Housing units have three bedrooms and one bathroom. Housing has wifi and are fully furnished; there will be basic kitchen items, dishes, etc., but if there are any specialty items (like a blender) that the selected candidate would want, they should plan on bringing those. Housing is provided at no cost to the selected candidate.
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 Interpretive Assistant at North Cascades National 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!”
