Position Title: City of Beckley Trail Stewardship Summer Associate – VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

City of Beckley

513 Ewart Ave. Beckley, WV 25801

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 6/15/2026
• End Date: 8/23/2026
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hours (Minimum-Time)

Purpose:

• Access to free, safe outdoor recreation reduces barriers to physical activity and improves community health outcomes. By improving and maintaining a public recreation asset, this project enhances quality of life for residents who may not have access to private recreation facilities. Strengthened outdoor infrastructure also supports local economic development by enhancing Beckley’s appeal as an outdoor community, supporting small businesses and tourism-related growth.
• This project will build capacity by expanding the City of Beckley’s ability to effectively manage and maintain its growing network of public trails. The Summer Associate will increase the City’s hands-on maintenance output during the service term while strengthening volunteer coordination and community stewardship efforts. Improved documentation and reporting of trail conditions and completed work will support future planning, budgeting, and partnership development. By enhancing trail infrastructure and community engagement, the project strengthens the City’s long-term ability to sustain and grow its outdoor recreation assets.
• Over the 10-week term, the member will focus on improving and maintaining public trails throughout the City of Beckley, including Piney Creek Preserve and other municipal properties, through direct fieldwork and volunteer coordination. The member will conduct trail inspections to identify maintenance priorities, perform trail construction and trail repair as directed, and remove debris while addressing erosion or drainage concerns to improve safety and accessibility. In addition to hands-on trail work, the member will organize and help lead volunteer trail work days in coordination with the Office of Outdoor Economic Development. The member will also document and report work completed throughout the service term. The final product will include measurable improvements to trail conditions across city-managed properties, documented maintenance records, and strengthened volunteer engagement supporting long-term stewardship of Beckley’s trail systems.

Description of Duties:

The Summer Associate will focus on capacity-building activities that produce internal planning resources, documentation tools, and community engagement materials. Duties may include compiling labor market research summaries, developing workforce resource inventories, creating community asset maps, organizing environmental data sets, drafting partnership coordination frameworks, designing planning templates and resource guides, and assisting with public-facing informational workshops, outreach campaigns, or site observations. Activities are designed to strengthen host organizations’ capacity, guide long-term workforce and environmental program development, provide tangible connections between planning tools and community needs, and support measurable outcomes in workforce access, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

The AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate will support the development and maintenance of public trails throughout the City of Beckley, including Piney Creek Preserve and other municipal properties. The member will conduct trail inspections, perform trail construction and repair, remove debris, and address erosion or drainage issues to improve safety and accessibility. The position also includes organizing and helping lead volunteer trail work days, strengthening community stewardship of Beckley’s outdoor assets. This is a hands-on role ideal for someone passionate about conservation, outdoor recreation, and community impact. Beckley offers access to world-class recreation and a growing outdoor-focused community.

Qualifications:

• Desired education level: High School Diploma
• Language requirement: English
• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 17 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 prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional qualifications.

Physical Requirements:

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

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time, 35-40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• Car recommended; Permits attendance at school during off hours; Permits working at another job during off hours;

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional requirements

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional details

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1, 565.08
• Living Allowance of $957.46 (taxable) every other week.
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Recreational Opportunities
• Professional Development Opportunities

Note: Stated are required by AmeriCorps. Programs may add additional benefits.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate, performance will be evaluated on whether the Summer Associate has completed the required number of hours, whether the Summer Associate has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the Summer Associate 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 and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Erin Adams

eadams@conservationlegacy.org

330 Harper Park Drive

Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 860-0578

Host Organization Contact:

Mitch Lehman
mitch.lehman@beckley.org
(304) 712-8524

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 accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.