Position Title:  Park Ranger Individual Placement – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Conservation Corps New Mexico

Site Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)

1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832

 COVER LETTER AND RESUME REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 10/06/2025
• End Date: 2/06/2025
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 Hours 

Purpose:

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, among other environmental efforts.

Conservation Corps New Mexico (CCNM)

As part of Conservation Legacy and an AmeriCorps program, CCNM 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 Placements are unique development AmeriCorps positions. Participants 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 gain technical, hands-on experience in the work of these organizations or agencies.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is part of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Refuge System. This particular refuge was established as an overwintering site for migratory birds, especially sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks. Located in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, refuge staff manage the landscape as if the Rio Grande still ran wild, though it has been channelized and cut off from its historic floodplain. These seasonal wetlands are fairly unique in the middle of the desert landscape. Bosque del Apache hosts thousands of overwintering birds and, subsequently, thousands of visitors in the winter months who come to experience the wildlife phenomenon.

The winter season at Bosque del Apache NWR is busy with visitors, school groups, and active water management. Refuge staff are currently rebuilding connections with the local school to conduct repeated field trips to the refuge as well as trying to accommodate requests from schools all over New Mexico. The individual placement will assist staff with leading school field trips, regular operations of a visitor center and providing information to the public about recreation opportunities. The individual placement will create an inventory of existing interpretive panels and opportunities as well as help outline an Interpretive Plan for the refuge. This may include outlining or drafting needed additional interpretive signs/programs/products. A potential product could include a brochure on the people history of the area.

Bosque del Apache has a relatively large staff, with people working in administration, visitor services, biology, and maintenance. The participant will have the opportunity to interact with and shadow additional staff on site. As outreach or other opportunities at nearby refuges/sites become available and staffing allows, there may be networking and other job shadowing opportunities nearby.

Description of Duties:

• Inventory interpretive signs/panels
  • Collect photos and locations of all interpretive signs/panels.
  • Label and organize photos.
  • Identify and record interpretive messages/themes for each panel and compare to interpretive theme matrix.
• Outline an Interpretive Plan
  • Research examples of Interpretive Plans from other sites.
  • Work with supervisor to outline an Interpretive Plan.
  • Create a strategy for drafting an Interpretive Plan.
• Create or draft interpretive product
  • Work with supervisor to identify additional interpretive needs.
  • Determine appropriate medium for identified interpretive need (brochure, panel, ranger talk).
  • Draft interpretive product, identifying next steps at conclusion of internship.
• Assist staff with visitor center operations and leading field trips
  • Open/close visitor center.
  • Staff the front desk and provide information to visitors.
  • Assist staff with leading school field trips (for elementary and high school groups) from an established lesson plan.

Trainings Provided:

• GIS related to position
• Data base (Excel) set up
• Interpretive theme matrix review
• Foundations of Interpretation (Eppley Center training)
• Opportunity to learn from Park Rangers at other stations

Conditions: Uneven terrain, wildlife/environmental hazards

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 years of age
• 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.
• Valid U.S Driver’s License - Drivers must be over 21 or have had a license for at least 3 years
• Per federal grant requirements, this position is for young adults between the ages of 17-30 (35 for veterans), inclusive, at the time the individual begins term of service.
• Personal vehicle for transportation outside of service hours is recommended (site does not have public transportation connections).

Physical Requirements:

• To successfully perform essential functions, the individual is required to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, etc. May be required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl for significant periods of time and be able to safely lift 50 pounds on a routine basis. He/she must be able to operate office equipment, telephone, and computer and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to hike and navigate in rough terrain.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization
• Appropriately represent Conservation Corps New Mexico, the FWS and AmeriCorps to the public and partners at all
• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high
• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from

Substance Free:

• In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Background Check:

A DOI background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The FWS will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Tuesday through Saturday, 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.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,817.14
• Living Allowance of $600 per week
• Housing provided onsite
• Travel/training funds of $500
• Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority upon completion of term (that allows for competitive hiring for USA jobs/government jobs)
• Healthcare Coverage
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible 

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.

Program Name and Contact Information:

Contact information:

SamJean Simmons

ssimmons@conservationlegacy.org 

Consideration will be given as applications are received and this position may close at any time.

Conservation Legacy is 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.