WV READY: Mon Forest Town - Stewardship Pilot Program Coordinator

Length – 03/4/2024 – 10/11/2024, 32 weeks, full-time (40 hr/week)

Location – Elkins, WV preferred; other locations within Mon Forest Region acceptable

Living Allowance - $600/week

AmeriCorps Award – Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $4,826, pre-tax. Still working on a degree at a West Virginia school? Learn how to maximize your education award in West Virginia!

Application Due Date – Preference will be given to applicants that submit their application by 2/05/2023

Title of Position – WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV READY) – Mon Forest Towns Partnership Stewardship Pilot Coordinator

Position Details

Mon Forest Towns (MFT), in partnership with Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) seeks a WV READY AmeriCorps Member for a 32-week (7.5 months) term to organize and implement maintenance and stewardship trainings, workshops, and events across the region.

The WVREADY member and partners will collaborate on this pilot program to implement trail stewardship education and training events for the Mon Forest Towns Partnership. Town representatives, community recreation leaders, and partnering organizations and agencies will participate to learn new techniques and strategies, develop and/or share training resources, and collectively advance the stewardship and maintenance capacity of the region.

Project Responsibilities

• Provide a day-long stewardship training program in Elkins, WV for all Mon Forest Towns stakeholders. This will include multiple focus areas, each with a teaching and demonstration site.
• After the workshop, follow-up with Mon Forest Towns stakeholders to identify and document additional stewardship training needs. Organize additional training programs and maintenance events to meet these needs where possible.
• Organize stewardship education activities as part of other Mon Forest Towns events.
• Develop and share stewardship training information and opportunities with MFT stakeholders
• Research and evaluate opportunities for the future MFT maintenance and stewardship program by assisting towns with the MFT Self-Assessment
• Research and document the trail and asset management needs of each Mon Forest Towns Initiative
• Research and identify other sustainability, conservation, and stewardship gaps and needs in the Mon Forest Towns region via meetings with local stakeholders and regional partners
• Collaborate with site staff to develop a framework for MFT Sustainability and Stewardship Initiative that responds to collected data and stakeholder feedback
• Identify, contact, and meet with land managers, trail organizations, and other stakeholders to assess opportunities for trail maintenance and stewardship training/events
• Trail maintenance:
  • Participate in trail maintenance and training opportunities as they arise
  • Support towns in trail/asset management as available
• Research
  • Collect data and other relevant information around trail maintenance and stewardship activities and opportunities within the region to facilitate future collaborations and programming

Benefits

• $600/week living stipend
• Paid training
• Segal Education Award upon completion of term $4,826 (pre-tax)
• Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
• Professional development
• Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy – a national conservation non-profit
• Make a HUGE impact in your community
• Propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections

Qualifications and Skills

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Professional communication skills: written, presentation, and public speaking
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Outlook, Excel, and Forms
• Event Planning
• Facilitating group conversations
• Managing/supporting volunteers
• Experience/familiarity with trail maintenance and/or trial construction
• Passion for outdoor recreation
• Leadership
• Open-minded and collaborative spirit
• Ability and willingness to work actively outdoors for several hours

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a US Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Able to commit to 32 weeks of service
• Must be 18 years old or older
• High School Diploma or GED, degree seeking in related fields of marketing, outdoor adventure, tourism preferred
• Must be able to pass federal background check
• Willing to serve in West Virginia, West Virginia resident preferred

WV READY

Launched in 2022, the West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new collaborative AmeriCorps program sponsored by Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards). Stewards, in partnership with Appalachian Conservation Corps, Volunteer WV and local community organizations, is working to support WV’s transition to eco-tourism, outdoor recreation, and increasing outdoor accessibility.

Although each WV READY member’s project will look different depending on host site needs, they will still be able to lean on a cohort-style model for support, shared experiences, and professional development. Ideal candidates for this initiative are young adults looking to build a career and be a part of this larger movement in the Mountain State! Find our current recruiting projects here.

Mon Forest Towns

The MFT partnership was formed to cultivate relations across lands and forest gateway communities that will enhance the economy and quality of life for residents and visitors while sustaining the quality of the environment. The mission of the MFT partnership is to collaboratively grow a strong, sustainable recreation economy that enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors by providing the best outdoor experience with the vision of shaping a recreation economy that is responsive to the different needs and assets of the 10 identified Mon Forest Towns: Cowen, Richwood, Marlinton, White Sulphur Springs, Thomas, Davis, Petersburg, and Franklin. In 2018, these teams actively participated in visioning, planning, and branding meetings.

For more information, please visit https://monforesttowns.com/

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to serve their country, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, and improve lives and communities.

For more information, please visit https://americorps.gov/about

Please be prepared to upload a resume and cover letter as part of this application.

Stewards Individual Placements – A program of Conservation Legacy

Mission

Providing individual opportunities through service that build career-based experience, strengthen communities, and preserve our natural resources.

Values

• We promote excellence in national service and strive to create the optimal service terms for our participants and organizational partners.
• We strive for consistency, transparency, and efficiency in our organizational systems and processes.
• We are committed to a collegiate environment that promotes personal development, individuality, professionalism, and fun.
• We respect the legacy of our organization while embracing the need to adapt our systems to better serve participants and partners.
• We are committed to actively participating in efforts to preserve and restore the global environment and ecosystem for future generations.

Stewards Individual Placements Program does not and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

For More Information

John-Michael Aurednik (ore-ed-nik) (he/him)

West Virginia Programs Coordinator

681.238.0963

jmaurednik@conservationlegacy.org

www.stewardslegacy.org/wvready