The Wild Center (TWC) is seeking highly motivated AmeriCorps volunteers for a 1700 hour (~12 month) term at a natural history museum in the heart of New York State’s Adirondack region. Volunteers are a key part of TWC’s visitor experience and will receive a broad range of interpretive experiences and opportunities, including development of local natural history knowledge, public programming skills, and best practices in customer service. Volunteers will engage with visitors of all ages and backgrounds on our campus and throughout our community. We are looking for passionate, curious, and motivated people to join our team this year. All AmeriCorps volunteers will share core duties related to visitor experience and community engagement, and will also identify a focus area where they will take a deeper dive. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate interpretive experiences for visitors (audience size of 1 - 150 people), including live animal programs, technology-based Science on a Sphere, and outdoor programs (i.e. naturalist walks, community science programs, nature play activities). 
• Learn to handle live animals, including turtles, birds, and mammals, for engaging interpretive experiences.
• Teach school programs that align with NYS standards to a variety of school-aged students, K - college.
• Spend time outside in all seasons to facilitate interpretive activities, such as ice fishing and snowshoeing in the winter, maple sugaring in the spring, and/or guided nature walks in the summer. 
• Engage with visitors in exhibit spaces indoors and outdoors, including the Climate Solutions Tinkering Studio, Otter Falls, Raquette River Roll ball run experience, and Thomas Dambo’s first NY Troll, Patrick Sapling.
• Support museum operations including opening/closing duties, visitor wayfinding and parking, survey administration, trail maintenance, and Wild Lights set up and take down. 
• Assist with planning and implementing large-scale events such as festivals, conferences, and the Adirondack Youth Climate Summit.
• Serve alongside community organizations to support events and programs run by the Tupper Lake Recreation Department, Tupper Lake Public Library, Tupper Lake School District, etc.
• Attend and participate in outreach events to meet our community’s expressed needs.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Focus Areas:

During the application process, applicants will express an interest in one of the following focus areas. Based on interests and skills, volunteers will be assigned to one of the following focus areas:

• School Programming: This focus area will serve alongside our School Program Coordinator to teach school programs featuring live animals and help with logistics during school field trips. 
• Outdoor Programming: This focus area will spend additional time engaging with visitors in seasonal outdoor activities including ice fishing, maple sugaring, and water based programming. 
• Animal Husbandry: This focus area will assist staff with the daily care and husbandry of The Wild Center’s live animal collection, primarily focused on enclosure cleaning and diet preparation.

Qualifications:

• Ability to commit to the full term 1700 hours, ~12 months or 50 weeks of AmeriCorps service. 
• Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service.
• Interest in teaching natural history, climate science, and working outdoors throughout the year.
• Flexibility and adaptability - we work in a dynamic team setting with shifting duties.
• Self-motivated - you seek opportunities to learn and grow and can thrive independently.
• Engaging and excited to teach - you will deliver interpretive programs on stage with a microphone to large, intergenerational groups of visitors after being trained by Wild Center staff.
• Positive attitude and a willingness to work with people - you must enjoy working and communicating with people, including members of our rural Adirondack community.
• Organization and time management skills - you will work on multiple tasks concurrently.
• Maturity and professionalism - you will represent The Wild Center and AmeriCorps New York.
• Detail and safety-oriented - working closely with wildlife requires a keen eye for details and will help you (and our animal ambassadors) thrive.
• Policies - be prepared to adhere to all Wild Center policies including uniform policy, safety procedures and regulations. 

Experience & Education:

• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent or have not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• A college degree is not required to apply for this position. We encourage current college students to apply, as well as non-traditional applicants not pursuing a degree.

Work Schedule:

• 5 days a week, including weekends, special events, occasional early mornings, and regular evenings, with two consecutive days off each week.
• Hours to be completed over the course of up to 12 months, starting January 5th, 2027 to mid-December 2027.
• Volunteers will be required to attend AmeriCorps-specific service days throughout their term.
• Occasional off-site travel is required; mileage reimbursement is provided for outreach events.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to traverse rolling trails and spend prolonged periods of time outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions, including extremely cold temperatures.
• Daily periods of standing, bending, and crouching. Physical ability to frequently lift, scrub, and climb. Regular exposure to dirt, dust, animal feces, and cleaning chemicals. (Animal Husbandry specific)

Compensation & Benefits:

• Approximately $850 bi-monthly (twice per month) living allowance, based on a 24 pay period contract (is subject to change based on timeline of service).
• $7,395 Segal AmeriCorps Education award after 1700 hours of service.
• Option for health insurance coverage.
• Shared, fully equipped housing, with all utilities included. One house is ~1 mile and one house is ~8 miles from The Wild Center. Houses may be shared with up to 6 other AmeriCorps volunteers. 
• May be eligible for federal student loan forbearance during service term.
• Complementary family membership to The Wild Center.
• Professional training: informal education, teaching skills, project management, science content knowledge, health and safety, accessibility, customer service, and group management.
• Training/certifications: Certified Interpretive Guide, Visual Thinking Strategies, CPR & First Aid.
• Optional water safety and canoe training, plus use of canoes and kayaks outside of service.
• The Wild Center strives to create an environment where our team thrives both personally and professionally. While life at the Center can move at a fast pace, we appreciate the times we can slow down. Whether it's sharing stories over a staff potluck, being wowed by cool science facts, or taking a break during a meeting to view a cute animal, we make time to grow together as a community.