Cave Guide Resource Assistant - AmeriCorps

Position Title:  Cave Guide Resource Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location:

Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

19000 Caves Hwy

Cave Junction, OR, 97523

Application Timeline: Preference given to applicants that submit application by February 01, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Terms of Service:

•                  Ideal Start Date: May 04, 2026

•                  End Date: October 30, 2026

•                  AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 Hour, 26 weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve will host a Cave Guide Resource Assistant.

The Cave Guide Resource Assistant is an AmeriCorps position responsible for providing interpretive cave tours to visitors at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. Cave tours are a core function of the park, and the guide plays a vital role in helping visitors understand and appreciate the significance of the cave ecosystem. Through engaging interpretation, the guide fosters public support for the preservation of cave resources and the unique life within them, while ensuring the protection of these fragile environments from vandalism and other potential impacts of visitation.

Description of Duties:

The Cave Guide  Resource Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that plays a key role in providing high-quality interpretive services at Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. The assistant will lead up to three 90-minute guided cave tours per day, ensuring visitor safety, protecting sensitive cave resources, and delivering engaging educational content about the park’s natural and cultural features. The position also includes opportunities for off-trail caving experience under staff supervision.

The assistant will deliver formal, curriculum-based educational programs for K–12 students and will support daily visitor services in the visitor center. Duties include offering informal interpretation, assisting with trip planning and orientation, answering questions about park resources, and helping children complete and be sworn in for the Junior Ranger program.

Additionally, the assistant will complete one or more interpretive projects during the service term, with specific assignments determined in collaboration with park staff.

Qualifications:

• 2  years of college-level education
• 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 National Service Criminal History Checks for Conservation Legacy and the host site.
• Must be physically capable of providing a moderately strenuous tour in a dark cave environment, which entails bending, twisting and stooping as low as 45 inches below a low ceiling.

 Preferred Qualifications: 

• This position is ideally suited for a recent college graduate in earth sciences. Other levels of education will be considered. 
• Interpretive or other public speaking experience is desired. 
• Ability to work with a team.

Additional Position and Community Information:

• Shared dorm housing is provided. Housing supplies full kitchen appliances, furnished living room, dishes, bathroom/shower, laundry, wifi (limited), food storage, closet, chest of drawers, and twin bed/mattress provided. Participants will need to bring clothing, personal items, outdoor gear, bedding, and food.
• Oregon Caves is in a mountainous forest-setting located at 4000' elevation, with a 3-mile-long cave toured by the public. The dorm housing park housing, offices and visitor center are clustered together just outside the cave entrance creating a central, social atmosphere. The town of Cave Junction is 20 miles away with two grocery stores, three gas stations, a health clinic and several restaurants. Grants Pass, 30 miles north of Cave Junction, is a large city with all amenities and the closest hospital. There is an international airport in Medford, along with a wider variety of stores and restaurants. Redwood National and State Parks and beautiful beaches are within a 2-hour drive from the park. Weather will likely be mild with a mix of sun and rain. Heavy rain and snow are also possible depending on the time of year.
• A personal vehicle is strongly recommended but not required for this position.

How to Apply:

Apply on-line at: https://stewardslegacy.org/open-positions.  In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.

Application Timeline:

Preference given to applicants who submit applications by February 01, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will close when filled.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

·        Service Site Contact information : George Herring, George_Herring@nps.gov

·        Program Contact information: Morgan Hassey, mhassey@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. 

Additional Details

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 full time 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:

• The member will receive an orientation that includes program expectations and AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• This position will provide training and experience in interpretation and the earth sciences. 
• Extensive safety training will also be provided including standard operation procedures, safety risk analysis, job hazards analysis and driving safety.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50 (pre-tax)
• Living Allowance of $600.00 per week (pre-tax)
• Student Loan forbearance if Eligible (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Interest Payments if Eligible (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

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.