Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placement

Title: Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placement

Dates:  May 2024-November 2024

Stipend: $600 weekly living stipend + $120 weekly housing allowance

Term: 26 weeks – Full time (40 hours a week)

Reports To:  National Park Service - Mesa Verde National Park 

Location: P.O. Box 7, Mesa Verde CO 81330

Status: 900-hour AmeriCorp Service Term

Housing: Yes - paid onsite housing offered

Open Positions: 2

Benefits:  AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,447.50 after successful completion of service term, professional development funds available and paid professional development opportunity to travel to Historic Preservation Training in Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming (July 1-5, 2024). Public Land Corp Hiring Authority Eligible. 

Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ (ALCC) Mission

It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to "lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being." The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup (Navajo Nation), Zuni, and Hopi. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local Indigenous communities in the regions we operate. 

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

Indian Youth Service Corps Mission:

The Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) is a new Department of Interior (DOI) program within the Public Land Corps initiative to provide opportunities for Native American youth to engage in public service, perform meaningful conservation projects on federal and Tribal lands, and stimulate interest in conservation-related careers. The IYSC is designed to be a collaborative program that provides shared benefits to program participants, tribes, federal and tribal land partners, and to the general public.

The Historic Preservation Training Center’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) is excited to offer an IYSC component to its program to provide indigenous youth quality hands-on experience in the preservation and maintenance of historic resources of cultural importance to indigenous peoples on National Park Service sites.

National Park Service Mission:

Our Mission: The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

The National Park Service and Historic Preservation Training Center are seeking individuals to participate in the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) at Mesa Verde National Park. Members will receive introductory training in preservation masonry, and earthen mortar usage, and will develop an understanding of historic resource stewardship while helping to preserve our nation’s historic resources. This program provides participants with marketable skills and excellent exposure to the historic preservation career field within the NPS as well as the private sector.

ALCC Mesa Verde National Park - Traditional Trades Advancement Program Individual Placements (IP) Overview:

This internship position will work with archeologists and preservation masons on the Stabilization Crew to preserve Ancestral Pueblo sites in Mesa Verde National Park. This location is in Southwest Colorado. The park entrance is 10 miles from Cortez, Colorado, and 8 Miles from Mancos, Colorado. Mesa Verde NP shares its southern boundary with the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. The duty station and housing are 20 miles (45-minute drive) into the park from the entrance. The position works 10-hour days for four days a week (Monday through Thursday). Dormitory style housing is available with a private bedroom and a shared kitchen, living area, bathrooms, and free laundry facilities.

Ancestral Pueblo stone structures in Mesa Verde date from around 600 CE to 1300 CE and include cliff dwellings and mesa top communities. The exceptional cultural and historical significance of Mesa Verde was recognized when it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

Essential functions and responsibilities:

Masonry focused projects requiring dry stone masonry, wet stone masonry, stone shaping, re-pointing, preparing amended and earthen mortar mixes. Major preservation projects this year include:

1) Opening Maintained Archeological Sites for the Season:

This project will re-open sites for visitors on Chapin Mesa, including Far View Sites, Megalithic House, Mesa Top Loop sheltered sites, Cliff Palace, Balcony House, Square Tower House; and sites on Wetherill Mesa, including the Badger House Community Sites. Opening sites for the visitor season involves assessing sites to make sure they are safe for park visitors, weeding and removing overgrown brush, sweeping, assessing the sites for damage such as potential rock falls and damage from burrowing rodents, and opening the hurricane shutters on sheltered sites.

2) Stabilization and Preservation of Far View Sites:

This project will address deferred maintenance on the Far View Reservoir, an ancient water control feature, and Coyote Village, a mesa top pueblo with 40 rooms, a circular tower, and 5 kivas. The project includes repointing, resetting loose cap and mid-wall masonry, replacing deteriorated masonry wall surfaces, and contouring to improve drainage. 

3) Stabilization and Preservation of Mug House Cliff Dwelling:

This project will repair and stabilize Mug House, the fourth largest cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde NP that includes approximately 94+ rooms and eight kivas. It occupies a lower alcove space and an overhanging wide and elongated upper ledge.  The project will address basic fabric repairs to site architecture.

4) Stabilization and Preservation of Long House Cliff Dwelling:

This project will repair and stabilize Long House, a heavily visited Ancestral Pueblo site in Mesa Verde National Park. Long House is the second largest cliff dwelling at MVNP and includes approximately 150 rooms, 21 kivas, and a large ceremonial plaza. Long House is considered to have dually served as a large habitation and a gathering place for the surrounding community. The project directly addresses the preservation of this site and will treat 23+ masonry structures with activities to include pointing of eroded mortar joints, resetting of loose and displaced stone, replacement of deteriorated stone, the stabilization of trail material, and the mitigation of rock fall hazards in public areas.

Minimum requirements:

• MUST have a valid drivers license 
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must pass required background checks 
• Must be 18-30 years of age, maximum 35 for Veterans with DD-214
• Moderate to heavy physical effort is required for this position, including, lifting, or handling of objects over 50lbs using proper techniques.
• Standing or kneeling for long periods and will be required to climb ladders up to 20 feet tall, work from scaffolding or platforms, work on uneven or angled surfaces, and/or be able to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to work 8-10 hour days in heat and sun. Temperatures can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit 
• Ability to hike rough, uneven terrain
• Ability to work with power tools and hand tools
• Attention to Safety
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Positive Attitude

• Seeking committed individuals

Individuals from associated Pueblos/Tribes/Communities of Mesa Verde National Park encouraged to apply.

To apply, please submit an updated resume and letter of interest/cover letter along with your online application.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ancestral Lands Individual Placements Program Coordinator,  Kiana Etsate-Gashytewa at kiana@conservationlegacy.org