General Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) Application

Position Title: Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Member; General Application

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Multiple National Park Service sites across the USA

• Homestead National Historic Park, Beatrice, Nebraska
• Chiricahua National Monument, Wilcox, Arizona
• Niobrara National Scenic River, Valentine, Nebraska
• Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, Virgin Islands
• Harpers Ferry Center, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

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Terms of Service: Most positions are 18 weeks

• Start Date: Looking at mid-May and mid-June start dates
• End Date: Most positions end mid-to-late September 2026
• Application Deadline: Varies depending on position
• Number of Positions Available: 
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 

Stewards Individual Placements & Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) Initiative:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources.  The Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) initiative aims to increase access to the outdoors for all Americans.

Are you passionate about expanding access to public lands and creating welcoming outdoor experiences for all visitors? Do you believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore and enjoy our National Parks? Our health, our planet, and our collective future rely on variety – in thought, ability, experience, and ideas.  That’s why we need YOU!  Join the Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) program and contribute to strengthening park operations and enhancing the visitor experience by helping to remove barriers to outdoor access—ensuring that our national parks remain open, attainable, and welcoming to all Americans.

Role of YES Member
Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Members’ roles will vary based upon site and need.  Please visit the Stewards Individual Placements YES page at https://stewardslegacy.org/yes to see YES service locations and site-specific YES roles.

Various roles of YES members may include, but are not limited to the following:

• ·       Data collection and webpage communication of features at a park site to lead to better informed trip planning (i.e. Gathering data and communicating features of a trail such as trailhead conditions, parking lot options, trail material (compacted dirt, paved, mulched, loose gravel, etc.), trail width and elevation gain)
• ·       Strengthening community partnerships through outreach to underserved communities
• ·       Supporting the creation and implementation of adaptable/alternative interpretative programming
• ·       Designing and creating Bird Watching Kits for all ability levels
• ·       And much more!

 
Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Be between the ages of 18-30 (or up to age 35 with Veteran status)
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Able to commit to 18 weeks of service

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

 ·       Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively

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, these positions are expected to serve Monday – Friday, 8:00am -4:30pm, but exact service schedules may vary depending on exact position. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• 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 an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities
• Other position-specific trainings
  
  

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
• Living Allowance of $660 per week
• Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
• Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
• Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections

Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of 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.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter.  In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.

How to Apply: 
To apply, please click on the green “apply” button in the top right corner of the page.  In addition to uploading your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter.  

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131 

We are 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. 

These projects were made possible in part by our partners and supporters, such as the National Park Foundation and the DOI Washington Support Office

Salary : $660