Conservation Education Resources Assistant – Paid Internship

The Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the Payette National Forest will be advertising a Special Uses Resources Assistant (RA). This is a 6 month (24 weeks) full-time work experience from May to early October 2017. Created in 1984, and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s, NYC is a non-profit job training and experiential education program for youth and young adults to learn and work in the field of natural resource management. NYC will recruit and hire the selected RA candidate providing personnel and Human Resources (HR) needs during the placement. www.nwyouthcorps.org

The Position

This position leads the development of the Discovery Agents – McCall app, a move-play-learn mobile application for place-based environmental education. The intern will be responsible for designing seasonal “missions” with learning “challenges” (e.g. activities) that explore environmental education concepts using the Mission Builder software package (www.discoveryagents.com). The intern will work with the Payette National Forest Conservation Education Team, local environmental education partners (potentially including 1-2 local High School senior students who may assist as part of their senior project), and the Discovery Agents software support team to develop a conceptual design, collect site information using digital camera and GPS, design the custom art elements with the software support team, program the challenges, beta-test the programming, and launch the missions on a seasonal basis. To broaden the learning opportunities the intern may also occasionally assist with other conservation education or public lands management efforts in the local area, such as school field trips, youth service projects, and special events.

Program Benefits

 NYC will provide RA a prorated monthly stipend of $14,400.00/ $120.00 per day along with health care coverage, workers compensation, and FICA/Medicare.

 RA will have special Federal Government hiring authority upon completion of their 960 hours of service.

 The RA is responsible for the cost of housing.Position Requirements

 Full time work is required during summer 2017 for initial project setup and to launch the summer mission, and either part-time (remote with periodic visits) or continued full-time on-site work on can be used to actually program and launch the missions during fall, winter, and spring.

 A state issued drivers’ license is required and a Federal Government driver’s license may be obtained if qualifications are met for the operation of a Government-owned vehicle, though accommodations may be made for applicants with disabilities that prevent driving.

 The intern needs to be self-motivated with strong communication and organization skills

 The intern should be literate in mobile gaming technology, particularly move-play applications (such as Pokemon Go)

 Experience developing age-appropriate science lesson plans and activities and specific experience with teaching standardized environmental education curriculum is a plus (e.g. Project Learning Tree, Project WET, Project WILD, Leave No Trace, etc)

 Enthusiasm for introducing elementary and middle school children to natural areas

 Creativity and ability to think “outside the box” to adapt environmental education place-based learning objectives into a mobile gaming environment

 Experience (or willingness to learn) event marketing and utilizing graphic design programs and social media to launch missions

 Experience mentoring high school students or a willingness to learn

 Experience in working with or teaching people with physical and cognitive disabilities is a plus

About the Payette National Forest

The Payette National Forest spans 2.3 million acres of rugged, timbered and remote land in west-central Idaho, and is bordered by two of the deepest canyons in North America—the Salmon River Canyon on the north and the Hells Canyon of the Snake River on the west. The topography is characterized by rough mountains, deep canyons, mountain meadows, rivers and streams, high mountain lakes and wilderness. One can easily access hot, desert-like areas as well as heavily forested alpine regions through an extensive system of Forest roads and trails. The Forest has 5 ranger districts that offer a wealth of year-round recreation and tourism opportunities. The Forest employs approximately 200 permanent employees, and over 150 temporary seasonal employees during the summer field season. Dorm space in McCall or in nearby New Meadows is tentatively available.

About McCall, Idaho

The McCall Ranger District Office is located in McCall (Valley County), which is a community of about 3000 people located 100 miles north of Boise on State Highway 55. At elevation 5,000 feet, it occupies the south shore of beautiful glacier-formed Payette Lake. McCall is popular for tourists, summer homeowners, and winter recreationists. Snow usually stays November through April. Total snowfall is over 10 feet, but less than 5 feet are on the ground at a time. Winter temperatures are 10-30s, with a few days of 10-20 below zero. Summer is ideal; 70-80s, a few days in the 90s. Wind is gentle and air quality excellent. Sunshine is common in all seasons. Pines, firs and larches grow throughout town.McCall is a full-service community that fills most needs. It has a regional hospital, a medical clinic, an integrative health clinic, dentists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, optometrists, and pharmacies. Numerous churches are located in the surrounding area. McCall also has several service stations, two grocery stores, convenience stores, motels, banks, lumber yards, restaurants (Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Bistro, micro-brewery, and others), sports club, several espresso shops, clothing stores, book store, library, ice skating rink, 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, health food store, and an airport. There is a Forest sponsored day-care center in McCall. The community has a grade school, new middle school, a high school, and an alternative school. Boise State University offers evening continuing education classes throughout the year in McCall.

Community Information: http://www.mccall.id.us/ and http://www.discovermccall.com/

Payette National Forest Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/payette/

Job Type: Internship

Salary: $120.00 /day

Required education:

• Associate

Required experience:

• Experience developing age-appropriate science lesson plans and activities and specific experience with teaching standardized environmental education curriculum: 1 year

Required license or certification:

• state issued drivers’ license is required