High Visitation Visitor Services and Animal Care Member - Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex

High Visitation Visitor Services and Animal Care Member - Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex

 

ACE EPIC placements provide young adults with focused, hands-on opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers.

 

Funding for ACE positions is provided by a federal program designed specifically for the employment of youth and young adults.

 

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

 

Summary: American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking ONE High Visitation Visitor Services and Animal Care Member to contribute to important stewardship, environmental education, community outreach, and habitat conservation programs alongside Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex Staff. During this term, the ACE member will work on meaningful conservation projects such as providing care for captive black-footed ferrets, utilizing and enhancing existing curriculum on wildlife and habitat, developing outreach and environmental education materials, expanding schoolyard and community habitats, and training volunteers in seed collection and planting of native species for restoration projects.

 

Start Date: 09/14/2022 (Wed)

 

End Date: 02/26/2023 (Sun)

 

**24-week commitment required**

 

Location: Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex

 

The Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of Rocky Flats NWR, Two Ponds NWR, and Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR.

 

A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more refuges, wildlife management areas or other refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs.

 

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a 5,237-acre refuge in Golden, Colorado, and has striking vistas of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and rolling prairie grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. It is home to 239 migratory and resident wildlife species, including prairie falcons, deer, elk, coyotes, songbirds, and the federally threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse.

 

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is located in Arvada, Colorado and is the smallest urban refuge in the country. At 72 acres, the Refuge's habitat hosts over 120 species of birds and a variety of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

 

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is located just northeast of Denver and is a 15,000-acre expanse of prairie, wetland and woodland habitat. The land has a unique story - it has survived the test of time and transitioned from farmland, to war-time manufacturing site, to wildlife sanctuary. It may be one of the finest conservation success stories in history and a place where wildlife thrives.

 

For more information, please visit: ​​https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Rocky_Flatts/About_the_Complex.html

 

Work Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Wednesday-Sunday. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and the FWS for approval.

 

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

 

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the Colorado Front Range National Wildlife Refuge Complex. While on FWS lands, strict adherence to site specific policies and/or regulations is required.

 

Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-competitive Hiring Authority: Members serving on this project may be eligible to receive a Department of the Interior (DOI) PLC non-competitive hiring authority certificate upon completion of their term of service. Eligible members must meet standard requirements of completing at least 640 hours (16 weeks at 40 hours/week) and utilize their certificate when applying for qualifying federal positions within 2 years of receipt. More information can be provided upon request.

 

Position Description:

 

This individual placement is meant to facilitate personal growth and professional development and promotes exposure to land management agency professionals. This could include gaining experience in a variety of conservation fields and/or shadowing different work groups.

 

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of FWS staff in the accomplishment of:

 

Black-footed Ferret Conservation

 

- Managing daily husbandry tasks for the Complex's two captive black-footed ferrets, a federally listed endangered species.

- Developing and facilitating public outreach programs (both in person and virtually) to increase community awareness of black-footed ferret conservation efforts including the reintroduction story at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.

 

Community Engagement and Virtual Outreach:

 

- Developing and presenting outreach programs for community groups, school programs, community events, and engaging social media posts for Facebook and Instagram to reach diverse audiences and local community members.

- Assisting the expansion of virtual and distance learning programs to engage students and groups who are participating in virtual learning experiences or unable to make a trip to the Complex due to distance.

 

Urban Youth Corps

 

- The member be a liaison between USFWS and the partnerships they have with urban youth corps working directly with personnel and youth groups to conduct habitat restoration of shortgrass prairie, collect native grass and forb seeds (including milkweed on Service lands for monarch butterflies, as well as other native forbs identified as important species by refuge biologists).

- Coordinating logistics, managing records and helping to achieve regional resource priorities such as the propagation of pollinators, with ongoing restoration projects throughout the prairie.

- Increasing awareness and appreciation for the natural spaces they are helping to conserve.

 

Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs.; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.

 

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The Member may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, sun exposure, 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 FWS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.