Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Friends of the Dunes- AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Friends of the Dunes

City, State or Full Address: 220 Stamps Ln., Arcata, CA 95521

Terms of Service:

Start Date: August 10, 2026

End Date: August 9, 2027

Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

Purpose:

This program, an AmeriCorps Program, advances the protection and restoration of coastal dune ecosystems while expanding equitable public access, environmental education, and community stewardship for residents and visitors of the Samoa Peninsula and greater Humboldt County, guided by values of conservation, collaboration, inclusivity, and respect for sensitive coastal habitats. The program is designed to serve coastal and rural communities by fostering partnerships, engaging the public, and supporting long-term ecological health through thoughtful planning and community-supported action.

This role, an AmeriCorps Position, supports Friends of the Dunes by coordinating outreach, partnership-building, and early project development to improve public access and restore habitat at a newly acquired conservation site, while contributing to master planning efforts and strengthening the organization’s capacity to steward coastal lands for current and future generations.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Description of Duties:

In this role, the AmeriCorps VISTA member will be integral to the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center's growth. They will engage in collaborative strategic and master planning activities to create a vision for the HCNC expansion that aligns with community needs. The AmeriCorps VISTA member will enhance operational effectiveness through institutional capacity-building efforts that support sustainable growth. A key responsibility will be grant-writing, researching funding opportunities, and crafting proposals to secure resources. They will develop plans for project management. Additionally, they will develop outreach plans for staff to build relationships with local organizations and residents for gathering community feedback to inform conceptual planning. This position offers a unique chance to make a lasting impact in a coastal community dedicated to environmental stewardship.

Qualifications:

· United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

· At least 18 years of age

· College graduate

· Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

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:

· Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.

· 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 receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Benefits:

· Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

· Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks

· Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible

· Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible

· Childcare Coverage* if Eligible

· Loan forbearance if Eligible

· Interest Payments if Eligible

· Training and Professional Development Opportunities

· Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)

· Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term

· Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; 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, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site related information, contact Suzie Fortner, suzie@friendsofthedunes.org

ALSO Apply using this link: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

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.