What are the responsibilities and job description for the Stewards VISTA: Gateway National Recreation Area- AmeriCorps position at Conservation Legacy?
Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Gateway National Recreation Area- AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: Gateway National Recreation Area
City, State or Full Address: 210 New York Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305
Terms Of Service
Start Date: August 10, 2026
End Date: August 9, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $82.51/day ($30,116.15/year)
ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page
Purpose
Gateway National Recreation Area, an AmeriCorps Program, exists to provide outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities to the communities of New York City while preserving its coastal, natural, and historic resources. Serving urban populations across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, the program fosters connections to public lands through engaging educational experiences and community participation. Guided by principles of public service, stewardship, inclusion, collaboration, and access to learning, the program seeks to strengthen community engagement with the natural environment and promote lifelong appreciation of public lands.
The AmeriCorps Position supports this mission by building organizational capacity for environmental education and volunteer programming. The member develops curricula, outreach tools, and systems for coordinating field trips and tracking volunteer engagement, while supporting staff in delivering educational experiences for youth and families. This role enhances the park’s ability to provide meaningful, well-organized programming that connects communities with outdoor resources.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description Of Duties
The VISTA member will work with the education supervisor to develop a strategic plan for staff to advertise, schedule and deliver all education programming across the three units of Gateway National Recreation Area. They will also create a plan for staff to recruit, train and retain volunteers to help with education programs and other programs in the park. Housing and park headquarters are located in Staten Island, while much of the programming happens in the Jamaica Bay Unit which are located in Brooklyn and Queens.
Qualifications
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
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; 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, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name And Contact Information
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Sam Durbin, sam_durbin@nps.gov
ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page
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.
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: Gateway National Recreation Area
City, State or Full Address: 210 New York Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305
Terms Of Service
Start Date: August 10, 2026
End Date: August 9, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $82.51/day ($30,116.15/year)
ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page
Purpose
Gateway National Recreation Area, an AmeriCorps Program, exists to provide outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities to the communities of New York City while preserving its coastal, natural, and historic resources. Serving urban populations across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, the program fosters connections to public lands through engaging educational experiences and community participation. Guided by principles of public service, stewardship, inclusion, collaboration, and access to learning, the program seeks to strengthen community engagement with the natural environment and promote lifelong appreciation of public lands.
The AmeriCorps Position supports this mission by building organizational capacity for environmental education and volunteer programming. The member develops curricula, outreach tools, and systems for coordinating field trips and tracking volunteer engagement, while supporting staff in delivering educational experiences for youth and families. This role enhances the park’s ability to provide meaningful, well-organized programming that connects communities with outdoor resources.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description Of Duties
The VISTA member will work with the education supervisor to develop a strategic plan for staff to advertise, schedule and deliver all education programming across the three units of Gateway National Recreation Area. They will also create a plan for staff to recruit, train and retain volunteers to help with education programs and other programs in the park. Housing and park headquarters are located in Staten Island, while much of the programming happens in the Jamaica Bay Unit which are located in Brooklyn and Queens.
Qualifications
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 18 years of age
- College graduate
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
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), but exact schedules may vary.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
- 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.
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
- or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
- Living Allowance of $82.51 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
- Housing Allowance
- Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
- Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
- Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
- Loan forbearance if El igible
- Interest Payments if Eligible
- Training and Professional Development Opportunities
- Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
- Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
- Networking and Mentorship
- For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.
- For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
- For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
- For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; 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, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name And Contact Information
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org
For site related information, contact Sam Durbin, sam_durbin@nps.gov
ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page
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.
Salary : $30,116