The SCA’s NH Conservation Corps Program:

Have you ever wanted to live in a park where you can explore thousands of acres of prime New England Forest? Do you want to make life-long friends who are passionate about the environment and from all over the United States? Does the chance to learn conservation and leadership skills and start your career off with a one-of-a-kind experience sound exciting? If you said yes to any or all these questions, then the New Hampshire Conservation Corps is the place for you!

Why be an Interpretive Ranger with the SCA NH Conservation Corps (NHCC)? 

This position with the SCA New Hampshire Conservation Corps will be the best next step in furthering your career path! Are you interested in environmental education, park interpretation, outdoor recreation, conservation, science, and local and cultural history? The Interpretive Rangers will have the opportunity to gain experience with all of those topics, and to even have the option to home in on specific topics of interest- all while living and working at New Hampshire State Parks! This position will provide you with real-world experience in the field, along with the opportunity to gain skills in managing and creating your own programs, marketing and network within local communities, and self-evaluation. The professional development you will gain from this experience will be valuable no matter where you choose to go in your career. This experience is what YOU make it, and we are here to guide you along the way to reach your career goals.

A little about the NHCC:

The SCA NH Corps is a collaboration between the SCA, the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and AmeriCorps, with generous contributions from Eversource Energy. Since 1994, the SCA NH Corps has provided over one million hours of service to New Hampshire while training young adults to do valuable conservation work. Each year 27 young adult volunteers (18 Field Crew members and 9 Interpretive Rangers) participate in two unique positions. Members deliver environmental education programs to the state’s residents and visitors or complete conservation service projects to improve and protect the state’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources from the Atlantic Coast to the White Mountains and beyond.

Position Overview:

This program has been branded the Discover the Power of Parks (DPP). The purpose of this program is to engage visitors with the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of New Hampshire. In this position you will have the chance to live in one or more state parks, where you will connect residents and visitors through fun and engaging programs and visitor service activities.

Late May – Mid June – Education Training:

During this time, you will be living at Bear Brook State Park with the other Interpretive Rangers and Field Crew Members. Throughout training you will engage with experienced NHCC staff, and other professionals in the field. In addition to the trainings listed below in the “position benefits” summary, you would also receive training in:

• Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) training from the National Association for Interpretation (NAI)
• SCA, AmeriCorps, and NH State Park policies and protocols
• Leadership development and teamwork discussions and scenarios
• Hands-on experiential education
• Program development including lesson and curriculum planning and program evaluation
• Educational pedagogies and various learning/teaching styles (place-based education, hands on and experiential education, multiple intelligences, ages and stages of child development, and teaching for multi-age audiences)
• New England natural, cultural, and indigenous history
• Best practices and skills for front country camping, responsible hiking (hikeSafe), and outdoor recreational stewardship (Leave No Trace).

Mid-June – Mid-October – DPP programming

During this time members will serve in the field at one or more, but not all, of the following NH State Parks:

• Monadnock State Park - Jaffrey, NH
• Greenfield State Park - Greenfield, NH
• White Lake State Park - Tamworth, NH
• Umbagog Lake State Park - Cambridge, NH
• Pawtuckaway State Park - Nottingham, NH
• Bear Brook State Park - Allenstown, NH
• Franconia Notch State Park - Franconia/Lincoln, NH
• Pillsbury State Park – Washington, NH
• Sunapee State Park – Newbury, NH
• Miller State Park -Peterborough, NH

And more!

While at your time at your designated park, you will assist with visitor services and develop and deliver environmental, cultural, and recreational programs. You live at your assigned state park and either serve individually or with one other member. From mid-June - August you will create and staff educational drop-in tables or run 45 minutes to hour long interactive programs for multi age groups. In addition, you will design your program schedules and advertising for your programs to engage park visitors to enhance their NH parks experience.

Late August – Mid-October – Fall Outreach Season and continuation of DPP programs.

After Labor Day until Indigenous Peoples Day, some folks spend most their week delivering outreach programs for local community organizations. The remainder of the week consists of delivering programs or assisting with visitor services at your designated park(s). The remainder of folks continue delivering DPP programming without this community outreach component.

Mid-October – October 31st – Season Wrap Up

For the last several weeks of the program, in October, everyone will return to the NH Corps site at Bear Brook. During this time folks will clean and return gear, complete facilities projects to get camp ready for winter, finish programmatic paperwork and reporting, and celebrate before everyone departs for their next adventure.

Through this 5-month commitment you will serve communities throughout New Hampshire while contributing as active members of the SCA NH AmeriCorps program.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program delivery (40%)

You will spend the majority of your time delivering programs. The number of programs you deliver each week will depend on your specific park and the Spring/Fall outreach schedule. During the spring and fall everyone conducts an average of 8 programs per week, while during the summer DPP seasons folks average 12-16 programs per week.

Developing, researching, and creating new programs, as well as preparation for programs (30%)

This is the “behind the scenes” work that goes into creating a successful program. This will include typing program outlines and lesson plans, adapting existing curriculum for your needs, creating new program content, and researching topics to expand your knowledge on local ecosystems, natural and cultural history, and best practices in outdoor recreation. You will also need to ensure you have all the supplies and props necessary for these programs, this can involve using existing tools or materials (pond nets, animal sulk and pelts, outdoor survival tools, etc.), or having to create new materials (such as preparing craft supplies).

Non-program time park patron engagement (15%)

In addition to engaging with park visitors during your programs, you will also need to engage with guests during your non-program times. This may include “roving” hiking trails to engage with guests and to encourage LNT and hiker safety, visiting campsites to engage with guests and promote your programs, and other general visitor services. Enhancing a park visitor’s experience may be as simple as giving hiking trail recommendations, letting folks know the best times and places to find specific animals, or even giving local restaurant recommendations.

Reporting and other duties as assigned (15%)

All Interpretive Rangers complete required weekly reports that include the number of program participants and non-program visitors engaged with, programs offered, and a self-evaluation of your service week. Other assignments may include writing blogs for NH State Parks, specific programmatic research projects, and taking pictures that represent your experience and park. Beyond this, you will be asked to participate in staff meetings, assist with additional park tasks, and may get to partake in learning more about park administration and management.

POSITION BENEFITS:

• Living Allowance $440 paid bi-weekly
• All food is provided
• Housing is provided
• AmeriCorps Education Award $3,697.50, for qualifying educational expenses and loans, upon completion of 900 hours of service
• Certified Interpretive Guide training
• Leave No Trace - Trainer Certification
• NH State Park Pass for day use in the 2025 season.
• Requirements in Order to Serve:
• US citizenship is required
• Ability to pass required state and federal background checks, as well as motor vehicle record check
• Reliable personal vehicle for the duration of the program
• A personal computer for the duration of the program
• Commit to completing the entire 5-month service term

Desired Qualifications:

• Passion and enthusiasm for the outdoors, ecology, environmental conservation, and local cultural and indigenous history
• Willingness to work, camp, and cook outdoors for extended periods of time
• Strong time management skills
• Ability to work independently as well as a member of a team
• Comfortability with public speaking, or the willingness to grow this skill
• Creativity for developing engaging activities to connect people with local natural and cultural history
• Flexibility
• Experience in communal living