Youth Program Assistant - AmeriCorps

Position Title: Youth Programs Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Zion National Park, 1 Zion Park Blvd. Springdale, UT 84767 *THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION*

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by 4/26/2025

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: June 2, 2025

• End Date: February 6, 2026

• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hour

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Zion National Park will host a Youth Programs Assistant.

This Youth Programs Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will aid in the development, implementation, enhancement, and evaluation of Youth Programming at Zion National Park by supporting the long-range YMCA of Southern Nevada partnership, including Zion Youth Stewards and YMCA Youth and Families. These programs are designed to benefit area youth by providing on-site experiences that introduce Leave No Trace and Wilderness ethics, outdoor recreation skills, and career pathways in the National Park Service. YMCA groups include YMCA Littles (K – 5th), YMCA Teens (9th – 12th), and YMCA Families (including Military families and veterans). Additionally, this individual placement position will support education and outreach programming at Zion National Park.

The project will provide valuable experience that prepares Youth Programs Assistant for careers in the field of Interpretation and Education, including visual information and non-personal interpretive services. The Youth Programs Assistant will develop personal leadership skills through leading and mentoring program participants, while also working side by side with Zion Education Coordinator and park staff from a variety of career backgrounds.

Description of Duties:

All work will be complete under the guidance and supervision of the program coordinator.

• Prepare and deliver virtual Leave No Trace programs, site-pre-visits, and YMCA Junior Ranger programs.

• Organize props, supplies, and additional materials need for youth and family visits to Zion National Park.

• Deliver pre-established programs in park for youth and families.

• Monitor Education Inbox for confirmations and correspondence related to YMCA and youth and family programming.

• Lead groups up to 25 people over established easy to moderate trails.

• Independently hike up to 5 miles to stay up to date on trail conditions.

• Conduct site visits to YMCA locations throughout Southern Nevada.

• Support Zion Junior Ranger and Youth and Family Programming by staffing contact station and information offices, offering Interpretive Junior Ranger programs, and roving busy trail heads.

• Facilitation of conversations with YMCA youth and their families. Youth intern will support YMCA partnership and programming. Programming may include virtual visits, in park programming, and/or onsite visits to YMCA facilities.

• Collaborate with National Park Service (NPS) and YMCA staff to support program coordination and facilitation, as well as program evaluation.

• Working with NPS and YMCA staff to develop educational resources for YMCA.

• Supporting existing youth programs in Zion National Park. This includes interpretive programs, Junior Ranger programs, and other youth initiatives. These programs will connect, children, youth, and families to Zion’s Natural and Cultural Resources.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Applicants must be able to hike up to 3 miles over moderate terrain.
• Applicants must be able to lift up to 30 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicants should have experience working with children and youth ages 8-18.

• Applicants should have experience hiking up to 5 miles over easy – moderate terrain.

• Applicant should be highly motivated to foster connections between youth and public lands.

Additional Position and Community Information

• Zion National Park is located in Springdale, Utah. This is a rural area with limited amenities in the immediate area. A local grocery, hardware store, library, and medical clinic are available in the town of Springdale, which is a 5-minute drive from park housing. The town of St. George is about one hour away from park housing and includes amenities typically found in a larger city, including a variety of grocery and commercial stores, medical services, movie theater, climbing gym, etc.

• In-park housing may be available for this position. All housing units include a shared kitchen and common space, laundry, and private bedroom. Wifi is not available in park housing.

• Personal vehicle recommended.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,176.50
• Living Allowance of $700.00 per week.
• $2,720 Professional Development/Training Budget

How to Apply
Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions. In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants who submit applications by April 26, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

• Program Contact information: Roddy Cobb, Jr., rcobb@conservationlegacy.org

• Service Site Contact information: Lindsey Baker, Lindsey_Baker@nps.gov

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, 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.

Additional Details

Physical Requirements:

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:

• This position is expected to serve 40 hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will participate in Zion National Park seasonal employee training (80 hours).
• Member may have the opportunity to obtain CPR/First Aid Training during their employment.
• Member may have the opportunity to cross-train with multiple divisions throughout Zion National Park.
• Member may have the opportunity to attend additional educational, safety, and interpretive trainings throughout their employment.
• $2,720 Professional Development/Training Budget

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, 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 and accomplishment tracking.