The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, is recruiting 2 Visitor Services and Education Interns to support Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Simeon, CA. Under the direction of the BLM, the selected candidate will support with daily interpretive tours, maintain trails, and do minor maintenance at the Piedras Blancas Light Station.

Interns will support Piedras Blancas Outstanding Natural area by serving with BLM staff on a variety of projects and goals. These internship opportunities open the door in the fields of cultural resource management, visitor services, interpretation, and other public lands management projects to foster professional growth in public land management disciplines. The interns will be provided with opportunities to expand their skillsets in natural and cultural resource management and gain valuable insight from working side-by-side with BLM’s resource professionals. 

Interns will be on site at the Piedras Blancas Light Station and Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) in San Simeon, CA, but may participate on interpretive projects at public outreach events at other locations within San Luis Obispo County. Interns will also attend meetings and/or trainings at the BLM field office in Bakersfield, CA, and may travel to other BLM sites upon request. 

The successful youth applicant will assist the Piedras Blancas Light Station Staff with the day to day operations of the Light Station. This internship is multi-faceted, adaptable, and geared at supporting the maintenance, interpretation and restoration of the Piedras Blancas Light Station and its surrounding landscape. Work for this internship will take place primarily at the Light Station and support management activities including, but not limited to, education and interpretation, ecological and cultural restoration, and
maintenance. 

The Intern will work to fulfill the following responsibilities:

• Assist with and lead public tours, support/provide field trips with youth, and public outreach, as well as organizing and leading volunteer groups on projects;
• Help with small to large maintenance projects including, but limited to, painting, repairing windows, trail maintenance, sign repair, etc;
• Regularly assist with buildings and grounds maintenance/cleaning;
• Assist BLM staff with administrative operations (i.e. communication with the public via phone, email, and face to face, and outreach material);
• Utilize hand tools to remove invasive species.

Contract Timeline:

• 13-week appointment beginning in July 2024
• Full-time; (40 hrs/wk)

Location: Piedras Blancas Light Station; San Simeon, CA.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is an AmeriCorps Volunteer position:

• Living Allowance: up to a total of $5,200 dependent on length of term served; approximately ~$400/weekly;
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: 450 Hrs; $1,824.07 for 3-month appointment (Upon successful completion, the award may be used for past, present, or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans and Title IV accredited college tuition);
• Onsite housing provided at no cost to the intern;
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums are provided to all field members of GBI regardless of length of appointment, premiums of which are fully paid for by GBI;
• Members of the AmeriCorps Program are considered eligible for SNAP benefits, and members of GBI are considered eligible for ProDeals.