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, Acadia National Park – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program

Site Location: Acadia National Park

20 McFarland Hill Drive, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

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.

Acadia National Park is mostly located on Mount Desert Island, the largest island off the coast of Maine. Acadia National Park protects the natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coastline of the United States, an abundance of habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. At 4 million visits a year, it's one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. Visitors enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads.

Acadia National Park has a broad volunteer program that works closely with park partners, Friends of Acadia, Schoodic Institute, and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue. In partnership with Friends of Acadia, we have a robust trails and carriage road maintenance drop-in program, which runs three days a week, six months a year; in addition, this program supports and facilitates service groups in the park. In partnership with Friends of Acadia, there is also the Wild Gardens of Acadia and the Acadia Winter Trails Association volunteer programs (trail grooming for winter recreation). Partnered with Schoodic Institute, volunteer programs include Visitor Contact Assistants, Citizen Scientists, Bird Migration, and the Hawk Watch Program. An essential partnership with MDI Search and Rescue assists the park with visitor accidents and carry-out situations. In addition, there are Campground Hosts, Bass Harbor Head Light volunteers, Waldron's Warriors (trail adoption with maintenance and visitor assistant duties), Visitor Center, Interpretation, Education, and Administrative Volunteers, and many more. Acadia National Park also hosts large events such as Take Pride in Acadia Day, and Save Our Summits, a soil restoration project.

At the beginning of the service term, the supervisors will work with the CVA to develop a mentorship and leadership development plan that focuses on the CVA’s career and professional development goals. The CVA will regularly interact with staff from multiple divisions (e.g., Research Learning Center, Volunteers, Resource Management, Visitor Education and Engagement, Trails) and with partner organizations (e.g.,Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute). This will allow daily opportunities to learn through face-to-face interactions. The CVA will attend all employee trainings on safety, orientation to Acadia, operational leadership, and other topics as applicable.

The CVA will work with staff, individual placement, and volunteers to remove invasive species, participate in native plantings, and monitor growth and changes both at wetland sites and summit locations. This work will engage the CVA in interdisciplinary work with multiple organizations (e.g.,Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute). The CVA will lead the Save our Summits Program in 2026 which is a community engagement hike where participants carry soil for restoration to two summits in Acadia National Park. These hikes will take place two times each week from June through September and directly support vegetation restoration efforts.

The CVA will use their knowledge to engage, interact with, and educate the public about the cutting-edge research and management taking place in Acadia. The CVA will participate in talks and events geared toward local residents where they will be encouraged to participate in active restoration through volunteer efforts or opportunities such as Backyard Stewards, an effort to encourage individuals to remove invasive species and use native plants in their own outdoor spaces. The CVA will manage the Backyard Stewards Program and work to increase participation through outreach events and workshops in 2026. The CVA may also work to strengthen partnerships with Mount Desert Island High School Eco Team or the Town of Mount Desert Sustainability Committee. It is important to have two-way conversations about restoration work that is currently happening in the park and to think about ways to collaborate on mutual goals with local partners; the CVA volunteer will assist us in achieving these objectives.

Description of Duties:

· Work with an interdisciplinary team

· Manage the Save our Summits Program

· Manage Backyard Stewards Program

· Manage Backyard Scientists Program

· Work with partners and staff on existing volunteer opportunities (e.g., Take Pride in Acadia, Earth Day, mini-bioblitzes)

· Identify and participate in public outreach events (e.g., Earth Day, Pride, Jackson Lab, National Trails Day, National Public Lands Day)

· Present restoration projects to local audiences (e.g., library talks, community outreach)

· Work with partner organizations on collaborative projects

· Meet with local residents about volunteer and stewardship opportunities

· Develop and foster partnership opportunities (e.g., Mount Desert Island High School Eco Team, Town of Mount Desert Sustainability Committee)

· Develop a plan to sustain the volunteer program related to restoration

Qualifications:

• 2 years of college or equivalent experience
• Effective communication skills
• Good work ethic and ability to self-start
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• 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:

· Public speaking

· Experience engaging the general public through outreach events or talks

· Experience working with volunteers

· Ability to hike to restoration sites in wetlands or on mountain summits

· Ability to work in an outdoor setting for long periods of time

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:

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this position is the opportunity it provides the CVA to work with a variety of divisions within Acadia National Park, volunteer groups, and multiple partner organizations and their governing boards (e.g., Friends of Acadia, Schoodic Institute). The CVA will be immersed in a multiorganizational, learning- based restoration project while learning about and participating in the coordination of these organizations. Due to the nature of these projects and associated outreach opportunities, occasionally the CVA may be required to work evenings and weekends.

Acadia National Park is a unique place whose landscape consists of forests, meadows, wetlands, rocky beaches, and granite peaks. Its location is remote and while there is public transportation during the peak season, it is not available year-round and therefore, a license and car is required of the CVA.

Acadia National Park and the surrounding communities offer a multitude of year-round, outdoor recreation opportunities.

Housing offered to the applicant includes a private bedroom in a furnished apartment. The apartment will be shared with one or more persons and includes a full kitchen (with dishes, pans, etc.), full bathroom, and living room. The campus has wireless internet, facilities for laundry, and is within walking distance of Acadia National Park. The CVA should bring personal items, including toiletries, laundry supplies, bedding, and linens. A bicycle is also helpful and can be used to enjoy the carriage roads, but getting to most off-campus services requires a car.

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.