Cultural Steward Individual Placement - Captain John Smith National Historic Trail

Posted: Friday, 06 March 2026
Valid Thru: Sunday, 05 April 2026
Index Requested on: 03/06/2026 22:14:01
Indexed on: 03/06/2026 22:14:01

Location: Jamestown, VA, 23081, US

Industry: Environmental
Occupational Category: 25-0000.00 - Education, Training, and Library Occupations
Type of Employment: FULL_TIME

Conservation Legacy is hiring!

Description:

Title: Cultural Steward Individual Placement

Location: Jamestown, VA

Dates of Service: May 18th, 2026 – November 13th, 2026 (26 weeks)

Pay: $720/week ($600/stipend + $120/additional member benefit)

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org

Applications will be accepted until March 15th or until the positions have been filled. Submit your resume and cover letter through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements

Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC):

Our Individual Placement program 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.

As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.

Position Summary:

The Cultural Stewards Individual Placement Program is based in Jamestown, Virginia, headquarters of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. This area has great historical importance as it is the home of many Indigenous communities and the earliest European settlements. The National Park Service works to conserve these cultural resources and educate the public on their significance.

Individual Placements will train with NPS staff from the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Colonial National Historical Park, as well as with other non-profit partners to learn and apply principles from the divisions of Interpretation and Education, Law Enforcement, Facility Management, and Resource Stewardship and Science at multiple parks in the area as well as Werowocomoco, a historic site that was a place of politics, trade, and ceremony for multiple Tribal communities that is stewarded by the National Park Service in collaboration with Virginia Tribal Nations.

This position is a great opportunity for people interested in history, anthropology or education to gain a wide array of experience working in a park setting. IP’s time will be divided between the divisions as opportunities allow. Examples of opportunities provided may include:

  • Developing interpretive and education programs
  • Participating in summer camp and school group programs
  • Caring for the grounds and buildings at Werowocomoco
  • Working on shoreline restoration projects
  • Estimating the deer population at Werowocomoco
  • Inventorying native and invasive plant species
  • Assisting with archeological monitoring and excavation
  • Participating in collections management
  • Observing/ride-along with law enforcement rangers

Job Responsibilities are varied and change often during the IP’s term. Daily tasks include but are not limited to:

  • Manage email and personal work calendar
  • Participate fully as a trail team member, including attending weekly all-staff meetings, required NPS policy trainings and provide document review.
  • Participate in day-to-day operations of a national trail, including public outreach, workshopping programs with teammates, answering inquiries, managing inventory of materials, event preparation
  • Develop and present interpretive programming
  • Research time to complete and support project goals
  • Multiple professional development training opportunities are provided, both virtual and in-person.
  • Additional duties, projects and tasks will be assigned based on IP’s personal interests and skillset.

The goal is for the participants to develop potential career paths leading to opportunities with the National Park Service and other federal sites. The position provides the Individual Placement with non-competitive hiring authority under the Public Lands Corps Act. This hiring authority lasts for two years and makes the Individual Placement eligible for certain job positions within the NPS and other federal land management agencies.

Participants will be provided a thorough two-week training upon onboarding, including Introduction to the NPS, trail history, NPS regulations and policies, how to present interpretive programming, customer service, conflict resolution, and an introduction to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

Additional training offerings (if available) include Operational Leadership, kayak certification, off-road vehicle certification, and safety trainings such as CPR and First Aid.

Typically, Individual Placements will primarily report to work at trail headquarters in Jamestown, VA. Additional work locations include Yorktown and Gloucester, VA and the local vicinity for other work-related training opportunities. Individual Placements will undergo a background check to attain the necessary credentials for accessing NPS buildings, computers and vehicles.

Benefits:

  • $720/week ($600/living stipend + $120/housing allowance), paid bi-weekly
  • $3, 697.50 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 900-hour minimum service term (award can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)
  • Professional development fund of $1, 434
  • Option to enroll in medical, vision, dental, and mental health insurance.
  • Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – non-competitive hiring status for two years
  • Possible student loan forbearance
  • Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill academic internship requirements
  • Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to cultural resource career paths Please review the job description.

    Educational requirements:

    • high school

    Desired Skills:

    Please see the job description for required or recommended skills.

    Benefits:

    Please see the job description for benefits.

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