WV Ready Member with Harrison Co. Parks & Rec.
Position Title: WV Rural Engagement Ambassador for Development and Youth (WV Ready) – AmeriCorps Member at Harrison County Parks & Rec.
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Harrison County Parks & Recreation
43 Recreation Drive, Clarksburg, WV 26301
Terms of Service: 32 week AmeriCorps Service Member position
- Start Date: 05/04/2026
- End Date: 12/11/2026
- Application Deadline: 03/28/2026
- Number of Positions Available: 1
- AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 Hours
Purpose:
Stewards Individual Placements, a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The West Virginia Rural Engagement Ambassadors for Development and Youth (WV READY) is a new collaborative AmeriCorps program sponsored by Stewards Individual Placements. Stewards, in partnership with Volunteer WV, and local community organizations such as the City of Smithers, is working to support West Virginia’s developing tourism, and outdoor recreation economies.
Stewards, in partnership with Harrison County Parks & Recreation, is seeking a WV Ready Service Member who will lead the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan for the Rail Trail system. The plan will identify programming opportunities along the trail to boost local economic development, strengthen small business participation, and unite the community around trail use and stewardship. This is a hands-on role with field engagement, stakeholder facilitation, data collection/analysis, and clear deliverables culminating in a presentation to agency leadership and elected officials.
Description of Duties:
To achieve the goals of this WV Ready position, the member will:
- Conduct baseline assessment of the Rail Trail network (segments, conditions, amenities, connectivity, usage patterns, and safety considerations)
- Benchmark programming models from peer trail systems (events, health & wellness, outdoor education, cultural/historic interpretation, art installations, volunteer programs, youth engagement, adaptive recreation)
- Analyze local demographics, tourism trends, and business landscape to identify opportunities for trail-linked economic activity (pop-up markets, trail promotions, guided walks/hikes/rides/tours)
- Map assets and needs (access points, parking, signage, lighting, restrooms, water stations, ADA accessibility, wayfinding, public art)
- Develop and implement a stakeholder engagement plan (public workshops, intercept surveys on the trail, online surveys, focus groups)
- Facilitate meetings with public officials, advisory groups, local businesses, chambers of commerce, tourism entities, schools/universities, health systems, law enforcement/EMS, and community organizations
- Build partnerships that support programming and cross-promotion (health challenges, seasonal festivals, heritage walks, mountain bike groups)
- Identify and design a portfolio of trail programs (low-cost pilots and scalable signature events) aligned to community goals: health & wellness, arts/culture, environmental education, accessibility, youth development, and economic vitality
- Create activation strategies for trailheads (e.g., pop-up vendor zones, performance spaces, kid-friendly stations, interpretive signage)
- Recommend inclusive programming
- Identify sponsorship packages and funding opportunities (grants, corporate/health partners, local foundations)
- Develop a 3–5 year Strategic Plan with phased implementation roadmap and budget ranges
- Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and data collection methods
- Pilot up to 2–3 quick-start programs during the internship (as feasible), gather feedback, and refine
- Produce professional-quality materials: executive summary, full plan, maps, slide deck, and public-facing one-pagers
- Present findings to Parks & Recreation leadership, advisory groups, and elected officials
- Provide recommendations on branding, messaging, and marketing toolkits
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- At least 18 years of age
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
- Able to commit to 32 weeks of service
- Must serve in West Virginia
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a program in Parks & Recreation Management, Urban/Regional Planning, Public Administration, Community Development, Tourism & Hospitality, Environmental Studies, or related field
- Strong research, writing, and communication skills; comfortable facilitating public meetings
- Experience with project management, data collection (surveys/interviews), and basic analytics
- Proficiency with productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft 365), and basic mapping/visualization (e.g., ArcGIS Online/QGIS, or willingness to learn)
- Ability to conduct field work on the trail (walking/biking), including occasional evenings/weekends for community events
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
- Must serve in West Virginia, West Virginia resident preferred
- Experience with recreation programming and event planning
- Familiarity with economic development concepts
- Skills in graphic design/communications (Canva, basic Adobe) and social media strategy
- Knowledge of inclusive, accessible programming and ADA considerations
- Grant writing or sponsorship packaging experience
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Professional communication skills: written, presentation, and public speaking
Our Commitment:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
- Typically, this position is expected to serve [blank-day] to [blank-day], but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break 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
- The Member will be included in the WV Ready Member cohort; this cohort will meet on a bi-weekly basis for 1.5 hours and Members are expected to attend
Orientation and Training:
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Member will receive training on Community Asset Mapping (CAM)
Benefits:
Although each WV READY Member’s project will look different depending on host site needs, they will still be able to lean on a cohort-style model for support, shared experiences, and professional development. Ideal candidates for this initiative are young adults looking to build a career and be a part of this larger movement in the Mountain State! Additional benefits include:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
- Living Allowance of $600 per week
- Receive tuition and fee waivers at West Virginia institutions of higher education
- Paid Training & Professional Development
- Access to all member and alumni benefits of Conservation Legacy
- Opportunity to make a HUGE impact on your community
- Service opportunities can help propel your career forward with intentional experience and professional connections
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.
Application, Resume and Cover Letter:
When uploading and attaching your resume to this application, please also upload and attach a cover letter. In your cover letter, please note your interest and qualifications in this position.
Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:
Susie Schroer
Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator
sschroer@conservationlegacy.org
970-317-9131
We are 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.