Education and Outreach Member - Blowing Rocks Preserve

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is seeking one (1) Education and Outreach Member to contribute to the outreach and education program at the Blowing Rocks Preserve in Hobe, Florida, alongside TNC Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 05/21/2025

Estimated End Date: 04/15/2026

*a 47-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Blowing Rocks Preserve is a 73-acre protected area located on a barrier island in Southeast Florida, with diverse native coastal habitats and shorelines on the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon estuary. The preserve is open to the public and welcomes more than 70,000 visitors each year. This preserve is one of four campus preserves under TNC Florida's Center for Conservation Initiatives (CCI), a state-wide center of excellence that focuses on supporting conservation through public outreach, education and training, science, and land stewardship.

For more information about The Nature Conservancy, the Center for Conservation Initiatives, and/or Blowing Rocks Preserve, please visit their website.

Position Overview:

The Outreach and Education member will join the team at The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Blowing Rocks Preserve. The purpose of this internship is to provide hands-on experiential learning for an emerging environmental/informal education professional. The primary duties for the internship focus on outreach and education (at least 80% of time). The member will work with preserve staff to develop, promote, and facilitate new and existing educational tours, public outreach events, and experiential education programs. The member will assist with training preserve outreach volunteers and co-facilitating volunteer workdays. The member will carry out preserve operations including opening and closing, collecting trash and recycling, and public restroom upkeep. The member will also assist with land stewardship activities (up to 20% of time). Duties will include assisting with trail maintenance, wildlife monitoring, and invasive species surveys, management, and monitoring. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. The member will develop and complete a project related to their position and present their work.

Schedule: The work schedule is Wednesday through Sunday, 9AM to 5 PM, including occasional early mornings, evenings, and holidays.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~35-40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $550.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. The member will receive training in areas including environmental interpretation, visitor management, volunteer coordination, native species identification, and wildlife monitoring. The member will receive mentoring, professional development training, as well as networking opportunities. The member will be expected to participate in training for and obtain certification for First Aid/CPR/AED, TNC's Youth Safety Qualification, and ATV and UTV driving. Additional training may be available. Members will have the opportunity to participate in monthly CCI intern networking meetings.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to perform additional tasks as assigned in relation to this position description.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Biology or Education.
• Ability to work independently, sometimes without supervision
• Knowledge of Coastal Wetlands Ecosystems.
• Familiarity with local Floridian Flora and Fauna.
• Ability and willingness to speak openly and educate the public, along with serving the needs of visitors to the Preserve.
• Deep interest in education and conservation.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, wading in hip deep water, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to [25] lbs., ability to move up to [50] pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, uneven sandy 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 TNC or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by The Nature Conservancy. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the partner, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to TNC and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC Project Manager Allison Finch at afinch at usa conservation dot org.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Salary : $550