Position Title: NPS Historic Preservation Training Center – Traditional Trades Advancement Program and Youth Empowerment Stewards – Olympic National Park – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements - East

Site Location: National Park Service - Olympic National Park

600 E. Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 11/30/2026
• End Date: 05/29/2027
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hours (26 Weeks)

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements is an AmeriCorps affiliated program that provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and protect our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits, building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting the health of natural areas.

Stewards, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Training Center, are seeking individuals to participate in a dual Traditional Trades Advancement Program/Youth Empowerment Stewards opportunity. Members will receive introductory training in a variety of safety and leadership capacities and will develop an understanding of resource stewardship and trail restoration. Additionally, members will focus on barriers to entry for individuals with disabilities in the outdoor workplace. This critical role will utilize trail building and clearing capabilities with access needs of the park to best serve the public.

This program provides participants with ample exposure to National Park Service trail maintenance needs coupled with park access for those with disabilities. The members will work alongside skilled trades staff at Olympic National Park, while gaining marketable skills for future NPS or private sector employment.

Olympic National Park has an extensive trail system totaling 635 miles, 95% of which is within designated wilderness. These trails are heavily used by visitors and undergo intense weather extremes from 150+ inches of rain in a year to interior mountains receiving over 20 feet of snow. The trails need constant maintenance to best serve the public and NPS core values. This hands-on experience will include drainage clearing, tread repair, social trail mitigation, and vegetation encroachment. Minor repairs or replacements of structural components on the ABA nature trails will be addressed. Focus areas will include Kestner Homestead Trail, Maple Glade Rain Forest, Ancient Groves, Salmon Cascade, and Madison Falls.

Description of Duties:

• Use of basic hand tools needed for trail building and improvements
  • McLeod’s, Pulaski’s, rakes, chainsaws, and shovels are basic tools that will be used by members to best remove drainage blockages, level trail grade, dig water bars to redirect water flow away from trail, and remove debris and hazards to trail users
• Use of basic hand tools for vegetation removal encroaching on trail
  • Loppers, chainsaws and proper PPE, rakes, hand saws, and McLeod’s are basic tools that will be used to ensure vegetation is removed that is interfering with safety and access of trail use
• Use of basic carpentry hand tools in structural repairs
  • Performing structural repairs using standard carpentry tools such as hammers, chisels, handsaws, and measuring instruments to cut, shape, and assemble wood components while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards
• Use of maps, navigation, and reporting tools
  • Backcountry camping and travel will be utilized to effectively reach remote trail sites in need of repair; effective use of maps and GPS instruments will be needed to safely travel to and from site, and reporting on accurate trail restoration techniques and distances will be necessary
• Use of safe and ethical back country best-practices
  • Leave No Trace principles will be followed to the fullest extent to continue to keep the back-country free of human debris and exhibit role-model behavior for the public on park trails
• Utilize and ensure care of park PPE safety gear
  • Members will use NPS provided PPE as required, maintain it properly, and report any damage or needed repairs; caring for tools and PPE is essential to member safety

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident
• Be between the ages of 18-30, or age 35 with Veteran status
• Have a personal connection to the disability community
• Ability to commit to a 26-week experience of combined training and hands-on service
• 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
• Willingness to learn trail preservation skills and safety protocols
• Operate as a good team member within crew and follow daily direction
• Follow HPTC's and YES project agreements and safety plans
• Be respectful of all members or crew, site mentors, and staff

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that people with disabilities are provided with 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 of 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 recruitment process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday at a full-time capacity of 40 hours a week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term
• Fully On-Site
• YES members are part of a cohort and meet virtually online on a bi-weekly basis; the YES cohort space is established for YES members to collaborate and support one another on various access projects, while also discussing various personal and professional development topics

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps for prohibited and unallowable activities
• Olympic National Park seasonal and new employee training
• Proper hand tool use and maintenance, carpentry techniques, and safety practices
• Training in lead-safe work practices, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and hazard communication
• Instructions include OSHA and EPA compliance
• Chainsaw safety maintenance and operation class
• Basic trail construction and maintenance
• Operational Leadership v. Sexual Harassment Training
• CPR/First Aid training
• ICS 100, Active Shooter, and Leave No Trace
• Hand tool maintenance and small engine repair

Member Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50
• Living Allowance of $520 a week + Additional Benefit of $200 a week (equivalent to $18/hr)
• $1,000 Professional Development Stipend
• Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority
• Park Housing Available
• Loan forbearance if eligible
• Membership opportunities and dedicated cohort/affinity meeting spaces
• Interest Payments if eligible
• YES members have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other YES members in the virtual bi-weekly YES cohort space

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.

Stewards Coordinator and Site Mentor Name and Contact Informationn

Stewards Program Staff:

Ariana Nye

Stewards Individual Placements

(304) 860-5506