AmeriCorps members wanted to boost public awareness of VA parks

Applications for the Virginia State Parks AmeriCorps Interpretive Project are being accepted by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation through March 31, 2012. Applicants must be at least 17 years old.

The summer program provides opportunities for selected AmeriCorps members to serve by actively increasing public awareness of the Virginia’s natural, historical and cultural resources. The program also increases volunteerism at parks while improving AmeriCorps members’ job skills and leadership abilities.

Members will be placed in 27 of Virginia’s 35 state parks and will be expected to work 675 hours from April to October. AmeriCorps members will conduct outreach activities at schools, festivals and special events. They will work with the park’s volunteer coordinator to recruit and place two new volunteers for the park. Members must also maintain a journal of activities and report hours to the park’s volunteer coordinator. There is a $3000 living allowance during the service period and a $2039 educational award.. Interested applicants can find more information and must apply online at http://www.americorps.gov .

Contact Cyndi Juarez for more information – email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); phone: 540-288-4333. or visit http://www.virginiastateparks.gov or call 703-232-0667.

Members will receive intensive interpretive training and develop volunteer management, customer service and water craft skills. They will serve between April and October by helping park staff develop, promote and deliver high quality interpretive programs for park visitors. Members will also focus on expanding park volunteer programs and encouraging local involvement in park projects.

AmeriCorps is a national service program administered through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). Each year, AmeriCorps offers adults of all ages and backgrounds more than 75,000 opportunities to meet critical needs in communities across America. Benefits of serving include a modest living allowance and an educational benefit at the end of service.

The CNCS is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. The corporation leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.