Position Title: WV Chesapeake Bay Program – VISTA Summer Associate

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placement

Site Location:

WV Department of Environmental Protection

22288 Northwestern Pike Romney, WV 26757

Terms of Service:

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

Purpose:

• The Chesapeake Bay Program is a network of partners cooperating to improve the environmental quality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The environmental conditions of these features can directly or indirectly reduce the resilience and sustainability of the surrounding communities. Many of these communities are disadvantaged based on age, income, and education level; therefore, lacking the physical, financial, and/or intellectual capacity to address these adverse environmental conditions. This project’s work will hone the continuing efforts of the WVDEP in the CBP, through supporting efficient data reporting and equipping another individual to improve the lives of WV residents.
• The project provides direct assistance to both the CBA and PBC. At a base level, an additional individual is beneficial to help organize and maintain materials. However, more importantly, adding perspectives to BMP evaluations and public outreach can be instrumental in enhancing activity outcomes. This project will also prepare an individual to enter into the WVDEP or other natural resource careers once the service is ended.

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.

• Assist the Chesapeake Bay Analyst with evaluation of green infrastructure stormwater best management practices (BMPs), including bioretention facilities, etc.
• Deliverable: Establish an understanding of stormwater management through participation in BMP evaluation.
• Assist the Potomac Basin Coordinator in public outreach events.
• Deliverable: Interact with the public and make connections with professionals at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Accompany the WVDEP Environmental Enforcement on inspections.
• Deliverable: Establish an understanding of environmental enforcement practices.
• Attend the Chesapeake Bay Program work group meetings.
• Deliverable: Understand the programmatic structure of the Chesapeake Bay Program.
• Develop an understanding of the Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) through the Modeling Work Group meetings and additional model resources.
• Deliverable: Learn modeling concepts and observe/investigate the practical applications of a complex model.

Qualifications:

• Car recommended;
• 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.

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
• Permits attendance at school during off hours;
• Permits working at another job during off hours

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.

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

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:

Samuel Canfield
samuel.a.canfield@wv.gov
(681) 319-6306

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.