Natural Resources Internship (Individual Placement)

Title: ​Natural Resources Individual Placement​ 

Location: King of Prussia, PA 

Dates:  August 7th, 2023 – January 19th, 2024 (26 weeks) 

Positions Available: 1 Internship 

Pay: $440/week paid biweekly + on site housing 

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, 900 hour AmeriCorps national service position. 

Contact: ​Questions? Email ACCRecruiting@conservationlegacy.org​ 

Application will stay open until June 7th. Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application. 

Appalachian Conservation Corps 

Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.  

Through partnerships with federal, state, and local partners, we offer Individual Placement positions to assist young people in gaining meaningful experience that will further their professional goals. Individual Placements serve at a partner site throughout their term, and ACC provides support from start to finish.  ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.  

Position Details   

Valley Forge National Historical Park is seeking a Natural Resources Individual Placement who is passionate about animal and land conservation to assist with major natural resource initiatives. The Individual Placement will be involved in a variety of activities associated with natural resource preservation, become familiar with issues that face natural resource managers, and work closely with National Park Service staff and partners to monitor and address those issues. At the same time they will contribute to the collection of data and implementation of projects that benefit park resources and assist park managers in achieving management goals. 

The Conservation Individual Placement will serve with the Planning and Resource Management (PRM) Division at Valley Forge NHP. This division is responsible for natural (biotic and abiotic) and cultural (archaeology, cultural landscapes/structures & archives) Resource Management as well as planning for the park. In NRM, the mission is to preserve and protect the natural diversity, distribution, abundance, and communities found in Valley Forge NHP. 

During their term, the Natural Resources Individual Placement will be a part of multiple projects, mainly working in the field but with some in office data entry, reporting and communications projects. Responsibilities include but aren’t limited to: 

• Prep for annual lethal white-tailed deer control-includes using GPS to locate and mark safety buffer, inventorying and organizing supplies and equipment. 
• Assist with data collection and tissue sampling for White-Tailed deer. 

• Work with park staff, volunteers, and the NPS-Exotic Plant Management Team to control invasive, non-native plant species within the park. Lead volunteers to control invasive plants.  
• Optional-opportunity to receive PA Pesticide Applicator’s license at park’s expense-must be willing to apply pesticides to take advantage of this opportunity. 
• Work on a team that includes members from state and federal agencies as well as park staff from all park divisions. 
• Participate in efforts to remove invasive non-native rusty crayfish from Valley Creek, and lead volunteer ‘Crayfish Corps’ events. 
• Collect salamander coverboard data. 

• Contribute to development of park informational brochures on natural resources. 
• Assist with Data Analysis and Report Writing. 
• Assist in monitoring water quality in the Valley Creek Watershed with data. 

The purpose of this internship is to provide students with a concentrated, practical experience in natural resource management that affords the opportunity to apply classroom theory through a “hands-on” experience with the National Park Service. The Intern will learn hands-on management techniques for invasive species suppression and native species restoration, leadership and teamwork skills, they will receive park orientation and site specific safety trainings, if interested the intern may be offered the chance to obtain Operational Leadership Training and a PA Pesticide Applicators license. 

On Site Housing will be provided for this position. 

Benefits:  

• $440/week paid bi-weekly  

• On site housing 
• Segal Education award of $3,247.50 to be used towards future education or student loans at completion of term 
• Federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff 
• Non-competitive hiring eligibility for federal jobs through the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority 
• Discounted outdoor gear through Outdoor Prolink 
• Member Assistance Program– 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist  

• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements  
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths  

General Qualifications: 

• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for Veterans up to age 35)   
• Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status  
• Have a high school diploma or GED 

• Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal and/or State criminal background check 
• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (individuals are eligible if they have not already completed 2 full years of AmeriCorps service, or 4 AmeriCorps service terms, whichever comes first – please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility)  
• Possess a valid driver’s license 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Major in a field related to the Biological Sciences (e.g. wildlife and fisheries science, biology, forestry, environmental science, etc.) with a minimum GPA of 2.5. 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills 
• Comfortable working in a field and office environment 
• Ability to work well as a member of a team 
• Ability to hike up to 5-7 miles per day across varied terrain and to operate basic mechanical and electronic equipment (e.g. weed whip, gps unit, etc.) and may include exposure to extreme weather conditions, herbicides, poisonous plants, stinging and biting insects and wild animals. 

How to Apply: 

In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/open-positions. 

Our Promise: 

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 job functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. 

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer.  We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.