Position Title: Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Member with Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
1978 River Rd.; Bushkill, PA 18324

Terms of Service: 46 weeks

• Start Date: 02/22/2027
• End Date: 01/07/2028
• Application Deadline: 01/10/2027
• Number of Positions Available: 1
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours

Stewards Individual Placements & Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) Initiative:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) initiative aims to increase access to the outdoors for all Americans.

Are you passionate about expanding access to public lands and creating welcoming outdoor experiences for all visitors? Do you believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore and enjoy our National Parks? Our health, our planet, and our collective future rely on variety – in thought, ability, experience, and ideas. Join the Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) program and contribute to strengthening park operations and enhancing the visitor experience by helping to remove barriers to outdoor access—ensuring that our national parks remain open, attainable, and welcoming to all Americans.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA) welcomes millions of visitors annually, encompassing more than 70,000 acres of federal land, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River. Given the park’s high visitation and complex operations, orientation, information, and interpretation services are essential for ensuring meaningful and safe visitor experiences. This YES Member will be welcomed as a new team member at DEWA who can influence and guide DEWA’s ability to better connect humanity with the value of discovery.

Role of YES Member at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Stewards Individual Placements, in partnership with the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area are seeking a Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) AmeriCorps Member to support the missions of both the National Park Service (NPS) and DEWA by expanding visitor awareness of resource-based recreational opportunities in one of the most densely populated regions of the country.

Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of this YES position, the member will:

• Build knowledge about NPS policies pertaining to digital and physical access
• · Conduct trail surveys to document conditions, measure slope and grade, and identify erosion, surface changes, and accessibility barriers
• · Collect and organize data and prepare reports to support park planning, maintenance priorities, and visitor experience improvements
• Improve trail characteristic information at trailhead kiosks to enhance access for visitors with disabilities and meet Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) requirements
• Assist in compiling and uploading updated existing conditions and information to the park’s webpages about ADA access, and app with an emphasis on beaches, watercraft launches, parking areas, and trailheads
• Collaborate with park staff, interns, and partners to co-lead the development of Section 508-compliant experiences and accessible digital resources
• Promote the use of all-terrain wheelchairs and adaptive fishing gear
• Build a network with staff, interns, and/or Volunteers at other national parks who are working on similar initiatives

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Be between the ages of 18-30 (or up to age 35 with Veteran status)
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
• Able to commit to 46 weeks of service
• Ability to drive with an insurable driving record, personal vehicle required
• Have a personal connection to the disability community

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• · Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team, demonstrating initiative, adaptability, and an eagerness to learn
• · Enthusiastic about serving the National Park Service, local community, and visitors in a professional, conscientious, and service-oriented manner
• · Personable and approachable, with strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships
• · Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate records, organizing data, and completing projects efficiently and reliably
• · Proficient in collecting, organizing, and documenting data
• · Dual-language in Spanish is desired
  
  
  

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 Monday – Friday, 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
• History of the National Park Service Courses
• Social Media Training Modules
• Section 508 Training Courses
• Content Management Training
• Universal Design and Accessibility in the NPS
• Introduction to Section 106 Compliance in the National Park Service
• Introduction to Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act
  
  

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
• Living Allowance of $660 per week
• · On-site communal housing available (private room with shared common spaces such as kitchen and bathrooms)
• · Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
• · Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
• · Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections

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.

Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.

How to Apply:
To apply, please click on the green “apply” button in the top right corner of the page. In addition to uploading your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please address your experience with the disability community.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131

We are 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.