Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador with the National Park Service

Title: Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador with the National Park Service 

Location: Based out of Annapolis, MD 

Dates of Service: May 12, 2025 – April 14, 2026 (50-week term commitment) 

Pay: $720/week ($600/week stipend + $120/housing allowance) plus benefits 

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 March 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: 

NPS Chesapeake Gateways is a community assistance and partner network. The program provides financial and technical assistance to enhance conservation, recreation, and interpretation throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It also convenes a system of nearly 300 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities, and water trails in the watershed. Chesapeake Gateways connects people to experiences of the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers to help conserve special places important to visitors, residents, and the nation, for this and future generations. 

Position Summary: 

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service are seeking a Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador to work with National Park Service staff to work on projects to specifically address Chesapeake Gateways’ strategy to “Rebuild Core Network Capabilities and Services.” The intern will review, develop, and implement processes to facilitate partnership communications and training and assist in the overall efforts to assist Chesapeake Gateways places and partners in engaging the diverse communities of the Chesapeake watershed. 

The intern 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. In addition to the standard training curriculum, the intern will participate in self-paced digital media training specific to the National Park Service. The intern will work with the program’s Visual Information Specialist to research and write digital media content, highlighting under-told stories focused on Chesapeake Gateways Places. They will also participate in a program-wide review and strategic development planning process to help guide the future of the program’s social media strategy. After working at Chesapeake Gateways for several months, the intern will independently create or co-create content with partners for the program’s website. This content development will include written content, as well as audio visual elements.  The intern may assist with other interpretive media projects including signage, and brochures.  

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Community engagement and outreach, especially activating young people to move from digital engagement to onsite stewardship.  
• Preparing and publishing content focused on at least one of the NPS Chesapeake Gateways themes and utilizing inclusive interpretation principles and 21st Century Interpretation Competencies.  
• Creating, editing, and publishing content for multiple print and digital platforms including websites, mobile apps, social media, publications, newspapers, magazines, and more.  
• Developing digital interpretative experiences at Chesapeake Gateways Places. 
• 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. This is an AmeriCorps position and members will serve full-time. AmeriCorps benefits are contingent on the member meeting the 1700 hour minimum requirement, AND serving the full length of the term. 

Benefits:  

• $720 week stipend paid bi-weekly ($600 living stipend + $120 additional member benefit) 
• $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 hour 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)   
• Option to enroll in free Health, Vision, Mental Health and Dental benefits 
• $1000 professional development fund for certifications, trainings, conferences, and travel 
• Eligibility for 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 

How to Apply: 

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. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. 

Our Promise: 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

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 job functions. 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.