WILDERNESS RANGER INTERN: A Temporary, Full-time Position. Pay: See below. Dates: April 2016 – August 2016.
Location: Spring Mountains National Recreation Area/Great Basin Institute, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Qual: Dedication to the position and the AmeriCorps Service Contract •Motivated, self-starter who is detail oriented; •Flexibility to handle competing and changing priorities; •Ability or willingness to learn how to identify native and non-native plants of the desert southwest •Ability to drive 4x4 vehicle •Ability or willingness to learn how to navigate in the backcountry using maps and iphones or GPS units •Ability or willingness to learn how to use iphones and/or GPS units such as Garmins, Mesas, and Trimbles to collect data •Ability to use Microsoft Office Programs •Ability to do physical labor in the backcountry •Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time •Motivated to learn about the forest’s resources •Ability to communicate with forest staff in an appropriate manner in written and verbal form •Possess clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license; and •Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime, or equivalent of two full-time terms of service), and (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) and federal criminal background checks. Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate the following desired skills and attitudes: •Knowledgeable and proficient in backcountry travel; •Ability to work alone in remote wilderness settings; •Good communication skills to effectively interact with the public and co-workers; •Experience with wilderness inventory and monitoring; •Experience with trail maintenance and/or construction; •Experience working with volunteers and highly self-motivated. •Additional preferred training: wilderness first responder, botanical survey experience, and Leave No Trace certification. Physical Demands: •Lift up to 50-70 pounds of material or equipment •Bend, lift, pull, and push •Crouch, stoop, kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of time •Walk for long periods of time on uneven surfaces carrying equipment •Be outside in extreme heat or cold (depending upon the season) •Work 10 hour days •Travel overnight or up to 8 days at a time for project work.
Duties: Member will provide national service at Spring Mountain National Recreation Area, a host site for the Nevada Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Program. Working collaboratively with Spring Mountain National Recreation Area (SMNRA), the Great Basin Institute is recruiting two interns to conduct noxious weed inventories in the La Madre Mountain and Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Areas. This project would create a baseline inventory of noxious weeds that could be used for future weed management plans. The Wilderness Ranger Interns would also conduct some solitude monitoring and light trail maintenance as well as contacts with visitors to provide information. Primary Responsibilities: The selected individuals will be primarily focused on inventories of invasive weeds, at least early in the field season. Rangers work in remote settings both on and off-trail, so a focus on personal as well a co-worker safety is essential. Travel is usually on foot above 7000’ elevations, carrying a backpack that contains personal as well as work supplies and tools. Fifty to 70 pound loads would be considered average. Overnight stays involve camping in a tent. Most of the work will be in the Rainbow Mountain and La Madre Mountain Wilderness but may occur in the Mt. Charleston Wilderness. Other duties include campsite and trail maintenance, repair and maintenance of signs and structures at trailheads and within the backcountry, preparation and presentation of wilderness education programs. Rangers may also use tools such as GPS to collect and store data for wilderness management purposes and hand tools for light trail maintenance. The successful candidates will receive training in identification and survey methods for invasive weeds, trail maintenance, wilderness stewardship and wilderness ranger duties. Other training may be available. Related Responsibilities: ●Participate in trainings provided by Spring Mountains NRA staff and community partners; ● Meet with Host Site Supervisor on a regular basis; ● Participate in community service days organized by NCC Program; and ● Participate in regular AmeriCorps team meetings. Compensation: This is an AmeriCorps position, and candidates will receive a living stipend of $6,000 for the season. This is not an hourly wage or a salary and is paid to members every other week throughout the service term. Upon completion of AmeriCorps service, members shall receive an additional education award in the amount of $2,182.78 that can be used for paying off qualified student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college.
Appl: Send cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references.
Contact: The Great Basin Institute, Jason Behrens, Human Resources Coordinator, at jbehrens@thegreatbasininstitute.org.
Filing Date: Open.