AmeriCorps Education and Visitor Services Technician (BLM, Carrizo Plains National Monument)

The Great Basin Institute Research Associate Program, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is recruiting (2) Education and Visitor Service AmeriCorps Volunteers to support Carrizo Plains National Monument, located outside of Bakersfield, CA. Under the direction of the BLM, the selected candidate will support visitor services and educational programming out of the Education Center, located at the National Monument.

Carrizo Plains National Monument

This remote monument, traversed by the San Andreas Fault which has carved valleys, created and moved mountains, and yet up close, is seen in subtle alignment of ridges, ravines and normally dry ponds. Prominent features on the monument include the white alkali flats of Soda Lake, Painted Rock, vast open grasslands, and a broad plain rimmed by mountains. When conditions are right, numerous wildflowers can carpet the valley floor; although short lived it can be breathtaking.

Soda Lake, normally a dry lake bed, is one of the dominant geographic features of the Carrizo Plain. It is the largest remaining natural alkali wetland in southern California and the only closed basin within the coastal mountains. As its name suggests, Soda Lake concentrates salts as water evaporates, leaving white deposits of sulfates and carbonates that look like baking soda.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist helping with and answering general questions for visitors at the Education Center;
• Assist the Education Center Coordinator in outreach programs. Possible travel to local schools or special events to give presentations on resources within the area;
• Assist in maintaining the Education Center’s exhibits, both inside and out. Working in the Education Center garden;
• Assist with the development of brochures;
• Assist with management of gift shop;
• Give scheduled tours to the visiting public and special user groups throughout the season;
• Assist the Coordinator with unexpected requests; and
• General clean-up and maintenance of the visitor displays and interpretive signs in the education center and around the monument.

This position primarily serves within the Education Center, but may have the opportunity to support projects throughout the monument.

*Volunteers are required to take a mandatory 30-minute lunch break each service day. This break does not count toward their service hours for the education award.

Timeline:

• Mid February, 13.5 project wks;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: Thurs - Sun, 10 hours/day.

Location:

Carrizo Plains National Monument is one of the best kept secrets in California. The Carrizo Plain is approximately 250,000 acres in size—or about 38 miles long—and 17 miles wide and is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and The Nature Conservancy. The plain is home to diverse communities of wildlife and plant species including several listed as threatened or endangered. It is rather remote with small towns like Taft and Paso Robles about an hour away that offer grocery stores, laundry services and gas stations. Bakersfield is about an hour and a half away to the east and beach access on beautiful coastal California is about an hour and a half to the west. Reliable internet is available on-site and plenty of recreational opportunities are available in and near the monument. Housing will consist of a newer modular trailer or a 5-bedroom house on the monument.

Expect warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Most rain falls between November and April with occasional snow. Average summer temperatures range from the low 50s°F at night to the upper 90s°F during the day. Daytime temperatures often exceed 100°F, with a record high of 115°F. Average winter temperatures range from highs in the mid 60s to lows in the mid 30s, with a record low of 0°F. The Carrizo Plain receives between 7–10 inches of annual rainfall on the valley floor.

Compensation and Benefits:

Living Allowance: $1,400.00 biweekly (before taxes);

Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (450 hour term): $1,956.35 upon successful completion of term;

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Access to Pro Deals; and
• Eligibility for SNAP benefits, Loan Forbearance, and Loan Interest Accrual Repayment.

Housing: Will be provided onsite to the selected participant at no additional costs.

Segal Education Award:

After successfully completing an AmeriCorps term of service, AmeriCorps Volunteers are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Award varies based on term of service. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

Student Loan Forbearance:

If you are currently paying on any federal student loans you have the option to put those loans into forbearance during your time as an AmeriCorps Volunteer, that will allow you to cease payments while serving.

Interest Accrual Repayment:

As an AmeriCorps alum, you are eligible to have the National Service Trust pay all or a portion of the interest that accumulated on your qualified student loan(s) during your term of service. These payments are made in addition to the Education Award, and are not deducted from your Education Award balance. To be eligible to have accrued interest paid: The loan must have been placed in forbearance for the service period, and you must have successfully completed a term of service and received an Education Award.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility:

AmeriCorps Volunteers are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Qualifications

Required:

(This AmeriCorps position is open to US Citizens, Nationals, or Permanent Residents age 17 or older)

• Education: Earned, or currently earning, a Bachelor’s degree in biological, archaeological, recreational or interpretive field or experience in closely related field, or a combination of relevant education and field experience;
• Enthusiasm about the position, with interest in and knowledge of botany and invasive species monitoring;
• Familiarity with identifying specific plants and plant communities or learning identification skills;
• Comfortable with making presentations in front of large groups of people;