Interpretation Individual Placement with C&O Canal National Historical Park

Job Overview

Title: Interpretation Individual Placement with C&O Canal National Historical Park

Location: Cumberland, MD (C&O Canal National Historical Park)

Dates: April 8th, 2026 – April 2nd, 2027 for a 52-week term

Schedule: Wednesday – Sunday work week

Pay: $750/week ($600/stipend + $150/additional benefit)

Status: This is a full-time 40 hour/week, temporary, AmeriCorps national service position.

Contact: Questions: Email [email protected]

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 13th. Submit your cover letter with the “additional documents” button.

Appalachian Conservation Corps:

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.

As an AmeriCorps program, participants commit to a term of service at their placement site in order to gain hands-on experience and a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.

Position Details: 

In partnership with the National Park Service, we are seeking an intern who will work with the Division of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers at the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Interns will work out of the C&O Canal Visitor Center in Cumberland, Maryland. Utilizing the park’s primary interpretive themes, the interns will develop new multigenerational 21st century interpretive programs that incorporate historic resources, scenic landmarks, and recreational treasures.

The intern will promote a closer relationship between the park and the large visitor community through a wide variety of interpretive and visitor use engagement methods. This includes staffing an outdoor contact station, informal roving in areas of the park with high potential for visitor contact, and through popular formal programming. The intern’s job responsibilities will increase visitor understanding of the organization’s mission which in turn ensures environmental protection of the park’s unique cultural and natural resources. Responsibilities include but aren’t limited to:

• Work within the Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers division to interpretation and customer service.

• Assist interpretive staff and volunteers at the park’s visitor center and outdoor pop-up programs

• Conduct informational/educational-related visitor contacts and site inspections through a variety of methods.

• Research, develop and present formal interpretive talks that have a beneficial effect on visitor understanding and appreciation of the park.

• Conduct tours on the park’s replica historic boat. Be able to operate the boat safely and efficiently.

• This opportunity is meant to provide knowledge and experience that allow for future success in the field. The interns will gain skills in 21st Century Interpretation, include ACE techniques: customer service, as well as training in safety, diversity, and career-building within the federal government.

Housing is NOT provided and we are seeking someone who is local to the position or lives a commutable distance.

Benefits:

• $750/week ($600/stipend + $150/additional benefit) paid biweekly

• Segal Education award of $7,395 upon successful completion of the 1700-hour minimum term to be used towards Federal student loans or future education

• $750 for professional development

• Option to enroll in free health, vision and dental insurance

• Member Assistance Program– 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist

• Non-competitive hiring eligibility through the PLCHA when applying for federal jobs

• Professional Development opportunities

General Qualifications:

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 21 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.

• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record

Preferred Qualifications:

• Customer service experience, comfort in public facing roles

• Basic computer skills

• Communication skills
• Working towards or earned a undergrad or graduate degree in History, Biology, Communications, Drama, or similar

• Must have local housing

• Must be able to swim

• Public speaking experience

• Basic first aid/CPR/AED certification

• Enjoys working as a member of the team

• Outgoing and enjoys engaging people in an active manner

• Excellent problem-solving skills

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager. 

Our Promise:  

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.