Northwest Youth Corps – AmeriCorps 640 HR

Washington Department of Natural Resources

Position Title: Recreation Technician AmeriCorps Member – 640 HR (16 weeks)

Grant Program: OYSI 22EDBDC0020010 / EAP 21EDBDC0010041

Position Summary:

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Recreation Program is recruiting two, 640 Hour AmeriCorps members beginning March 3, 2025. Working under the direction of a Recreation Planner, the interns will travel together to about 200 DNR recreation sites around the state to collect and analyze field data related to trailheads, kiosks, and other recreation infrastructure/landscapes. The data will be used to benchmark current conditions and aid with planning efforts related to sustainability, maintenance, visitor experience, and other future projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

These positions will plan and execute field-based data collection at all DNR sites statewide. Data collected will include current conditions information for trailheads, kiosks, restrooms, and potentially other site-specific infrastructure. In addition to the field collection itself, work will include initial travel planning and logistics, becoming familiar with mobile technology data collection tools and techniques, and processing/analyzing the data in an office setting. Specific activities include:

• Field-based data collection (65%)
• Travel (driving to sites) (15%)
• Office-based data processing and analysis (10%)
• Data collection and processing training (5%)
• Project travel logistics planning and management (5%)

Required Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license as defined by DNR policy PO02-006
• Ages 18-30 (up to 35 for veterans)
• S. Citizen or lawful, permanent resident
• Must pass a background/driver check
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must be able to get to a starting location each week. This is flexible and can be determined based on the successful applicants’ location.

Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to use a variety of phone and computer-based applications, including mapping software, Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
• Ability to problem-solve in remote environments when communication is difficult or impossible.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to fully complete a complex task with minimal or no supervision.
• Ability to be self-directed.
• Ability to communicate effectively using various modes, including in-person, email, and phone.
• Personal transportation

Duty Location:

Duties are performed on DNR-managed lands within Washington State. Because this position is largely travel-based, there is no required “home” location. Once the successful candidates are selected, their official worksite will be determined by the closest DNR work center, which is where the DNR-owned vehicle will be kept on weekends/off days. All travel costs (lodging, vehicle, and food) will be paid for by the agency. Lodging during travel will be a mix of camping and hotels, depending on location. Accommodations for weekends/off days is the responsibility of the intern.

Terms of Employment:

Each AmeriCorps member will complete a term of service (length dependent on commitment of hours), starting March 3, 2025 through June 27, 2025. The member must complete a minimum of 640 service hours by the end of their term. The member will receive a 30-minute lunch each day and this lunch break does not count towards AmeriCorps member service hours. Training will not exceed 20% of total member service hours.

Program Benefits:

$9,724 living allowance plus a housing fund of $1,796 for a total stipend of $11,520, dispersed on a monthly basis and a $1,956.35 education award upon completion of the 640 hours of service.

The living allowance and education award are taxable. Members are responsible for providing their own food when not in travel status. Service eligibility is contingent upon the results of a criminal and driving background check.

These positions are sponsored by The Corps Network’s OYSI and EAP program.