David Larsen Memorial Fund, Public Engagement Internship.

Sponsored by Harpers Ferry NH Park Living History/Historic Trades & NPS Stephen T.
Mather Training Center
Location: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Suitability:
Bachelors Degree or Graduate Level.

Requirements/Commitment:
*
Appropriate for Bachelors or Masters Degree Candidate pursuing a Public History or American History degree.


*6 month, (24 weeks) public history intern experience accomplished between the months of January-September.

*8 hour work days, 5 consecutive days per week, Mondays and Tuesdays off.
* Interns may be required to submit information for background check prior to agency final acceptance.

*Required to live within commuting distance, or in provided National Park Quarters.

*Must meet rigor of multi-tasking: running several interpretive projects, experimenting with new visitor services
techniques, incorporating professional development training into front line services concluding with program
evaluation.

*Public Speaking & Active Participation in 18
th
and 19th century front line public history presentations in period
clothing, outdoors in variable weather conditions, or in period exhibits, using a variety of interpretive techniques with
some physical lifting or standing for periods of time.

Research, planning and program management.
*Must be experienced in Internet use, word processing, and maintaining a google data base.

*Ability to research & write program outlines using National Park Service Interpretive guidelines and methodologies
based on African American History, and historiography of primary and secondary sources..

*Create a supportive and active collaboration between Harpers Ferry NHP, The Harpers Ferry Historical Association,
David Larsen Memorial Fund, & Mather Training Center.

*NPS Evaluation of Progress and Performance at: 12 weeks and at 24 weeks.

Internship Spirit and Intent:
Intern is expected to create and facilitate Critical Issues, Public Engagement Programs that:

* Match diverse resource meanings with diverse audience perspectives.


*Use 3
rd
person to integrate African American & Immigration History into all park themes through Formal and
Informal Interpretation.


*Will be incorporated into interpretive Park Social Media Postings.


*Combine Natural and Cultural History interpretation using Interdependence Education.


*Partner with park audiences to encourage Historic Preservation Stewardship.


*Interpret the towns burning of fossil fuel as a contribution toward 19
th
Century Industrial History Climate Change.


* Reveal how fossil fuels changed 19
th
century organic, (slow food), gardening into todays, (fast food), market
garden economies.


Application Process
*Apply before March 30th Deadline.
*How to apply: Forward a current resume with a cover letter to:
Attention Acting Supervisory Park Ranger Melinda Day, POB 65, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Contact: Melinda_Day@nps.gov 304-535-6063

*Resume should document experience and commitment to public history interpretation.
*Selected interns: Will receive a Park letter of commitment.



Description of Sponsors: David Larsen Memorial Fund Public History Internship through the Harpers Ferry
Historical Association, Harpers Ferry NHP Living History Historic Trades and Mather Training Center.

David Larsen
Memorial Fund:
David Larsen was an innovator who believed in sharing National Park resources with others. He championed an idea
he spoke of as Public Engagement. Larsen defined this as, matching multiple resource meanings with multiple
audience perspectives. His ultimate objective was to make historic places more relevant to diverse audiences.

Before his death, David Larsen was the training manager for interpretation and education at the National Park
Services Stephen T. Mather Training Center. He previously served as an interpretive ranger with the living history
program at Harpers Ferry NHP. His memorial fund was established to honor both the spirit and substance of Larsens
career with the NPS. Learn more about david-larsen-mf.org

Description of the Memorial Fund administered by Harpers Ferry Historical Association : The DLMF furthers
the dialogue begun by Larsen during his career with the National Park Service through graduate level internships.
The Fund sees itself serving as a catalyst for the formation of a highly skilled and professional force of front-line
interpreters who create opportunities for the general public to form their own meaningful connections with the
resource through a variety of interpretive competencies, such as talks, tours, interpretive writing, educational
programs, media, social media, and planning.

National Park Service ,Stephen T. Mather Training Center The Stephen T. Mather Training Center commits itself
to the professional growth and continuous learning of all employees in its assigned career field and special programs
and will provide them with comprehensive, competency-based, and mission focused training and development
programs. Mather Training Center

Harpers Ferry NHP The History of Harpers Ferry has few Parallels in American History. It is more than one event,
one date, or one individual. It is multi-layered - involving a diverse number of people and events that influenced the
course of our nation's history. Harpers Ferry witnessed the first successful application of interchangeable
manufacture, the arrival of the first successful American railroad, John Brown's attack on slavery, the largest
surrender of Federal troops during the Civil War, and the education of former slaves in one of the earliest integrated
schools in the United States
.


Internship Work Environment:
Experience the challenges of forging collaboration first hand; learning and then applying public engagement techniques. This
internship provides a meaningful experience by working within public history partnerships and alliances. Students experience an
interpretive Incubator between Harpers Ferry Park and Mather Training Center to participate in the experimentation and dialog
between entities and among colleagues.


Harpers Ferry NHP is known for a pioneering and innovative approach to interpretation through its association with
David Larsen who collaborated with emerging public history professionals. Interns are offered an opportunity to be
part of an influential, informative, and groundbreaking internship program.

Interns must be able to perform the rigor of required duties with minimal supervision, communicate effectively with
diverse audiences, and present a consistently friendly and helpful attitude. Uniform is both NPS intern polo shirt when
off the front line and 19
th
century working class period clothing when working directly with park visitors in historic
exhibits and landscapes.

Compensation and Housing: Interns receive compensation from the David Larsen Memorial Fund through the
Harpers Ferry Historical Association at a rate of 100.00 per week for a total of up to 24 weeks. Park furnished, shared
lodging provided for interns. No guests or pets allowed in govt housing. Rooms may be shared with another intern of
the same gender. Interns are expected to maintain a clean household, and will be checked-in and out of housing.
Expect routine, scheduled housing checks by supervisor or intern housing official. Intern must provide their own
bedding, towels, electronics, food/drink, and recreational gear. Personal vehicle suggested but not required. Free
laundry provided with housing.

No Government phone service or Internet provided in quarters. Must purchase local Internet service through the
phone service provider if desired. Recommend bringing a laptop or smart phone devise to receive personal calls and
email.

Typical Day:
*9-6, one hour lunch.
*Training in new skills, and how to apply them to move interpretive research, planning, programming and social
media projects forward.
*Working on the front line orienting visitors, providing in-depth information or formal programs.
*Assisting supervisor in the daily opening and closing procedures for park exhibits and museum spaces. Interns
conduct daily record keeping of visitors served.

Nearest towns to Harpers Ferry:
The upper town is called Bolivar, and is a mile away and contains the U.S. Post office.
Charles Town, 7 miles, has national food chains and large retailers such as Walmart or Home Depot.

--
Melinda Day Acting Supervisory Park Ranger
Period Exhibits & Historic Trades
304-535-6063