Interpretative Member - Everglades National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking ONE Interpretative Member to contribute to interpretation projects alongside National Park Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 08/03/2025

Estimated End Date: 05/30/2026 (or 43 weeks after start date)

*a 43-week minimum commitment is required*
 

Local candidates encouraged to apply

Location Details/Description: Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL

Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States with more than 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairies, pine rocklands, hardwood forest, and an extensive mangrove estuary leading to Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park is home to many critically threatened and endangered species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile and the West Indian manatee. The park is also the main source of drinking water for residents of South Florida. The northern section of the park is accessible via Miami or Everglades City, the southern section is accessible through Homestead.

For more information about Everglades National Park, please visit the NPS website.
 

Position Overview: This internship will allow for the growth and development of one individual to primarily gain career experience of an Interpretive Ranger but also knowledge and understanding of all the other National Park Service divisions through cross-training experiences dependent upon the members interest.

By the end of the internship, the member will be able to articulate and apply principles of interpretation, and provide accurate and effective visitor experiences, activities, and programming based on learning theory and resource knowledge. The member will be adept at engaging a range of different groups and people and will offer a variety of opportunities for people to make meaningful connections to park resources and participate in park experiences.

The member will function as a member of the larger park operations team to ensure positive visitor experiences that come from smooth park operations. The members actions will contribute to a positive and easily navigable procedures and environments for employees and the public.

The member will work effectively both externally with the public and internally as a contributing member of the district interpretive team. The members' actions will foster cooperation, communication, and a collaborative environment. Customer service interactions with external (public) audiences and internal (park and agency) colleagues will be timely and courteous; customer service is not limited to the public components of work. 

Position duties will includes:

DELIVERS INTERPRETIVE PRESENTATIONS: The member will be trained to be proficient in the following tasks by the end of the year. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Provides Core Presentations: Develops and proactively revises the core interpretive programs in the Pine Island District: ranger talks and guided activities by the designated due dates. By the designated due date, produces and delivers the outline of the presentation to the supervisor.
• Articulates Interpretive Principles: Can articulate to others the interpretive principles that guide programming and media choices. Researches and presents interpretive programs which support the NPS mission, the park mission/themes, and highlight the park's significant resources.
• Site Research and Relevance: Uses scientific and/or historical research from a variety of credible sources. Critically evaluates sources for their relevance, validity, and bias. Evidence-based content, site stories, and current social context are synthesized and developed in collaboration with others. May incorporate new and/or historically excluded perspectives into products and services. Interpretive products represent current NPS perspectives, as well as scientific and historical consensus, about site resources and issues.
• Accurate: Information and experience is accurate and based on current science and research.
• Matches Medium to Message, Audience, and Circumstance: Is adept at matching interpretive methods-whether delivered by people (personal services), media, or technology-to specific audiences, messages and circumstances. Is well-versed in the full range of the interpretive options available, each medium's relative strengths and weaknesses, and the interpretive principles that guide selection of the optimum medium (including the variety of types and choices for personal services). Interpretive choices are driven by program goals and do not begin with selection of a particular medium or technology.
• Audience and Community Knowledge: Understands and applies knowledge and current formal and informal research, demographic data, motivation and cognitive learning theory on specific types of current and potential audiences (beyond the "general" audience). Weighs choices and makes decisions about presentations and products based on this data. Collaborates and uses active listening in order to discover new perspectives and integrate collective goals, outcomes and shared authority among and between stakeholders. Makes experiences relevant, engaging, and enjoyable based on demographics, behaviors, and/or interests for different types of groups and audiences.
• Audience Centered and Shared Authority: Approaches to interpretation, products, and programming are developed based on audience centered principles and practices. At least 10% of personal services performed or interpretive products created employ principles and techniques of shared authority (directed, guided, or open-ended activities) that use audience-focused techniques (for example: active engagement and participatory activities, co-created content, crowd-sourcing, facilitated dialogue techniques, dialogic techniques, community consultation, and other techniques of shared authority). Creates active participation and dialogue with audiences rather than static, formal presentations, or interpreting at or creating interpretation for audiences. Enriches experiences through mutual learning from diverse perspectives.
• Visitor Experience Design: Establishes collective goals and outcomes before creating solutions. Seeks peer, audience, and community feedback to help identify needs/wants. Adjusts products, services, techniques, medium, locations, or experiences to improve, innovate, or "pivot" to change approach when an issue is redefined mid-process. Collaboratively participates in structured analysis process before and after delivery of product, service, or experience (i.e. critique session, plus/delta exercises, After Action Review [AAR]). Builds on ideas of others (for example, uses "yes and..."statements.) Learns through trial and error.
• Delivery/Presentation: Personal services, interpretive media, and technology and other interpretation is delivered/presented in engaging and enjoyable ways. Regularly incorporates ways that audiences may actively participate based on research of characteristics of successful audience centered, free-choice, and/or self-directed programming. Program content is well organized and comprehensively developed. The interpreter does not function as a "walking encyclopedia". Programs begin and end at advertised times. Demonstrates mastery of interpretive skills used in visitor contacts; differentiates between when and how to deliver orientation, information, interpretation, and serve other types of visitor needs. Adapts to changing perspectives and circumstances and ensures accessibility.
• Peer Reviewing for Interpretation: Provides regular coaching for interpretive media generated by staffing within the district when scheduled. Facilitates a productive feedback process for those that are Peer reviewing as well as incorporates feedback of reviewers on your own presentation.
• Intergenerational Learning / Interpretation for Children: Products and programming for children (such as Junior Ranger materials) are developed based on principles of intergenerational, free-choice, and self-directed learning.
• Safety Messaging: Safety and resource messages are included in all interpretive activities for the audience.

ASSIST WITH VISITOR SERVICES: The member will be trained to be articulate in describing the park resources and visitor activities within the park. The member will join the team of rangers to staff contact stations in order to accomplish the following:

• Standard Operating Procedures: Follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with minimal deviation; uses agreed-upon systems and functions as a member of the larger operations team. Supports peers and consistently works productively with them to ensure smooth operations.
• Always Professional: The member does NOT engage in personal conversations, non-work research, grooming, eating/drinking, cell phone use, or personal computer use while assigned to the visitor center desk, and will step away from the desk for no more than five minutes or utilize his/her break to engage in such actions.
• Awareness: Maintains awareness of customer load and knows when to initiate and conclude contacts so that visitor inquiries are processed in a timely manner.
• Proactively Busy: Uses periods of low visitation productively by cleaning exhibits, stocking front desk supplies, roving the visitor center patio, reading work-related reference materials, or completing other projects as assigned.
• Commercially Unbiased: Uses objective, neutral language when talking about concessions, private businesses, and political issues; will not make recommendations or offer personal opinions (about hotels, food services, etc.) even if provoked by park visitors.
• Up-to-date Information: Integrates relevant safety messages into trip planning contacts and stay up to date on safety-related issues, warnings, conditions, etc.
• Schedule: Follows daily schedule and assignments with minimal deviation. Seeks out information ahead of time that could affect schedules and operations. Anticipates, communicates, and troubleshoots potential scheduling issues to reach the best possible outcome. Schedules are followed for films and other interpretive media and programming.
• Balances Visitor Needs: Balances needs of all visitors especially during busy times.
• Troubleshoots and Reports: Potential issues are communicated to peers and supervisors so that they may be resolved in a timely manner and at the lowest possible level. Works proactively to anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve and/or report any operations, equipment, or facility issues that potentially affect the visitor experience with the goal to minimize time out-of-service. Any breeches in security or security procedures are reported as soon as possible or as soon as operationally feasible.
• Organized and Prepared: Maintains clean, organized, and welcoming visitor center and/or visitor contact areas. Areas are stocked with up-to-date information. Publications; signs, information boards, and other public notices are updated regularly and look professional.
• Timeliness: Public facilities are open, clean, and safe with minimal exceptions. Facilities open and close at designated times. Programs begin and end at advertised times.
• Record keeping: Statistics and other information are regularly and legibly recorded and reported according to park procedures.

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: This position will be for 5-8 hour days (40 hours) a week. This schedule could include weekends and holidays.

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 Everglades National Park.

Travel Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to (NTE) $500 to be used for eligible travel pre-approved expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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. Specific training may include a three week orientation and principles of interpretation training, CPR/AED training, and cross training experiences with other divisions of the National Park Service.
 

Qualifications

Required:

• 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). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• 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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• 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 a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as environmental science, natural science, history, education, parks and recreation.
• Knowledge areas may include: geology, hydrology, mammalogy, ichthyology, education, history and public speaking.
• Ability and willingness to research, develop detailed outlines, present public programs, work in a team environment, provide excellent and professional customer service.
• Deep interest in South Florida cultural and natural history.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

Physical Demands: Requires standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain.

Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.

Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 20 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.

Environmental: Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates with hot humid conditions and thunderstorms. Also, periods of office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.

Noise Environment: Moderate 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.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Eastern Member Manager, Maya Opara-Nadi.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.