Summer Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador Individual Placement

Title: Summer Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador Individual Placement

Location: Based out of Annapolis, MD

Positions Available: 4 positions

Dates of Service: June 8th, 2026 – September 4th, 2026 (13-week term commitment)

Pay: $760/week ($600/week stipend + $160/additional benefit)

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org 

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. Applications will be accepted until April 15th.

Appalachian Conservation Corps: 

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations. 

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve. 

National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways:

 Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails—known as NPS Chesapeake Gateways—is a congressionally authorized partnership park established by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998. Rather than operating as a single park site, Chesapeake Gateways coordinates the Chesapeake Gateways Network, a collaborative network of more than 300 parks, refuges, museums, historic sites, trails, water access points, and communities across six states and Washington, D.C., throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, NPS Chesapeake Gateways works to convene partners, promote places and experiences, provide technical assistance, and invest federal National Recreation and Preservation funding to strengthen the Network. Guided by the Chesapeake Gateways Network Framework, the program delivers National Park Service expertise and resources to support partners and enhance visitor experiences across the region.

Position Summary:

This summer, Appalachian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service are seeking four Chesapeake Gateways Ambassadors to support priority initiatives across the Chesapeake watershed. Working closely with National Park Service staff and partners, the Ambassadors will assist with the planning and execution of programs and events through the park’s mobile visitor contact station.

Individual Placements will help develop and implement public-facing programs; create and publish digital media resources; and support outreach and engagement efforts that strengthen connections between Chesapeake Gateways Places and Experiences, gateway communities, and visitors. Through this work, Ambassadors will help enhance visitor experience, expand collaboration with partners, and support the effective delivery of National Park Service programs throughout the region.

The Individual Placements will complete two weeks of formal training at the NPS Chesapeake Gateways office to learn basic operations, skills in interpretation, and the natural/cultural resource stories that guide our collective work. The Individual Placements will work with the public and may act as the face of NPS Chesapeake Gateways at public events, schools, partner meetings, and while roving Chesapeake Gateways places or in the community. The Individual Placements will develop and present an interpretive program within the first three weeks of working. After approximately six weeks, they will develop “pop-up” programs for visitors and engage with them on an informal level. The Individual Placements will assist other staff with planning and hosting at least four community programs.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Community engagement and outreach, especially regarding engagement and involvement of young people in outdoor recreation and American heritage. 
• Preparing and conducting public programs and workshops focused on at least one of the NPS Chesapeake Gateways themes.
• Providing programming, and experiences at Chesapeake Gateways Places highlighting the beauty and grandeur of the watershed along with the many cultural contributions of Americans throughout the region.
• Develop common interpretive content that can be readily adapted and customized for use at individual sites, including thematic interpretive products, such as interpretive signage. 
• Link culture and nature through interpretation, education, messaging, and initiatives. 
• Opportunities to participate in a variety of activities and projects related to the mission of the National Park Service depending on interest areas.

Housing is not provided.

Time Requirements:

• These positions are full-time, 40 hour/week.
• Typically, this position is expected to serve Wednesday through Sunday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break 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
•  

Benefits: 

• $760 week stipend paid bi-weekly ($600 living stipend + $160 additional member benefit)
• $1,956.35 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 450 hour minimum service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college) 
• $500 professional development fund for certifications, trainings, conferences, and travel
• Hours count towards the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
• Possible federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist 
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements 
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Some college course work completed in Communications, History, Public Affairs, Public Speaking, or other related subjects
• Experience working in public facing roles and customer service

Minimum Requirements: 

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, you must be between the ages of 21 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.

• Possess a valid driver’s license

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.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.   

Our Promise:  

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, 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.