PUBLIC LANDS STEWARD AMERICORPS POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Visitor Information Services Assistant PARTNER ORGANIZATION: US Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest WEBSITE: https://www.fs.usda.gov/giffordpinchot/ PROJECT LOCATION: Mt. Adams Ranger District, 2455 WA 141 Trout Lake, WA 98650 SERVICE DATES: May 3, 2021 to October 22, 2021 POSITION SUMMARY: In partnership with the Mt. Adams Institute (MAI), spend the summer in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (GPNF) in a busy visitor center. Assist visitors with planning their experience on GPNF and the surrounding natural areas. This position is perfect for a person who has a passion for engaging the public and promoting the use of public lands. The position involves: • Educating the public on the local area (including trails and campgrounds) and practices involved in the climbing of Mt. Adams as well as education in the Leave No Trace program. • Opening and closing of the visitor center • Answering phone calls and the radio • Providing area information and answering questions from visitors • Selling maps, recreation passes, and forest product permits The Visitor Information Services Assistant will serve at the visitor center and ideally will have a background in customer service and/or community education, including some knowledge of recreation opportunities in the area. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO): • Be well spoken and able to clearly communicate with members of the public in a friendly and non- confrontational manner. • Ensures that the information desk at the visitor center is staffed during business hours, and answers the phone and radio. • Greets visitors, and responds to a variety of inquiries regarding Forest Service programs, facilities, policies, and functions. Provides the most useful and appropriate information or to suggest other options, such as alternate routes or activities. • Provides guidance to the public on rules and regulations regarding on-unit activities, and attempts to gain public cooperation in protecting resources from damage and pollution. • Serves as Collection Officer to sell forest timber permits and other items, such as maps and passes, in accordance with manual and handbook requirements. Is held responsible for submitting and accounting for collected monies using approved computer programs and records. • Updates information such as road and recreation closures. Responds to and directs web and email inquiries to the appropriate personnel. Acts as liaison to other information centers such as other Forest Service offices. • Provides interpretive answers to a wide variety of visitor interests, such as the identification of local flora and fauna or the location of camping areas. Visits and is very familiar with trails, campgrounds, roads, and other areas on the unit, in order to provide accurate, descriptive information. • Handles clerical duties, such as mail and package delivery, personnel updates to phone lists and sign-out board. • Attend and complete all MAI/AmeriCorps trainings and service requirements including orientation, trainings and team meetings. • Complete and submit all necessary MAI/AmeriCorps paperwork and reports in a timely manner. • Wear MAI identifiers and required safety gear while performing service or attending official events. Mt. Adams Institute strengthens the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: • Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record and ability to provide documentation. • Attend mandatory MAI Orientation (May 3-7) and Intern trainings (mid-term) – Location to be determined. • Comfortable contacting and communicating with members of the public. • Enthusiastic about all types of recreation/forest use. • Regular and reliable attendance. • Comply with all Partner Organization safety policies and procedures. • 21-30 years of age at beginning of service term. • U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident. • Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent, or commit to earning one prior to receiving education award. • Ability to commit to the full 25-week term of service. • Selection, placement and retention are contingent upon passing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state of service and state of residence criminal history check and a national FBI check. • Members are eligible to serve up to four terms of service and receive AmeriCorps Education awards for each term of service up to the value of two full time education awards only. • Must be willing to respond to COVID-19 restrictions by altering duties, working remotely from home, wearing designated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, ensure social distancing and follow all agency requirements while working and living in agency housing. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: • Experience with customer service, phones, and radio • Good communication skills, both verbal and written • Ability to manage and prioritize a variety of work • Experience with computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook BENEFITS INCLUDE: • $8,750 living allowance paid over term of service ($350 weekly, before taxes). • $3,172.50 education award (qualified student loans and/or education expenses) • Studend Loan Forbearance • Child Care Reimbursement • Live and serve in a beautiful setting with many opportunities for outdoor recreation. • Professional development, trainings and networking opportunities. HOUSING: • Housing may be available at the Forest Service Trout Lake compound, however Covid-19 may affect the availability of housing. PROJECT LOCATION: The duty station is in Trout Lake, WA (30 minutes to White Salmon, WA & 40 minutes to Hood River, OR) and the primary sites are primitive settings in the Mt. Adams, Indian Heaven and Trapper Creek Wilderness Areas. • Mt. Adams Wilderness envelops an ecologically complex landscape along the west slope of Mt. Adams and its summit. The 47,122 acres that comprise the wilderness area are a blend of dry east-side and moist west-side ecosystems, allowing diverse types of vegetation and wildlife to flourish. Several areas along the flanks of Mt. Adams have burned in wildfires over the last several decades, providing sharp contrast with the lush unburned forests nearby and a glimpse at how landscapes regenerate after fire. Volcanic activity on Mt. Adams spans many geologic eras, with the most recent activity occurring just 3,500 years ago. Multiple trails provide access to spectacular views of Mt. Adams, including its glaciers, mountain streams, meadows, open alpine forests and lava flows. Mt. Adams Institute strengthens the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. • The 20,784 acre Indian Heaven Wilderness is a forested high plateau, dominated by fir (Pacific silver, noble, subalpine), with numerous open meadows and more than 150 lakes. Many of the lakes are stocked with rainbow and brook trout. • Lava once flowed from the numerous volcanic cones that rise above the plateau which reach their highest point on Lemei Rock (5,927'), where a broad crater now contains Lake Wapiki. Originally known as "Sahalee Tyee," the area is culturally important to Native Americans. Periodically over the past 9,000 years the Yakima, Klickitat, Cascades, Wasco, Wishram, and Umatilla tribes gathered here for berry picking, fishing, and hunting. • Indian Heaven is known for wildflower color and swarms of biting insects in the summer. The snow melts away in the area around mid-July. Fall is a good time to visit due to the brilliant fall colors and the winding down of mosquito season. Deer and elk reside here until winter snows drive them lower, along with black bears attracted to the ripening of fall huckleberries. • The 5,963 acre Trapper Creek Wilderness protects nearly all of the Trapper Creek drainage and provides critical anadromous fish habitat in the Wind River watershed. Streams and waterfalls are plentiful among the steep forested canyons at lower elevations. The old-growth Douglas-fir forests that comprise the heart of this Wilderness provide habitat for a variety of wildlife such as spotted owls, pileated woodpeckers, goshawks, blacktail deer, Roosevelt elk, and black bear. Cougar, bobcat, and pine marten can be observed occasionally. • Soda Peaks Lake, the area's single body of water, is within a valley below Soda Peaks in the southwest corner of the Wilderness. Observation Peak, the site of a former fire lookout, offers sweeping views of Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood. Access to Observation Peak is via Trail #132, which has historic use prior to 1917. TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION: • Agency/Organization vehicles are available for service-related travel. • It is highly recommended that the intern have their own vehicle transport for themselves and supplies/equipment for days-off and off-hours. • One needs a vehicle to get between the housing and the amenities of town/ranger station. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: • Trout Lake has a small grocery store, a gas station, three restaurants, and a food cart. All other services are located in White Salmon, WA or Hood River, OR about 30 minutes away. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION: MAI celebrates equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and does not discriminate against any person or group based on race, ethnicity, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, expression, gender identity, ability, national origin or ancestry, veteran status,