Cultural Steward Individual Placements

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.

The Cultural Steward Individual Placement Program is based in Jamestown, Virginia. The National Park Service staff at Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail) are responsible for the protection of Werowocomoco in Gloucester, VA. National Park Service staff in consultation with seven tribal partners are gathering information about Werowocomoco and understanding it as a Native place.

Werowocomoco is an internationally significant Native place where the leader Wahunsenacawh, also known as Powhatan, lived and received the newly arrived English leaders. Archaeology shows that Native people had been living at Werowocomoco for thousands of years, and that by the year 1200, many homes were along the river bluff. The interior of the site included landscape features that marked it as a place of leadership.

Continuing in 2024, the National Park Service will host three people in this Individual Placement program that will introduce participants to major aspects of national park operations and then work with staff to apply new skills at and for Werowocomoco as circumstances allow.

Individual Placements will train with NPS staff from the Chesapeake National Historic Trail and Colonial National Historical Park to learn and apply principles from the divisions of Interpretation and Education, Law Enforcement, Facility Management, and Resource Stewardship and Science. Examples of training and projects may include: developing educational programs such as a Junior Ranger activity book and curricula, surveying and estimating the deer population at Werowocomoco, inventorying native and invasive plant species, assisting with archeological monitoring, observing patrols of Werowocomoco by law enforcement rangers, caring for the grounds and buildings at Werowocomoco. IP’s time will be divided between the divisions as opportunities allow. 

Job Responsibilities are varied and change often during the IP’s term. Daily tasks include but are not limited to:

• Management of email and personal calendar
• Attending weekly all-staff meetings
• Developing and presenting interpretive programming
• Research time to complete and support project goals
• Multiple training opportunities are provided, both virtual and in-person.
• Archaeology field work
• Participate in day-to-day operations of a national trail, including public outreach, workshopping programs with teammates, answering inquiries, managing inventory of materials, event preparation
• Based on IP’s personal interests and skillset, duties, and special tasks will be assigned.

• $800/week ($600/living stipend + $200/housing allowance), paid bi-weekly
• 900-hour AmeriCorps Segal Education Award ($3,447.50) upon successful completion of service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)
• Professional development fund of $500
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years
• Possible student loan forbearance
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill academic internship requirements
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to resource management career paths