POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4524
Position Title: Interpretive Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Oregon Caves National Monument, Cave Junction, Oregon
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: No
Start Date: 03/01/2027
End Date: 08/30/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 3,697.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 675.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre-tax)
- 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, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Cave, hike, tour, public, interpretation
PURPOSE
This Interpretive Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will assist a small park staff of employees to meet park interpretation and needs related to cave tours, science communication, biology, hydrology, natural resource monitoring, geology and geography. The project leaders will directly train and mentor the participant, while completing tasks that require an assistant for data and safety protocols. Project leaders will collaborate with participant to develop their career potential. The position will assist the park in completing cave tours, increasing the park's public attainability. Oregon Caves will provide participant with a meaningful, engaging interpretation and science communication experience in various scientific disciplines.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Provide science-based interpretive cave tours for the public, and assist development of other science communication interpretive products. This position will support ORCA’s operational needs to support visitor reachability and public enjoyment of the site’s natural resources. This position will develop interpretive themes and plans along with completing projects that may include park web page development about ecology, and ongoing monitoring of bats, among other interpretive topics.
DELIVERABLES
Deliverables include providing science based interpretive cave tours, and assisting with the completion of interpretive presentation, social media, and public enjoyment. Deliverables also include interpretive website development. The participant will be assigned the development of one or more science communication programs for the public, will complete an independent project selected by the participant, and will update Standard Operating Procedures, Job Hazard Analysis, and other safety materials.
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 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
This position is ideally suited for a recent college graduate in the sciences with coursework in natural resource interpretation, and science communication. Other levels of education will be considered. Qualifications include the ability to complete projects with a team, engage with the public, lead projects independently, collaborate to solve problems, collect data following protocols, to analyze and translate scientific information, complete projects in a rugged field setting and office setting, hike in caves, and use Microsoft software products. Candidates with public speaking experience are preferred.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This position will be a combination of hiking and sedentary office-based activities using computers in rugged conditions. Oregon Caves is a mountain forest setting located at 4000' elevation, with a 3-mile-long cave toured by the public. The park housing, offices and visitor center are clustered together just outside the cave entrance creating a central, social atmosphere. The town of Cave Junction is 20 miles away with two grocery stores, dollar store, health clinic and numerous restaurants and activities. Grants Pass and Medford are large cities located one to 1 to 1.5 hours away with all amenities and the closest hospital. Redwood National and State Parks and beautiful beaches are within a 2-hour drive from the park. Weather will likely be mild with a mix of sun and rain. Heavy rain and snow are also possible depending on the time of year.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing will be in a shared or private room, in a shared dorm or shared house. Park housing supplies full kitchen appliances, furnished living room, dishes, bathroom/shower, laundry, wifi, food storage, closet, chest of drawers, desk, and twin bed/mattress. SIP participant will need to bring clothing, personal items, hiking boots, bedding, pillow and food.
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.
OUR COMMITMENT
Stewards Individual Placements and Conservation Legacy are committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation 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!”
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 the host site throughout the 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, monthly accomplishment tracking, a mid-term report, and a final report.
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 (5) 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 Oregon Caves National Monument.
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!”
