The SCA New York State Parks Corps covers five regions of New York State: Allegany, Central, Finger Lakes, Niagara, and Thousand Islands. Corps members are placed at one of these host sites and serve at the state parks in their region. Service activities range from providing environmental education and interpretation, to trail restoration and volunteer initiatives. Members join together regularly for trainings, service projects, or other community events.  The mission of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources.

To assist NYS Park staff with the Great Lakes Piping Plover Project by creating and conducting educational events and providing outreach to the public, monitoring for Piping Plovers and other shorebirds, and enhancing piping plover habitat. To assist in preservation of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland system at Sandy Island Beach State Parks by planting dune grass, identifying and removing invasive species, and erecting sand collecting fencing. In addition, member will assist NYS Park staff with Selkirk Shores and Sandy island Beach State Parks operational needs and events.

Public education about the endangered shorebirds, dune ecosystem, habitat protection, and human impact on the environment. Connect people to NYS Parks in a nature-oriented way.

The mission of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is to provide safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities for all New York State residents and visitors and to be responsible stewards of our valuable natural, historic and cultural resources. This AmeriCorps role directly supports our Agency’s mission by offering the safe and enjoyable recreational and interpretive opportunities, as well as taking an active stewardship role towards our natural, historic, and cultural resources.

• Create and conduct formal and informal education about the Great Lakes Piping Plover and its unique habitat (including games, crafts, presentations, informal conversations, etc.)
• Monitor and record data for Piping Plovers and other shorebirds
• Create and maintain positive relationships with the public
• Preserve and increase suitable habitat by transplanting dune grass, installing protective fencing, erecting snow fencing to capture sand, conducting shoreline beach clean ups, and mapping and removing invasive species
• Assist NYS Park staff with Selkirk Shores and Sandy Island Beach State Parks operational needs and events. These duties and tasks will support and enhance visitor experience in the parks, strengthen the academic programs of students, and allow students to develop life-long connections to NYS Parks
• All SCA Parks Corps members are required to attend monthly SCA events and complete SCA/AmeriCorps paperwork and reporting. This will account for roughly 15% of your time.

Performance Goals:
Goal 1: To assist NYS Park staff with the Great Lakes Piping Plover Project by educating the public about the rare species and ecosystem, highly focusing on the endangered Great Lakes Piping Plover at Sandy Island Beach State Parks.
Goal 2: To ensure and participate in the preservation of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland system.
Goal 3: To assist NYS Park staff at Selkirk Shores and Sandy Island Beach State Parks with park needs and events.

Candidate Qualifications:

• Candidates must be self-motivated, able to initiate projects and tasks, have good time management and organizational skills, be comfortable on watercraft and in all weather conditions, and effectively work with the public in a positive and educational manner.
• Candidate must have a valid driver’s license and own personal vehicle for travel to and from work site.
• Be an out-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service participating in a program described in §2522.110(b)(3) or (g);
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
• Not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award; or
• Obtain a waiver from the Corporation of the requirements in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii) of this section based on an independent evaluation secured by the program demonstrating that the individual is not capable of obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
• Be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis and be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091);
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;
• Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria pursuant to 45 CFR 2540.202.

Skills/Knowledge/Training Necessary to be a successful AmeriCorps Member in this position:

Skills: Experience with plant/insect/bird identification helpful but not necessary. Experience driving boats helpful, but not necessary. NYS Boaters Safety Course.
Knowledge: A general knowledge of basic ecological principals and NYS flora and fauna. Candidates should have an understanding of the ecology of threatened and endangered species. Experience with customer service and education.
Training: Experience with hand tools and spending time outdoors helpful but not necessary.

Benefits:

• All NYS Parks Corps members receive a taxable $200/week living allowance and housing provided
• Upon successful completion of the term, members receive a taxable Segal Education Award through AmeriCorps
• Student loan forbearance and interest repayments for federal student loan through AmeriCorps
• Eligible for free health insurance
• Eligible for childcare assistance through AmeriCorps
• Trainings through the SCA and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

*Please ignore fit rating/eligibility notes related to this position. All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed.