AmeriCorps Announces a 52-Week Natural Resource Management Assistant Opportunity Across Two U.S. National Parks

AmeriCorps, in collaboration with Conservation Legacy’s Scientists in Parks and Stewards Individual Placements programs, has announced a 52-week Natural Resource Management Assistant service opportunity supporting wilderness stewardship at Cape Krusenstern National Monument in Alaska and Everglades National Park in Florida. The full-time service term is scheduled to begin in May 2026 and will contribute directly to the National Park Service’s mandate to preserve wilderness character across federally protected lands.

Supporting Wilderness Preservation at a National Scale

More than 80 percent of National Park Service lands are managed as designated wilderness, making wilderness character monitoring a critical responsibility. This AmeriCorps service opportunity is designed to strengthen that effort by supporting structured monitoring, documentation, and reporting that allow park managers to understand how wilderness conditions change over time.

Wilderness character monitoring establishes a scientific and policy-aligned baseline that helps answer a central question for land managers: Are wilderness areas being preserved in an unimpaired condition for future generations? The work supported through this service year contributes to long-term conservation planning and aligns with both the National Park Service Organic Act and the Wilderness Act.

A Dual-Park Service Experience: Alaska and Florida

The 52-week term is divided between two ecologically and geographically distinct parks, offering exposure to very different wilderness systems.

Cape Krusenstern National Monument (Alaska)

The service term begins in Kotzebue, Alaska, a remote Arctic community accessible only by air. At Cape Krusenstern, the focus is on developing foundational wilderness documentation, including a Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report. This includes describing the park’s wilderness attributes, identifying stewardship issues, and establishing baseline measures that will be used for long-term monitoring.

The work is primarily research- and writing-based and involves close coordination with park scientists and resource managers. While the role is largely office-based, the setting places the participant within one of the most remote and culturally rich regions of the United States.

Everglades National Park (Florida)

The second half of the service term takes place in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness, the largest subtropical wilderness area in the country. Here, the focus shifts from baseline development to five-year wilderness character monitoring, building upon an assessment completed in 2022.

This phase involves reviewing existing monitoring measures, collecting and analyzing updated data, and documenting observed trends. The resulting information supports adaptive management decisions in a complex ecosystem shaped by water flow, wildlife movement, and climate pressures.

What the Service Work Involves

Throughout the year, the Natural Resource Management Assistant supports:

• Wilderness character narratives and baseline assessments

• Structured monitoring frameworks aligned with NPS policy

• Data entry and reporting in national wilderness databases

• Collaboration with interdisciplinary park staff

• Documentation following federal technical guidance standards

All work follows established frameworks, including the National Park Service Wilderness Character Monitoring Technical Guide (2023) and Keeping It Wild 2, the interagency wilderness monitoring strategy.

Service Term Structure and Support

This AmeriCorps position is classified as a 1,700-hour service term completed over 52 weeks. Participants receive structured institutional support while contributing independently to defined conservation outcomes.

Key benefits include:

• Weekly living allowance of $700

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395 upon completion

• Relocation support

• Optional healthcare coverage

• Student loan forbearance and interest coverage, if eligible

• No-cost park housing at both locations

The opportunity is designed to reduce financial barriers while allowing full engagement in conservation service.

Who This Opportunity Is Designed For

This service term is suited for individuals with academic or practical interest in natural resource management, environmental science, wilderness stewardship, or related fields. A bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required. Strong written communication skills, comfort with data management, and the ability to work independently within structured guidelines are especially valuable.

Participants must be eligible for AmeriCorps service and available for the full 52-week term. A valid driver’s license is required due to limited transportation options in park settings.

Why This Service Matters

The outcomes produced during this service year are not temporary. The monitoring frameworks, baseline assessments, and five-year reports created through this work become part of the National Park Service’s long-term decision-making process. These materials directly influence how wilderness areas are managed, protected, and evaluated for decades.

This opportunity reflects a broader federal commitment to evidence-based conservation and responsible stewardship of public lands.

Official Application

Applications are managed exclusively through Conservation Legacy’s Scientists in Parks program.

Official source and application portal:

https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/

Preference is given to applications submitted before February 15, 2026, or until application limits are reached.

For more opportunities, click here.