Start/End Date: 2/5/2024 – 7/5/2024 (anticipated)

Term Length: 22 weeks

Stipend: $550/week

Reports To: Archaeologist at Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-Rio Puerco Office

Location: 100 Sun Ave NE Suite 330, Albuquerque, NM 87109

Status: 675-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Benefits: Additional housing allowance $200/week; AmeriCorps Education Award $2,626 and Public Lands Corps Certificate* - both with successful completion of the internship

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities. Environmental stewardship programs help conserve natural habitats, improve energy efficiency, protect clean air and water, and help to mitigate the effects of climate change among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM), a program of Conservation Legacy and AmeriCorps partner, aims to continue the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. CCNM is focused on connecting youth, young adults, and recent era military veterans with conservation service work projects on public lands. CCNM operates programs across southern New Mexico and western Texas that engage individuals and strengthen communities through service and conservation. The CCNM Las Cruces office manages the Individual Placement Program.

Mentorship

These Individual Placement Positions are unique development opportunities. Interns are paired with a local supervisor and gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies. Site supervisors commit to facilitate career development; provide an introduction to numerous pathways within the conservation field; and create accessible, meaningful, learning opportunities and experiences for interns.

The Bureau of Land Management manages public lands for multiple use and sustained yield for present and future generations.  The Albuquerque District, Rio Puerco Field Office manages 1 million acres of public land in north central New Mexico, around the Albuquerque-metro area.  The Cultural Resources program is tasked with protecting invaluable, non-renewable resources such as archaeological sites and areas of cultural significance.

Position Summary:

The selected intern will assist the Rio Puerco Field Office (RPFO) Cultural Resources Program with preserving invaluable data within archaeological records by cataloging the backlog of this information so it may be digitized and preserved. RPFO Cultural Resource Specialists will construct an Excel database for the intern to populate data records. Should time allow, intern will also assist the Cultural Resources Program with cataloging site records, reference materials and/or monitoring forms. This intern project will allow RPFO Cultural Resource Specialists to make accurate, prompt recommendations to protect cultural resources and help move BLM endeavors forward such as prescribed fires, invasive vegetation treatments, and grazing infrastructure projects. Intern will have the opportunity to work with several BLM archaeologists as well as other specialists in range, ecology, geology, wildlife, hydrology etc. and perform field work such as archaeological and wildlife surveys, rangeland health assessments and interdisciplinary team site visits. Additional professional development may include resume building and interview preparation.

Essential Responsibilities and Functions:

• Work with BLM archaeologist and administrative support personnel to gain an understanding of record types for the cultural resources program.
  • Become familiar with the Excel database and required fields.
  • Enter records into the Excel database to complete a catalog for cultural resource records.
• Work with BLM archaeologist and administrative support personnel to learn how to prepare cultural records for shipment to digitization contractor.
  • Ensure each box of records is secured and includes appropriate documentation.
  • Compile boxes of records for shipment to digitization contractor.
• Work with BLM archaeologist to learn about the archaeological resources managed by the Rio Puerco Field Office.
  • Accompany the BLM archaeologist in the field to monitor historic properties and conduct Section 110 cultural inventories.
  • Produce monitoring forms for historic properties and assist BLM archaeologist with the Section 110 cultural inventory report.
• Work with BLM specialists to gain a broader understanding of BLM and its multiple use/sustained yield mandate.
  • Accompany BLM specialists into the field to gain a broader understanding of the resources BLM manages.

Trainings Provided:

• Orientation to Excel database
• Basics of cultural resource management
• Basics of BLM records scheduling
• Understanding of the National Historic Preservation Act
• Archaeological site monitoring
• Archaeological inventory standards
• Field safety, defensive driving

Minimum Qualifications:

• Per federal grant requirements, this internship is for young adults between the ages of 18-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Applicants should possess or be in the process of obtaining an undergraduate degree in anthropology, archaeology, or a related field such as museum studies or history.