PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, First State National Historical Park – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

Site Location: First State National Historical Park

10 Market Street, New Castle, DE 19720

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 2/23/2026
• End Date: 2/5/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.

First State National Historical Park (NHP) offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that connect people to nature, history, and each other—while directly supporting the care and operation of your national park.

We currently have five core volunteer roles (plus one new addition!) where people can make a real impact:

· Trail Stewards – Help maintain First State NHP's trails by trimming vegetation, picking up litter, and reporting hazards.

· Stream Stewards – Assist with the upkeep of water-quality sensors that monitor the health of First State NHP’s streams.

· Trail Truthers – Gather important visitor data in the field to help First State NHP better understand how people use the park.

· Welcome Center Volunteers – Support front desk operations and help guests get oriented.

· Bird Surveyors – A yearlong bird inventory and contribute to a 2025 ecological study (ends December 2025 but First State NHP will be posting the final results in January/February).

· The Rovers (our newest team!) – Bike the trails while assisting Law Enforcement staff by serving as extra “eyes and ears” to help keep the First State NHP safe.

First State currently has 63 active volunteers and welcomes even more informal stewards—community members who help care for the park during their regular visits. First State NHP also host large volunteer events throughout the year that draw more than 150 participants annually.

The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) at First State National Historical Park will play a pivotal role in expanding and sustaining the park’s volunteer program across its six units. With only one unit fully owned by the National Park Service, First State depends heavily on community partnerships to support interpretation and resource management. The CVA will help lay the groundwork for a long-envisioned Trail Crew Program—modeled after successful initiatives at Acadia and the Appalachian Trail—by drafting volunteer position descriptions and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), assisting with recruitment and onboarding, coordinating training with the park’s Facility Manager, and documenting volunteer contributions through social media and recordkeeping. They will also support broader volunteer efforts by tracking hours, organizing appreciation events, managing Volunteer.gov listings, and producing a park-wide volunteer newsletter.

Working alongside the park’s Visitor Service's Lead and partner organizations, the CVA will help establish joint volunteer roles that strengthen NPS presence across all park units. This includes meeting with partners to assess needs, participating in the agreement processes, and ensuring alignment with the park’s strategic goals. Additionally, the CVA will help build community engagement around the newly adopted Brandywine Valley Trail Plan by connecting with local recreation and youth groups, attending public meetings, and promoting volunteer opportunities. Through these efforts, the CVA will help foster a resilient, community-driven volunteer program that reflects the differing and shared stewardship goals of First State and its surrounding communities.

Description of Duties:

· Trail Volunteer Program Development

o Fine tune Volunteer Trail Crew Leader position descriptions and Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs).

o Create standardized onboarding, and training of Trail Crew Leaders and volunteers.

o Coordinate training sessions with the Facility Manager.

o Support field projects and document volunteer contributions.

o Track volunteer hours and create a system for scheduling and monitoring trail work.

o Create social media content and other outreach materials highlighting volunteer efforts.

· Volunteer Program Expansion and Support

o Meet with partners to assess needs and co-develop joint volunteer roles.

o Work with the regional office and park leadership to establish necessary agreements.

o Assist with Volunteer.gov postings, approvals, and general platform management.

o Organize volunteer recognition efforts (events, birthday cards, newsletters, etc.).

o Maintain quarterly VIP newsletter and send out monthly VIP birthday cards.

· Partnership and Community Engagement

o Identify and engage local user groups (e.g., hikers, birders, mountain bikers) for trail support.

o Attend community meetings to promote the park and its volunteer programs.

o Build relationships with schools and youth groups to establish regular volunteer opportunities.

· Program Innovation

o Ensure volunteer opportunities connect with local recreation communities

o Bring fresh ideas and creative approaches to strengthen and sustain the volunteer program.

Qualifications:

• Strong interest in public lands, environmental stewardship, or community engagement.
• Experience or interest in working with volunteers, community organizations, or in a customer service role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic organizational, planning, and project management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite products (Word, PowerPoint, Excell, etc.)
• Ability to use or learn social media platforms for outreach (e.g., Facebook, Instagram).
• Willingness to work outdoors in variable conditions and perform light physical activity.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate a government vehicle.
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

· Background in environmental studies, history, education, public administration, or related fields.

· Experience in trail maintenance, conservation, or outdoor leadership.

· Knowledge of DE/PA communities.

· Willingness to travel between park units and partner sites across Delaware.

· Ability to work occasional weekends or evenings for volunteer events.

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.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, 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.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills
• Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development
• $750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training

Additional Position and Community Information:

Schedule

The CVA position will generally follow a Monday through Friday schedule during the off-season (September through May). During peak season (May through August), some weekend or evening hours may be required to support volunteer projects and public events. The supervisor will coordinate with the CVA in advance to ensure no more than 40 hours are worked in any given week, and that the weekly schedule is finalized at least one week ahead of time.

Driving

Because First State National Historical Park includes six units located throughout Delaware, a valid U.S. driver’s license is required. While a personal vehicle is not necessary, it may be helpful for convenience. The CVA will have use of a government vehicle for all official duties and travel between park sites.

Housing

Housing details listed in the application remain accurate (housing is not provided by NPS host site). Please refer to the official CVA program listing for current housing availability and support.

Small Park, Big Opportunities

First State National Historical Park is a smaller, collaborative unit within the National Park Service, offering the CVA a unique opportunity to gain a broad understanding of how a national park operates. This position allows for cross-division engagement. The CVA will have the chance to contribute to different projects, provide input on park-wide initiatives, and work closely with staff from multiple departments.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
• Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• 10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave

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.

How to Apply
Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.

The CVA position will start on Monday, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026

Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.

Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.

For Application Questions:

Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org

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.