Visitor Services Member – Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

Visitor Services Member – Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

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, a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking 1 Visitor Service Member to contribute to day to day operations at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center alongside Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge Staff. During this term, the ACE member will work on meaningful conservation projects such as staffing the front desk of the Interpretive Center, preparing and presenting interpretive programs, and assisting with the general operations of the Interpretive Center.

Start Date: May 2022 (start date is flexible)

End Date: 16 weeks later (flexible)

**12-week minimum commitment required; 16-week commitment preferred**

Location: Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge-Fort Peck, MT

Together, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and UL Bend National Wildlife Refuge encompass an area of 1.1 million acres that span about 125 air miles along the Missouri River, from the Fort Peck Dam west to the boundary with the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Located within the boundary of CMR Refuge, UL Bend is, in essence, a refuge within a refuge. The Service manages these refuges as one, forming the second largest national wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states.

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge's expansive badlands, cottonwood river bottoms, forested coulees, sagebrush steppes and mixed-grass prairies appear out of the sea that is the northern Great Plains. Elk, mule deer, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, sage and sharp-tailed grouse, and bald eagles make the Refuge home. Visitors will find spectacular examples of native prairie, forested coulees, river bottoms, and "breaks" badlands so often portrayed in the paintings of the colorful artist for whom this Refuge is named.Each fall, hundreds of elk congregate in the Slippery Ann Wildlife Viewing Area, creating a spectacle not to be missed.

During their term, the ACE member will assist staff at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center located at the northeast corner of the Refuge. The Interpretive Center is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Interpretive Center highlights the natural history of the Refuge, the construction history of the Fort Peck Dam, and the paleontology of the Hell Creek Formation.

For more information about Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fws.gov%2Frefu…

Work Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Thursday - Monday. 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.

Position Description:

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

Primary Duties include:

Visitor Services (65%)

-Provide staffing at the front desk with volunteers and FWS and ACE staff.

-Respond to questions and phone calls on a variety of informational and interpretive topics.

-Provide accurate information on recreational activities, nearby attractions, and rules and regulations.

-Provide interpretive information on local plants and wildlife, history, and paleontology.

-Perform opening and closing tasks at the Interpretive Center.

Education, Outreach, and Interpretation (25%)

-Assist in the preparation and presentation of environmental education and interpretive programs for school groups and other visitors.

-Assist in the development and writing of educational activities, field trip presentations, and interpretive programs.

-Perform roving interpretation inside and around the Interpretive Center.

-Assist with education or outreach events on and offsite.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

-Assist with general operation and maintenance tasks at the Interpretive Center including organizational, cleaning, and grounds maintenance tasks.

-Assist with pollinator activities including beekeeping and native plant garden maintenance.

-Assist with historical research requests and archiving collection materials.

-Assist field staff with other activities as needed including fence removal, monitoring, or surveys.

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 Visitor Services Member 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 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.