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Visitor and Resource Protection Members- Everglades National Park

Visitor and Resource Protection Members- Everglades National Park

American Conservation Experience - EPICHomestead, FL, USA
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Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking TWO Visitor and Resource Protection Members to contribute to visitor safety and resource protection efforts alongside National Park staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date : Late November / Early December 2025

Estimated End Date : (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 America. The park is home to many threatened and endangered species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee. The park also provides drinking water to millions of South Florida residents. The northern section of the park is accessible via Miami or Everglades City, while the southern section is accessible through Homestead.

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

Position Overview

This internship will provide two individuals with the opportunity to gain experience in public safety outreach, visitor services, and cross-training with other National Park Service divisions. By the end of the internship, members will be able to provide a wide array of visitor services. Members have the opportunity to obtain certification to operate park watercraft as well as a basic first aid / CPR certification. The members 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.

Position Duties will include :

  • Serve as a proactive presence in high-use areas (trailheads, campsites, waterways) to engage visitors before emergencies occur.
  • Provide trip planning guidance, weather updates, and hazard information (e.g., wildlife, heat, dehydration, navigation).
  • Encourage responsible recreation through one-on-one visitor interactions in the field.
  • Monitor visitor use areas for safety concerns, resource impacts, and changing environmental conditions.
  • Develop and deliver visitor safety messaging through printed materials, social media, interpretive signage, and roving contacts.
  • Incorporate Leave No Trace, environmental stewardship, and safe recreation principles into all visitor interactions.
  • Participate in outreach events, youth engagement programs, and community safety initiatives.
  • Support interpretive programming by integrating safety and awareness themes into talks, walks, and informal interpretation.
  • Staff visitor centers, entrance stations, and information desks with a focus on safety, trip planning, and accurate park information.
  • Maintain detailed records of visitor interactions and assist with incident tracking and safety reporting.
  • Follow park Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and uphold professional standards in public service and resource protection.
  • Collaborate with multiple park divisions (Interpretation, Resource Protection, Trails) to support unified visitor experience goals.
  • Contribute to the development and improvement of safety materials based on field observations and visitor feedback.

    • The members 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 :

  • 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 breaches 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.

    • Schedule

    This position will be for 5–8 hour days (40 hours per week). The schedule may include weekends and holidays to align with peak visitation.

    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 may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term 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 is not provided by ACE or Everglades National Park.

    Travel Allowance : ACE members will have access to up to (NTE) $500 in reimbursable funds for eligible pre-approved travel expenses. Approval is required to come from site lead before funds are reimbursed.

    Provided Training / Orientation : Members will receive training in PSAR operations, CPR / AED / First Aid, visitor engagement, Motorboat Operation Certification Course, and safety communication. Cross-training opportunities with other NPS divisions may be provided.

    Qualifications

    Required :

  • Authorized to work in the United States (ACE does not sponsor 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 outdoor recreation, emergency management, natural resource management, or related field.
  • Knowledge areas may include : education, history, wilderness medicine, PSAR, or search and rescue.
  • Ability and willingness to research, develop detailed outlines, present public programs, work in a team environment and provide excellent and professional customer service.
  • Deep interest in South Florida cultural and natural history.

    • Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions

    Physical Demands : Extended standing, hiking, paddling, and roving in harsh outdoor conditions. Requires carrying up to 50 lbs. Required to kneel, climb stairs, and / or crouch.

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

    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.

    Travel : Primarily field-based with limited travel outside the park.

    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. 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 Program 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.

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    Visitor • Homestead, FL, USA