Individual Placement

Carson National Forest: Historical and Cultural Liaison

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.

Individual Placement positions work within RMYC partner agencies, and are intended to provide meaningful job experience for young professionals looking to build their careers in specific fields.

POSITION OVERVIEW: This position will act as a collaborative liaison between local communities and the Carson National Forest in assisting in the development of a future interpretative recreational management plan for the Carson NF section of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, as well as local trail systems in historically important locations including San Cristobal, the Taos Foothills, McGaffey Canyon, and Miranda Canyon. The position will focus on community outreach; exploring ways to garner more community involvement, integrating local and historic cultural knowledge into recreational development on the Forest. 

Other duties include working as a team with host location staff and tracking data. Being comfortable working outside and interacting with the public are key skills for this position.

Professional development and work-training is a major focus of this position. The ideal candidate is someone looking for a starting point to build a career in outdoor recreation, management, and conservation. This position is managed through RMYC and includes professional development, regular check-ins, and life skills training that RMYC offers regularly. Other training opportunities will be provided through the host program or outside training tailored to the needs of the individual. Cross-training with other programs is also encouraged. As an AmeriCorps member, this position will not serve in any supervising or staff roles.

POSITION TYPE: Seasonal, full time, AmeriCorps member

SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week, (May - August). Exact start and end times will be determined by program funding, program needs, and timing of applications received.

REPORTS TO: Carson National Forest Staff daily and to RMYC Individual Placement Program Coordinator on a weekly basis.

LOCATION: Carson National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 208 Cruz Alta Rd, Taos, NM 87571

TERM LENGTH: 450 hour AmeriCorps term.

COMPENSATION: Biweekly Stipend of $1,520.00 (Equivalent of $19.00 per hour)

EDUCATION AWARD: AmeriCorps Segal Education Award scholarship of $1,956.35 upon successful completion of term of service.

OTHER SUPPORT: Parents or caregivers are eligible and encouraged to apply. Full time, 1700 hour term applicants may qualify to receive childcare benefits through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program. More information is available by request or through the AmeriCorps Childcare Program website.

BENEFITS:

• Healthcare coverage is available to all AmeriCorps members at no cost to the member.  This is considered primary coverage and is not available as supplemental coverage.
• Non-Scheduled Days (paid days off) are available, with the exact number depending on the length of the term of service (These days off ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award). Time off in excess of assigned non-scheduled days will require make up work or a stipend reduction.
• RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off, however RMYC reserves the right to have AmeriCorps members work or earn service hours on certain holidays if necessary to meet program requirements (holiday time off hours ARE NOT counted toward the service hours required for the Educational Award).
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments are available for qualifying loans.

ELIGIBILITY:

A chosen candidate must meet the following requirements:

• 18-30 years old as of the position start date. 
• All AmeriCorps members must be citizens, national, or lawful permanent residents of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.
• Chosen candidates must complete a pre-employment National Service Criminal History Check and fingerprint scan with the following requirements:

  • You must be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history.

  • You cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry.

  • You cannot be convicted of murder.

• Insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license.
• Have a High School Diploma, equivalent diploma (G.E.D.), or agree to obtaining one prior to using the Segal Education Award

  • If you are not capable of obtaining a High School diploma or equivalent or are enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis you may be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091)

• Able to complete the entire length of the service term, including make up hours if necessary.
• Essential physical functions include the ability to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, climb, balance, reach with hands & arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis, and lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Collaborative Cultural Liaison 

• Conducts historical research on the Old Spanish Trail and the Camino Real to better understand the history of the trails and the surrounding communities. Presents this research and understanding to the Recreation and Public Services staff to improve their understanding as well.
• Outreach to historical associations and groups affiliated with the Old Spanish Trail and the Camino Real to explore opportunities for interpretation support. Work with these partners to identify more appropriate alignments to the Old Spanish Trail that maintain the spirit of the trail while creating a better user experience and reducing conflicts with cultural value.
• Work with the USFS Recreation Program and trails crew to understand current and proposed recreation projects occurring in the areas outlined in the position overview to articulate to the communities the proposed project actions. 
• Organize community outreach events and opportunities for the public to provide and/or learn local history in the area.
• Provide a final report compiling results of community outreach events and involvement to the Carson National Forest.
• Organizes and hosts a volunteer event using community partners in one of the areas listed in the position overview.

Data Tracking:

• Track miles of trail improved and acres of land improved, along with other notable project work, for biweekly RMYC reports.
• Administrative tasks, including filing, organization, invoicing, and reporting.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing environment
• Perform various tasks within the scope of work for an AmeriCorps member.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Pursuing, or interested in pursuing, further education in Anthropology, Archaeology, History, or other related fields.
• Must feel comfortable speaking with community members and in front of groups. 
• Must be comfortable working outside and performing fieldwork for long periods of time in all weather conditions.
• Applicants should demonstrate strong organizational skills, have experience working as part of a team, be able to work well with others in a professional setting, be self-motivated, and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period.
• Applicants must have great attention to detail and problem solving skills.
• Strong work ethic, and the ability to take initiative and work independently with periodic check-ins.
• Participation in one service event that benefits the community is required, with options to attend additional service events.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

• Knowledge of the various cultures and ethnic groups who inhabited the region in past periods to better understand the relationship of the cultural communities and the cultural resources affiliated with them. 
• Completed, or currently enrolled, in college-level education courses in Anthropology, History, or related field of study. 
• Previous experience in community outreach and involvement. 
• Strong project management, written and oral skills.
• Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• Bachelor’s degree, or ongoing degree work, in a related field (Archeology, History, Anthropology, etc.)

EVALUATION:

Members serving less than a full-time term of service (<1700 hours) will receive a mandatory end-of-term evaluation, with an optional mid-term evaluation.

CONTACT:

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

RMYC:

• Carl Smith, Individual Placement Coordinator: carl@youthcorps.org

Carson National Forest:

• Ben Harper, Trails & Wilderness East Zone EMS Lead: Benjamin.Harper@usda.gov