Youth Conservation Corps Support Member & Crew Lead – USFWS Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Youth Conservation Corps Support Member & Crew Lead – USFWS Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

ACE EPIC placements provide young adults with focused, hands-on opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers.

Funding for ACE positions is provided by a federal program designed specifically for the employment of youth and young adults.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) Support Member and Crew Lead for a 9-week term to help with a variety of maintenance and natural resource management projects at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

The ACE YCC Support Member and Crew Lead will assist with the mentorship and leadership of the ACE youth summer program engaging local high school teens in conservation field projects within the Refuge. Projects will be hands-on and range from facilities maintenance, habitat monitoring, and trail projects to improve access, learn about wildlife management, and ensure a positive and safe experience for visitors.

This is a rare opportunity to challenge and enhance both your communication skills and conservation training by gaining practical experience in a variety of program areas on a national wildlife refuge. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a background in maintenance, natural resource management, facility operations,

outdoor leadership and a deep interest in advancing their career goals in conservation and land stewardship.

Start Date: June 20, 2022

End Date: August 19, 2022

**9-week commitment required**

Location: Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge; Suffolk, VA

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is the largest intact remnant of a vast habitat that once covered more than one million acres of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Formal protection of this resource began in 1973, when the Union Camp Corporation (a local forest products company) donated 49,097acres to The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy conveyed the donated land to the federal government, which, combined with additionally purchased land, was used to establish the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.

For more information about Great Dismal Swamp NWR, please visit: https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fws.gov%2Frefu…

Work Schedule: Duties will be carried out Monday-Friday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Refuge housing may be available to rent for a small cost, but local applicants are encouraged to apply.

Position Description:

The selected candidate will focus on assisting with the facilitation and leadership of the Refuge’s local summer high school YCC program in partnership with ACE.

Primary Duties include:

-Perform light grounds maintenance (painting, trail clearing, boardwalk repair, lawn care, spreading gravel/stone dust, etc.) and assist maintenance staff with larger scale projects as needed;

-Assist with various trail maintenance and restoration projects throughout the Refuge;

-Assist with biological work, including habitat monitoring and other Refuge work (e.g. public outreach and visitor service program) as opportunities and interest allows;

-Safely mentor and lead summer conservation stewardship field project programming for local high school students;

-Collect accurate and detailed project data as required.

Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs.; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The member will encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat, difficult terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.