Community Volunteer Ambassador, Little River Canyon National Preserve – AmeriCorps
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026 Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.
Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, Little River Canyon National Preserve – AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements Program
Site Location: Little River Canyon National Preserve
4322 Little River Trail NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967
Terms of Service:
Start Date: 2/23/2026
End Date: 2/5/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour Slot
Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. The Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) Program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service to train emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to communities.
The CVA will help build back the program at both Little River Canyon and Russell Cave parks and get involved with community businesses and organizations. The CVA will promote the park and the volunteer program with the National Park Service in the communities. The CVA will promote the volunteer program at senior community centers and Universities. The CVA will host volunteer events such as litter pick-ups in the park to promote volunteering in the park. They will use Volunteer.gov to promote volunteer positions in the park. The CVA will recruit volunteers to assist with events, visitor services, maintenance, and much more.
Little River Canyon national preserve is 15,000 acres. The park has waterfalls, hiking trails, kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, and a 11-mile scenic drive. The canyon is 600 feet deep is one of the deepest canyon systems east of the Mississippi River and the deepest in the state of Alabama. The volunteer program consists of visitor services at the front desk, roving outside on the hiking trails, assisting with special events, and assisting the biotech and maintenance.
Russell Cave is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast. In the 1950s, archeologists uncovered a large quantity of artifacts representing over 10,000 years of use in a single place. The volunteer program consists of helping with interpretive programs of the cave and helping special events and assisting at the front desk.
Recruiting volunteers for different positions at the park. Promoting the park's volunteer program. Creating positions and responding to volunteer request and interested persons. Traveling to different civic organizations, businesses, colleges, senior centers and more for recruitment.
Description of Duties:
Help recruit volunteers at Little River Canyon NP & Russell Cave NM
Work with current volunteers to learn volunteer duties and responsibilities.
Updating volunteer recruiting information and handbook.
Work with local colleges, community civic clubs, and businesses to recruit new volunteers learn the importance of the NPS volunteer program.
Build up the volunteer program at both parks.
Leading volunteer recruiting programs.
Attending festivals and events to promote the volunteer program.
Qualifications:
Friendly
Outgoing
Work independently
Organized
United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
At least 17 years of age
Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
Preferred Qualifications:
Good communication skills
Public speaking skills
Works well with groups from differing bakcgrounds
Hard-working
Experience with public engagement
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.
Time Requirements:
Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
Week-long, in-person training on NPS volunteer program management and leadership skills
Year-long continuum of learning supporting professional development
$750.00 in Professional Development Funds for travel and training
Additional Position and Community Information:
Schedule will include some weekends for volunteer programs and recruiting at events.
Driver's License and car are required.
No government housing is available right now and the area has very limited housing in Fort Payne, but there's a lot of selection an hour's drive away.
The drive between Little River Canyon NP and Russell Cave NM is one hour drive.
Benefits:
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
Living Allowance of $600.00 per week.
Additional Benefit of $150.00 per week if housing is NOT provided by NPS host site at no cost to the participant.
Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
Childcare Coverage if Eligible
Loan forbearance if Eligible
Interest Payments if Eligible
10 Federal Holidays, 13 days Personal Leave, 13 days Sick Leave
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
How to Apply
Please visit Community Volunteer Ambassador (cvainternships.org) to review “Member Positions” by region and find instructions on how to apply.
The CVA position will start on Monday, February 23, 2026 and run for 50 weeks until Friday, February 5, 2027.
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2026
Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.
Please ensure your cover letter addresses how your experience aligns with the CVA program, your experience working with different populations, and position details for this park/position. You may submit one application for multiple positions by selecting all sites you are interested in.
Application Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final deadline is Friday, January 9, 2026.
For Application Questions:
Please contact James Gasaway, Program Director at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org
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.