History Interpreter Individual Placement-AmeriCorps

DescriptionPosition Title: History Interpreter Individual Placement Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps Site Location: Cumberland Gap National Historic Park Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road, Middlesboro, KY 40965 Position Available: 3 Terms of Service: 13 Weeks Start Date: 05/18/2026 End Date: 08/14/2026 AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hr Purpose:Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position. SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service and environmental stewardship. SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. The National Park Service: preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. Cumberland Gap National Historic Park preserves the historic Cumberland Gap, a key crossing of the Appalachian Mountains that became known as the First Gateway to the West. Located where Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet, the park's 24,000 acres include over 80 miles of hiking trails, front and backcountry camping, a historic Appalachian settlement, cave and rock formations, and 14,000 acres of managed wilderness. Position Overview: The Individual Placements (IP) will benefit the community and the organization by enriching the visitor experience at the park; providing for a more complete, balanced, and accurate history to be preserved and presented; and expanding park interpretive and educational products and services to appeal to and engage with a broader audience and younger generations. The outcomes produced by the IPs will bring greater dimension and depth to the stories already told by the park, enriching the current visitor experience. The IPs will collaborate with partners to develop priorities and co-create ways to interpret and share the park's African American history from that community's experience. Their work will offer visitors a more complete, balanced, and accurate picture of our past. The IPs will also help create new programs, waysides, exhibits, digital content, or other products that will improve park relevance and promote engagement with new, younger audiences. The IPs will contribute to park efforts to make all visitors feel welcome and to interpret the full spectrum of the park's rich and amazing history. Expected products will include multiple social media posts, digital content for the park website, a special public program, and at least one new interpretive product (wayside, guided tour, temporary exhibit, etc.) focused on Black History of the Cumberland Gap area. Description of Duties:Research primary and secondary sources and compile information on Black history. Research, document, compile, and organize information related to Black History of Cumberland Gap from primary and secondary sources. Collaborate with staff and other partners to identify priority information. Meet with partners to share information and invite input on priority histories and information to incorporate into park programming. Report and discuss research and partner input with park team members. Review and assess existing products across the visitor center, trails, other areas, and the website. Identify information gaps, errors, biased language, and changes needed. Develop and present recommendations for corrections or modifications. Examine and evaluate Black History information and content for existing products at the visitor center and on the website. Locate, examine, and evaluate Black History information and content for existing waysides and other products along trails, at historic sites, and in other areas of the park. For each product, record the location/link, title/description, product type, changes/corrections needed, and priority of need. Take photos. Consult with others to develop recommendations for any changes needed to existing products and present recommendations to park team members. Collaborate with others to identify locations and develop ideas for new products. Work with GIS staff to create spreadsheets and maps of existing and potential new products. Develop and submit proposals for one or more new products. Explore and identify locations where a new wayside or other interpretive product should be placed. Work with GIS and other staff to create spreadsheets and maps of existing products that need changes or corrections, and sites for potential new products. Identify and prioritize potential locations for new products and develop ideas for one or more new products. Write and submit a report and recommendations to park leadership and partners. Serve with others to create, promote, and present at least one new, approved product. Write a report that lists existing products that need corrections and describes potential new products. Create a PowerPoint presentation summarizing this information and present it to park leadership and project partners. Serve with others to develop and create at least one new, approved product. Create digital and/or other interpretive content to promote the new product. Serve with others to develop and present a public program using the new product. Assist with educational programs, interpretive programs, and special events, including but not limited to activities for Juneteenth and Black History Month. Create weekly social media posts. Assist with Junior Ranger or other education programs as assigned. Assist with Furnace Fridays or other interpretive programs as assigned. Assist with Juneteenth, Black History Month, America's 250th, or other special events as assigned. Assist at the visitor center, do roving interpretation, and other interpretive duties as assigned. Greet and welcome visitors, providing information and answering questions. Staff the visitor center and help ensure exhibits, films, and other operations run smoothly. Rove trails, campground, and other areas to provide visitor information and assistance. Potential environmental/human risk involved with the above service: Hiking several miles in remote and mountainous terrain, serving outdoors in hot, humid, cold, rainy, snowy, or other conditions, potential exposure to ticks, mosquitoes, black bears, snakes, and other wildlife, and operating government vehicles Qualifications: United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien At least 18 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 before using the education award Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check Valid Driver's License and personal vehicle. Preferred Qualifications: Education and/or Experience in African American studies, public history, historic resource interpretation, or a related field An excitement for history and a desire to help others find personal relevance Community Engagement experience Strong oral and written communication skills Strong time management skills Experience with different media applications Transportation: A personal vehicle is required due to the limited public transportation and rural character of this location. NPS vehicles will be provided for transportation only for the park's capacity. The Individual Placement will be a driver. Physical Requirements: Conservation Legacy is committed to all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, the ability to move across varied terrain, the use of program-specific tools, and a range of technologies, on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruitment process, please send a request to the hiring manager. Time Requirements: Typically, this position is expected to serve 8 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week - but exact service schedules may vary. A half-hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service. Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term. Orientation and Training: Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Training in the use of GPS, park radio, and digital camera Consultation with Park and regional resources Microsoft Software and GIS Interpretive product design and development Graphic design, web design/CMS, and/or interpretive techniques Public speaking, event planning , and outdoor education Customer service, public history , and defensive driving Park staff will also provide individual training on division vehicles Benefits: Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,956.35 Living Allowance: $650 per week. Additional Benefit: $200 Boot Stipend. Possible student loan forbearance. Member Assistance Program - 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or service-life balance specialist. Uniform shirts Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths. 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 Monthly Accomplishment Report Narrative Monthly Report. Bi-Monthly Check-Ins Midterm and Final Evals Exiting Task Substance Free: In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. If you have questions about the position, please contact: Jody Mays Supervisory Park Ranger Cumberland Gap National Historic Park If you have questions about the application process, please contact: Ray Wilson Individual Placement Coordinator Southeast Conservation Corps 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 accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Created: 2026-03-04