Environmental Education Member Mammoth Cave National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking ONE Environmental Education Member to contribute to the Mammoth Cave National Park Environmental Education summer camp and teacher workshop project alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 5, 2025

Estimated End Date: August 2, 2025

*a 13-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Mammoth Cave National Park - Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Mammoth Cave was established as a national park in 1941. It was later designated a World Heritage Site in 1981 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990. In 2021 the park was certified as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association.

Mammoth Cave National Park is a park on two levels - 52,830 acres of reclaimed hardwood forest and winding riverways, and below it, the longest known cave system in the world, surveyed at 412 miles to date. Located within a day's drive of major population centers, it offers camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, canoeing, picnicking, and cave tours.

The Mammoth Cave area offers dozens of attractions, plentiful accommodations, and ample dining opportunities. There is a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities in the local communities and a major tourist attraction located just 23 miles away at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

For more information about Mammoth Cave National Park, please visit the park's website at the parks website

Position Overview: The primary purpose of the environmental education office is to provide students with an understanding of the park and its resources and help to foster a stewardship for the NPS and Mammoth Cave National Park. The service member will work with students from across the local area and assist park rangers with week long summer day camps. Most of the work will be outside in the park or inside the cave as the students and teachers are fully immersed in the resource. Additional duties could include:

• Two weeks of training for cave tours and trails as well as on the job training for educational activities
• Lead and or trail cave tours for students and teachers
• Lead and or trail hikes for students and teachers
• Assist with educational activities during summer camps and teacher workshops
• Attend off site programs and assist in providing educational activities to students in the local area at schools and library events

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.

Schedule: The anticipated schedule for this position after the initial two week training period (Tuesday-Saturday, varied hours) will be Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4:00pm central.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/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 if the intern has a home address more than 50 miles from the park.

Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to be reimbursed up to $650 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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. Specific training may include safety training, CPR/First Aid/environmental education curriculum training/cave tour route training.

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.
• 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 really 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 education, environmental education, history, or natural sciences.
• Knowledge of working with children in an educational or camp like setting.
• Ability and willingness to work outside and/or in cave environment. Hike up to four miles per day outdoors or in cave. Work with students from various backgrounds and ages.
• Deep interest in environmental education.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent standing, walking, hiking, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain and ability to crawl in caves.
• 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 20 lbs., ability to move up to 20 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Exposure to radon gas while in a cave.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky 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 NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS 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 Eastern Member Manager, Emily Oostveen.

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.