Visitor Services Members- Biscayne National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking ONE Visitor services Member to contribute to visitor services projects alongside NPS staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our usaconservation website.

Start Date: June 9, 2025

End Date: August 9, 2025 (or 9 weeks after start)

*a 9-week commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Homestead, FL (Dante Fascell Visitor Center, 9700 SW 328th Street, Homestead, FL)

Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here too; from prehistoric tribes to shipwrecks, and pineapple farmers to presidents. For many, the park is a boating, fishing, and diving destination, while others enjoy a warm breeze and peaceful scenery.

To learn more about Biscayne National Park, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The member will help the park expand its capacity to conduct youth programming and activities, educate visitors on the natural and cultural resources, and conduct stewardship focused activities. The member will help the park engage local, underrepresented communities by helping to lead free local youth summer camp programs, teach fishing clinics, guide paddling tours for beginners, conduct science labs, and represent the NPS at offsite community events.

• The member will help conduct summer youth camp programs and general interpretive and educational visitor services through activities such as fishing clinics, paddling classes, and science labs.
• Interns will help staff the visitor center and share information about Biscayne's natural and cultural resources with park visitors
• This position will assist with answering visitor, telephone, and written inquiries
• The member will work with NPS staff to rove park sites.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: 5 days per week, likely including weekends.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $680/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

Qualifications

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing an undergraduate degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as education, life sciences, social sciences, leisure studies, outdoor recreation, graphics design, business management, marketing, and public policy and planning.
• Knowledge of marine sciences, outdoor recreation, teaching techniques and lesson plan development.
• Experience working with you an/or customer service experience
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in South Florida weather with school groups and general public while conducting environmental education programming with minimal supervision.
• Deep interest in education, outdoor recreation, marine sciences, and national parks.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires [frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing]. Manual dexterity required for [use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment]. Required to [stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch]. [Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.]
• Vision Requirements: Requires [close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus].
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Mainly work outdoors in South Florida maritime conditions. Temperatures can exceed 100 F in the summer and bring strong storms with heavy rain. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are prevalent year-round.
• Noise Environment: Light noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.