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New River Gorge National River

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

P. O. Box 246
104 Main Street
Glen Jean, WV 25846
304-465-0508 phone
304-465-0591 fax

For Immediate Release

Contact: Angela Allison
304-465-6508

DOI AmeriCorps VISTA Position Available

New River Gorge National River is recruiting now for a yearlong AmeriCorps VISTA to develop
programming for Camp Brookside, located near Hinton, WV.
Glen Jean, West Virginia, December 8, 2014 New River Gorge National River is currently recruiting
for a new AmeriCorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA). The selected VISTA will serve in this
position from February 2015 to February 2016, for one full year. The position was created for a three
year term, so the park is seeking an interested candidate for year two of this program. The VISTA will
develop programming for Camp Brookside, an environmental education center and residential youth
camp located near Hinton, WV. Duties of this position include researching funding opportunities,
collaborating with partners to develop an operation plan for the camp, and implementing pilot programs
in preparation for the camps opening in 2016. Interested Candidates should apply to the program
through the AmeriCorps portal at: my.americorps.gov search for DOI or OSMRE to find the site
listings. Candidates can also link to the announcement from the parks website at the following link:
http://www.nps.gov/neri/parkmgmt/jobs.htm.
New River Gorge National River was designated as a unit of the National Park Service in 1978 protecting
53 miles of one of the oldest rivers in the world. The park protects 72,808 acres along the New River from
the Bluestone Dam to the Hawk's Nest Lake. Here in southern West Virginia, the New River carved the
deepest and longest river gorge in the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to the abundance of natural,
scenic, and recreational offerings in this National Park Service unit, the park also provides a glimpse into
the unique cultural history of the New River Gorge including coal mining and railroad history. Education
is a primary focus for park staff that regularly provides curriculum-based education programs to schools
in five neighboring counties. Education, community engagement, and youth programs are critical in
protecting park resources and encouraging stewardship of our public lands.
In partnership with the Department of Interior and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement, the Conservation Legacy VISTA Program places AmeriCorps VISTAs in impoverished
communities for a year of service centered on the connection between environmental stewardship,
economic opportunity, civic engagement, and the development of healthy futures. The DOI/VISTA Team
serves communities across the country in partnership with public land agencies such as the National Park
Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, fostering economic
opportunities through experiential outdoor education, conservation corps development, internship
programs, STEM Education, and public land access improvements. The DOI/VISTA Team has a special
focus on serving at-risk youth through the development of experiential outdoor education that leads to
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economic opportunities in conservation and land management fields. To learn more about these
innovative teams, visit www.coalcountryteam.org or www.hardrockteam.org.
New River Gorge National River is proud of its partnership with the Conservation Legacy VISTA
Program. Through this partnership, a year-long VISTA position is offered at the park as a part of a three
year project to build the capacity of Camp Brookside. Restoration of this site will be completed in the fall
of 2015.
This is not a staff position and does not include a salary; rather it provides a living allowance of
approximately $900 a month. It includes limited health benefits, child care assistance, and an education
award valued at $5,550 or a cash stipend of $1,500 at the end of service. Candidates relocating more than
50 miles for service are eligible for $550 relocation/settling in allowance. The park has affordable housing
available. The position will begin in February 2015 and requires a one year commitment.
Requirements
Bachelors Degree preferred
Strong writing skills, public speaking and computer proficiency
Experience in grant writing and fundraising is preferred
Experience working with partners, community organizations and volunteer recruitment
Goals
The goal for this position is to build the capacity in the southern district of New River Gorge National
River to enhance community engagement, economic opportunity and environmental stewardship through
the development of programming at Camp Brookside. Additionally, the candidate will:
Research and write grants to obtain funding to sponsor pilot programs, workshops and training.
Create operational estimates and a marketing strategy to present to park management and
external stakeholders.
Develop volunteer outreach and recruitment plan for Camp Brookside in collaboration with
parks Volunteer Coordinator.
Tasks
The tasks associated with this project include, but are not limited to:
Grant writing and fundraising
Public speaking
Partnership building
Community development
Park updates will be posted to the parks website at www.nps.gov/neri. You can also find updates on the
parks Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/newrivergorgenps or follow us on Twitter at
https://Twitter.com/NewRiverNPS.

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About the National Park Service

EXP ER IENC E Y OU R AMER IC A
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may
experience our heritage. For more information about the National Park Service, visit
http://www.nps.gov.

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The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.