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Community Volunteer Ambassador - Colonial National Historical Park

Stewards Individual Placement Program
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PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2025-fall-co Application form requires a resume, cover letter, professional references.

Position Title: Community Volunteer Ambassador, Colonial National Historical Park - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: 1000 Colonial Parkway, Yorktown, VA 23690

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by June 13, 2025

Terms of Service:

  • Start Date: September 8, 2025
  • End Date: August 7, 2026
  • AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour

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.

 

Colonial National Historical Park administers two of the most historically significant sites in English North America, representing the beginning and end of English colonial America: Jamestown Island, the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America in 1607, and Yorktown Battlefield, the location of the final major battle of the American Revolutionary War in 1781. Situated on the Virginia Peninsula, these sites are connected by the 23-mile scenic Colonial Parkway.

The park’s volunteer program offers a variety of volunteering opportunities for individuals and groups of all ages and abilities to serve alongside park employees. In FY 2024, the park had a total of 299 volunteers who donated a total of 8,023 hours of service.

COLO is fortunate to be surrounded by communities that are highly engaged in volunteerism and actively participate in an array of volunteer opportunities. The park has strong working relationships with multiple local community organizations and stakeholders who play an active role in our VIP program. Our clean up events and special events attract volunteers from various sources, including military personnel, local businesses, civic groups, youth organizations, scouting groups, and students from elementary school to college. The enthusiastic responses and support we receive from our local community often exceed our expectations.

The CVA will engage in the administration of the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program, focusing on program development, community outreach, volunteer project planning and implementation, and professional development.

The park is continuously seeking new ways to recruit groups and individual to join the VIP team. The goal is for the CVA to help leverage existing relationships while also creating new connections to make a lasting impact in our community.

Additionally, the CVA will have a front-row seat as the park commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence and will assist in planning and coordinating the park’s signature events.

Description of Duties:

The CVA will play a crucial role in creating a framework for sustainable operations and support. They will be responsible for multiple volunteer program support functions, including:

  • Developing a volunteer orientation training program and training checklist in collaboration with other divisions.
  • Creating a VIP supervisor handbook to assist staff with their volunteer supervisory responsibilities.
  • Producing social media posts, multimedia videos and print materials to be used for future recruitment efforts.
  • Assisting in the develop of an outreach strategy to guide future recruitment initiatives.
  • Planning and coordinating Days of Service volunteer events throughout the year.
  • Creating and presenting junior ranger programs and events.
  • Assisting with planning and coordinating America 250 events.

Qualifications:

  • Must be able to work independently as well as in small groups.
  • Must be adaptable, and detail oriented.
  • Must have excellent customer service skills and enjoy working with the public.
  • Enjoy working outdoors in all types of weather.
  • A federal background investigation is required.
  • A valid driver’s license is required.
  • United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
  • Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity. 
  • Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of 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 oral and written communication skills.
  • Experience with public speaking.
  • Ability to work with other people in a team environment.

 

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional 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. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

  • This position is expected to serve 40 hours each week, but exact service schedules may vary. 
  • Lunch breaks 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
  • $1,200 in Professional Development Funds 

 

Additional Position and Community Information

COLO will provide free housing to the CVA, located in Williamsburg, VA, approx. 20-minute drive to their duty station. Housing is fully furnished and includes a washer/dryer and free WiFi. The intern will have private bedroom but will share the living area and bathroom with other interns. The intern will need to provide their own transportation to and from their residence to their duty station; public transportation is not available.

 

Colonial National Historical Park is situated in the Virginia Tidewater Region between the James and York Rivers, approximately three hours south of Washington, DC, one hour east of Richmond, and 90 minutes west of Virginia Beach. The nearby cities of Williamsburg, Newport News, Norfolk, and Hampton offer a wide vary of recreational, shopping, and cultural/historical opportunities. The area also features numerous amenities, including colleges and universities, restaurants, theaters, museums, exceptional medical facilities, and vibrant neighborhood business districts, as well as a solid network of parks, community centers, and libraries.

 

Benefits: 

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00
  • Living Allowance of $600 per week.
  • Additional Benefit of $150 per week, if housing is not provided
  • Healthcare Coverage if Eligible 
  • Childcare Coverage if Eligible
  • Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
  • Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
  • $1,200 in Professional Development Funds for training, networking, conferences, and/or travel
  • Networking opportunities within the National Park Service and partnering organizations
  • Public Land Corps Hiring Authority
  • Week-long in-person training at NPS site with travel/meal expenses covered.

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, September 8, 2025 and run for 48 weeks until Friday, August 7, 2026.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants will need to apply here: https://form.jotform.com/StewardsIPP/cva-member-application-2025-fall-co.  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. First review will occur in early June. Final deadline is Friday, July 4, 2025.

 

 

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.