Title: Canyonlands National Park - Interpretive Ranger Individual Placement
Dates: 07/15/2024 - 07/11/2025
Stipend: $600 weekly living stipend
Term: 52 weeks (12 months), full time
Reports To: National Park Service, Canyonlands National Park
Location: End Highway 211, Monticello, UT 84535
Status: 1700 hour AmeriCorps service term
Housing: NPS park housing available
Open Positions: 2
Benefits: Segal education award of $6,895.00 upon successful completion of service term. Health Insurance will be offered through Conservation Legacy to the selected individuals. Interns will be provided on site trainings in work requirements, navigating USA Jobs, Park Service job shadowing, and much more!
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps’ (ALCC) Mission
Our vision is to lead our Nations back to ecological and cultural well-being by engaging underrepresented Indigenous youth and young adults in conservation service programs that reconnect participants to the land, their cultural heritage, and their traditions. We work to remove barriers to participation, education, and employment by partnering with local community organizations, agencies, and institutes of higher learning to create paid service and career training opportunities, personal and professional development, and pathways to postsecondary education and employment. Native Americans are encouraged to apply.
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.
National Park Service 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 Individual Placements will work within the Interpretation, Education and Visitor Service division at Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands strives for high employee satisfaction through operational innovation and inclusive programming, that allows employees and visitors alike - to foster a deep connection in this dynamic confluence of cultures and landscapes. Interpretation staff provide visitor services and programing to offer the opportunity for visitors to understand and connect with the place.
Canyonlands National Park - Interpretive Ranger Individual Placement (IP) Overview:
Individual Placements will gain a comprehensive experience at Canyonlands National Park by living and working in the Needles and Island in the Sky districts. Interns will live and work in the Needles located 50 miles outside of Monticello, Utah approximately 75% of the time. December through February, Interns will live and work at Island in the Sky located 32 miles outside of Moab, Utah. There will be a unique project completed at each district along with daily visitor services operations.
In the Needles District of Canyonlands, the Individual Placements will complete a project to design and install two wayside interpretive panels detailing the cultural significance of the Cave Spring archaeological site. The IP's will receive training and assist with researching, drafting interpretive text, and designing the wayside panels. They will also assist with installing fences to better protect the fragile seep ecosystem. The project will create a meaningful visitor experience with an under-represented story.
During their time at Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands, the IP's will develop and present a 45-minute illustrated program on the cultural connections within Canyonlands National Park and the area. The program will be hosted by the local community at the Moab Museum.
In both districts, Individual Placements will receive training and guidance developing interpretive programs and general visitors services operations. The programs presented by Intern Rangers are expected to reach approximately 2,000 visitors and will contribute to diverse perspectives offered to the public.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
1) Needles District: Design two interpretive wayside panels
- Work with supervisor and cultural resource staff to identify valuable research material and site information to develop a solid understanding of the topic and location for the waysides.
- Gain an understanding of interpretive writing and Harpers Ferry Center NPS design standards through work with in-district staff and the visual information specialist
- Using Adobe InDesign, and with mentoring from supervisor, in-district staff, and visual information specialist create two wayside panels for production.
2) Island in the Sky District: Present cultural connections presentation at the Moab Museum.
- Work with supervisor and cultural resource staff to identify valuable research material.
- Gain an understanding of interpretive principles and employ them when drafting the presentation outline.
3) Present interpretive programs. (Both Districts)
- Work with supervisor and cultural resource staff to identify valuable research material, conduct site visits, and shadow opportunities for a broad understanding of the area’s natural and cultural history.
- Gain an understanding of interpretive principles and employ them when drafting an outline.
- Present interpretive talks and guided hikes for visitors.