Internship - Park Interpreter

Internship - Park Interpreter

Program Dates: 3/4/2024-10/27/2024

About us: 

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and community green spaces across the country. 

Program Description: 

The project entails providing interpretive services to park visitors at Capitol Reef National Park. 
 
The primary work involves staffing the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center (elevation 5,500’), which is open daily. Candidate will be required to work nights, holidays, and weekends. Specific lieu days will be assigned.  Annual park visitation is approximately 1.2 million; the small visitor center receives up to 2,000 visitors per day. Work requires providing information, orientation, and interpretation in person, by phone, email, and standard mail. Work will be accomplished with exact time deadlines and requires accountability and attention to detail.

Work involves researching, developing, and presenting interpretive talks on topics including the 280-million-year geologic history of the Waterpocket Fold, high desert ecosystems, climate change in the southwest, dark sky resources, Fremont Culture and archeology, Latter-Day Saint Pioneer History, and National Park administrative history.  Other developmental interpretive opportunities may include creating and presenting interpretive hikes, star gazing, and full moon programs. Program outlines are available for reference and use. Taped programs are also available. Staff is required to create written program outlines and coach coworkers’ programs.

Collateral duties may include assisting with updating the park website, photography, assisting with writing projects, audio-video troubleshooting, and repair, creation of videos, creating and revising manuals and standard operating procedures, assisting with administrative and social media tasks, assisting with the park phenology, wildlife camera studies, or other resource-related projects, as well as other general tasks.
 
Member Benefits:  

• $1,100 - one time RT travel allowance
• $400 - weekly living allowance
• $400 - additional uniform stipend
• Housing
• AmeriCorps Education Award ($4,336)

*All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes

Students will benefit from experience and mentorship provided by Capitol Reef’s interpretive staff.  They will gain first-hand experience in producing a variety of programs including research, design development, and program evaluation. They will learn appropriate methods for assessing visitors’ needs and providing superior customer service.  They will gain experience in public speaking.   The experiences and knowledge they gain through this position will benefit them in securing future employment opportunities in the fields of customer service and the interpretive arts.
 
Member Qualifications:   

• The intern must have some experience with public speaking, education in the natural sciences and/or cultural resources, and some experience in working with the public. 
• This work requires strong customer service skills, the capacity to learn information quickly, strong communication skills, the ability to evaluate an existing product, and teamwork. People who enjoy working with the public (particularly with youth), who have motivated and creative personalities, and who can work independently to meet deadlines will be excellent candidates for these positions.
• Foreign language skills highly recommended: French, German, or Mandarin. 
• Proficiency with Word and PowerPoint computer software is required. Ability to learn and use additional software is required.
  Interns will be supervised by an interpretive staff member. 
• Personal Vehicle Required

Additional Information: 

The position requires hiking a variety of front-country and backcountry trails and routes over rough terrain in all weather conditions. Familiarity with trails is essential for providing accurate visitor information and safety messages and for issuing backcountry permits. The visitor center staff also serves as the park dispatch, handling radio communications simultaneously with interpretive operations. The ability to multi-task in a hectic workplace is critical. 
Capitol Reef has a small staff, and many other tasks are required, including processing lost and found items, following safety protocols and standard operating procedures, assisting law enforcement or other divisions as needed, and performing maintenance tasks. Cleaning with chemicals, heavy lifting and moving, and manual labor tasks are required. This position requires excellent teamwork ability, communication skills, customer service skills, flexibility, a positive attitude, and the ability to follow directions and the chain of command.