Katahdin Woods and Waters Community Outreach and Volunteer Events VISTA Summer Associate -AmeriCorps

Position Title: Community Outreach and Volunteer Events - VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

30 Gardner St, Patten, ME 04765

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 6/15/2026
• End Date: 8/23/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hours (Minimum-Time)

Purpose:

• Since the closure of area mills in the early 2000s, many of the organizations in the region have focused on the revitalization of the area as a four-season recreation destination. There are also a number of agencies that manage lands for public use, including the National Park Service, Baxter State Park, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Maine Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy, the Butler Conservation Fund and more. While many organizations have provided an opportunity for area residents to develop careers in the outdoor recreation industry, there have been fewer opportunities for people to learn more about the types of careers available at public lands agencies. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument often finds it difficult to recruit enough summer employees due to the lack of housing in the region. Through community outreach, this project will introduce people to the types of careers available in the National Park Service and make them aware of additional work opportunities.
• This project will increase capacity at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument by extending our outreach into local communities. The establishment of a national monument managed by the National Park Service on former lumber company-owned lands was controversial in the area. An outreach presence at local community events has proven to be an effective method to engage with local community members. A VISTA summer associate position will ensure that we are able to participate in area community events such as Patten Pioneer Days, the Island Falls Summerfest and Katahdin Woods and Waters Day. Through the development of at least one pop-up interpretive program, the summer associate can attend events this summer as well as create a program that can be adapted by future staff and volunteers.

Description of Duties:

The Summer Associate will focus on capacity-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials. Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations. Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations' capacity, guide long-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The summer associate will develop short interpretive programs to engage visitors and community members with the natural and cultural resources at Katahdin Woods and Waters. Programs will be presented within the monument at Tekkpim?k Contact Station and outside the monument at local community outreach events in July and August. The associate will also collaborate with National Park Service staff to plan and facilitate a volunteer event during mid-August. This position will expand participation in community outreach events and engage new stewards of the monument through volunteerism.

Qualifications:

• Car recommended;
• Desired education level: High School Diploma
• Language requirement: No
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Physical Requirements:

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. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time, 35-40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Permits attendance at school during off hours;
• Permits working at another job during off hours;

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.
• Uniforms required and provided.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,565.08
• Living Allowance of $957.46 (taxable) every other week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Recreational Opportunities
• Professional Development Opportunities

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, performance will be evaluated on whether the Summer Associate has completed the required number of hours, whether the Summer Associate has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the Summer Associate 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.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Erin Adams

eadams@conservationlegacy.org

330 Harper Park Drive

Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 860-0578

Host Organization Contact:

Jeanne Roy
Jeanne_Roy@nps.gov
(812) 212-4497

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 the hiring manager.