Internship Announcement

Willamette National Forest

Latinx Community Engagement Coordinator

RESOURCE ASSISTANTS PROGRAM

Please Respond By May 01, 2020

Location: Westfir, Oregon 97492

Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the Willamette National Forest will be advertising an internship for a Latinx Community Engagement Coordinator. This is a 6 month, full-time work experience from May 2020 to October 2020 with an anticipated 960 hours of service. The Resource Assistant will be responsible for working with the U.S. Forest Service and Northwest Youth Corps to formalize a robust youth and community engagement strategy for the Middle Fork Ranger Station, promote equitable outdoor opportunities, participate in community events, coordinate family-friendly field trips, improve cultural relevancy of interpretive programming, and evaluate outreach opportunities and approaches.

About Northwest Youth Corps: 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

About the U.S. Forest Service: The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Established in 1905, the agency works with communities and organizations to conserve and enhance the watersheds, wildlife habitat and wild places across the 193-million-acre National Forest System.

Program Benefits

∙NYC will provide the Resource Assistant (RA) a stipend of $18,150, pro-rated into monthly payments, along with a $1200 travel/training fund, 40 hours of paid leave, health care coverage, and workers compensation.

∙RA will have Direct Hire Authority for Forest Service positions upon completion of their 960 hours of service.

∙Government housing will be provided in the Forest Service bunkhouse located in Oakridge.

Position Requirements

∙Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle.

∙Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents over 19 years old. Anyone who meets age and citizenship requirements is encouraged to apply. Preference is given to individuals enrolled in institutions of higher education, especially minority-serving institutions.

∙Government vehicles are available for work-related travel.

∙RA’s are responsible for travel to and from duty station.

∙Preference is given to individuals who are bilingual (Spanish/English)

Position Summary: The Latinx Community Engagement Coordinator will play a key role in building relationships with the Willamette National Forest’s partners and communities to foster connection to national forests and public lands. Key duties will include:

∙Working with the Middle Fork Ranger District on the Willamette National Forest and Northwest Youth Corps to promote equitable outdoor opportunities for underrepresented youth and communities.

∙Develop new curriculum and interpretive programming, as well as improve the cultural relevancy of existing resources.

∙Identifying and participating in community events that connect public lands to community interests.

∙A priority project will be the Love the Lake project on the high alpine lakes on the Middle Fork. This project aims to increase awareness of the unique ecosystems present in and around the high alpine lakes of the Middle Fork Ranger District, and the effects that external factors (human, climate change, etc.) have on these ecosystems. The RA will coordinate with Forest Service specialists to develop educational tools to engage youth programs at these high alpine lakes.

∙Monitor sensitive areas for ecological damage from litter, improper sanitation, and out of bounds camping. This will involve periodic visits to sensitive areas and high-use areas, tracking human usage activity, clean-up of litter when feasible, and coordination with Forest Service specialists to protect and/or improve these sensitive areas.

∙Assist with wilderness patrols, teaching leave no trace and wilderness principles on the Middle Fork.

∙Help plan and run Explorer’s Camp (Campamentio Exploradores), a three-day conservation camp in early August for Latinx youth ages 10-12 in Lane Educational District’s Migrant Education Program. Coordinate with the Migrant Education Program and the MFRD on all aspects of the camp.

∙Outreach and work with other Latinx groups in Eugene/Springfield and provide classroom and field trip opportunities to youth and adults.

∙Provide culturally relevant outreach and education to a diverse group of forest visitors by conducting formal interpretive talks and guided walks with forest users.

∙Lead youth programs at schools in the Oakridge/Lowell/Springfield/Eugene/Cottage Grove area with a focus on connecting Latinx populations to the outdoors.

About the Duty Location

The position is stationed in Westfir, Oregon, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Western Cascade Mountains. Westfir is only miles away from Oakridge – known as the mountain biking capital of the Northwest, and 35 miles away from the city of Eugene. Due to the elevation, (1,200-1,700 ft.) the weather is great, above the fog of the valley, and below the heavy snows. The city population is 3,765 (July 1, 2010). Westfir is the perfect jumping off point for a plethora of outdoor activities in the Willamette National Forest.

More information about the Westfir/Oakridge area can be found at: https://www.ci.oakridge.or.us/ and more

information about Eugene OR can be obtained at: https://www.eugene-or.gov/

To Apply:

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Latinx Community Engagement Coordinator” when applying.

If you have questions about the internship, please feel free to call or email Chloe Goldade-Holbrook chloe.goldade- holbrook@usda.gov (541) 782-5230 or Jay Runte jayr@nwyouthcorps.org (541) 743-8590.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination on all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720- 2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720- 5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.