Individual Placements
Appalachian Conservation Corps engages individuals in positions with federal, state and local land management agencies and environmentally focused non-profits working on specialized projects.
Individual Placements (interns) are paired with a local supervisor and these positions offer thorough training as well as technical, hands-on experience and many times provide the training necessary to secure long term employment in these fields.
The type of position we offer can include:
- Invasive Plant Management
- Education and Interpretation
- Digital Design and Science Communications
- Historical Research and Preservation
- Cultural and Natural Resource Management
During your term, you will be trained by conservation professionals and get hands-on experience to build on your skillset, opening doors to further your career. Depending on your position, you may receive beneficial trainings, certifications, and other professional development opportunities.
Open Positions
We currently have 11 open positions in Virginia, Maryland, DC and Ohio!
| Title | Position Summary | Location | Dates | Application |
| Volunteer and Youth Program Individual Placement • Shenandoah National Park | Engage young people as current and future stewards of Shenandoah National Park. | Luray, VA | May 13th - Nov. 8th, 2024 (26 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Interpretation Individual Placements • C&O Canal National Historical Park | Provide visitor services and interpretive programming for visitors to the park. | Williamsport, MD | May 15th - Nov. 8th, 2024 (26 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Cultural Steward Individual Placements • Captain John Smith National Historic Trail | Learn about park management and implement your skills at a historic native site. | Jamestown, VA | May 20th - Nov. 15th, 2024 (26 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Digital Design Individual Placement • Civil War Defenses of Washington | Help create visual content for billboards, flyers and the park's website/social media. | Washington, D.C. | May 28th - Aug. 16th, 2024 (12 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Digital Interpretation Individual Placement • C&O Canal National Historical Park | Assist NPS staff in enhancing the park's digital media. | Williamsport, MD | Flexible start in May for 47-week term | Apply Here |
| Environmental Steward Individual Placement • Lake Erie Islands Conservancy | Advocate for and preserve the scenic and natural areas at a unique island area. | Put-In-Bay, Ohio | June – August 2024 (10 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Buffers Assessment Individual Placement • Appalachian Conservation Corps | Help ACC Watershed Corps assess sites and develop plans for riparian forest buffers. | Mt. Crawford, VA | June 24th, 2024 - Aug. 16th, 2024 (8 weeks) | Apply Here |
| Visitor Services and Education Individual Placement • Antietam National Battlefield | Engage with the public by sharing information on the history of the park, while developing skills like public speaking and interpersonal communication. | Sharpsburg, MD | Flexible start in June or July | Apply Here |
New positions are being listed frequently! If you are interested in keeping your resume on file and being contacted if a position opens up that fits your skillset and preferred timeframe, contact Laura, the Individual Placements Member Support Coordinator at lboaggio@conservationlegacy.org.
INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENTS IN THE NEWS
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Sharing Park History
Jan. 24th, 2024 | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Read Full Article: When we think of national parks, our minds often go to stories of rangers protecting the land or battles that altered history. But rarely do we think of the people who wrote about those stories, and how vital they are to the park system.
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Invasive Plant Management Team Finishes Season; Applications for 2024 Cohort Now Open
Nov. 21st, 2023 | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Read Full Article: Similar to weeding a garden, our federal and state parks need to be maintained to keep local flora and fauna healthy. While it may sound like a simple task, those weeds can grow far and wide – and sometimes take more than a pair of hands to get rid of.
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Appalachian Conservation Corps Recognized as Top Employer for Interns in Virginia
July 27th, 2023 | RICHMOND, VA - Read Full Article: On July 27th, Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) received news that they were recognized by The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) as a recipient of the 2023 Top Virginia Employers for Interns Award.
The annual award recognizes Virginia employers who provide high-quality internships to students.
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The Importance of Telling Every Story
July 9th, 2023 | FREDERICK, MD – Read Full Article: The Monocacy National Battlefield grounds looked like something out of the 1800s this past weekend, as park volunteers and staff donned Civil War-era clothes to educate the public on the Battle of Monocacy for its anniversary. Appalachian Conservation Corps interns took part in the event, from answering visitor’s questions at the front desk to helping set off a cannon during an artillery demonstration. The pair also shared their thoughts on why public history helps benefit the future.
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After serving a 6-month service term as a Maintenance IP at Antietam National Battlefieldand earning non-competitive hiring eligibility through the Public Lands Corps, McCoy secured a permanent position as a Maintenance Technician where he will continue to manage the landscape of the park and its cemetery, rebuild fences and preserve historic buildings and other important projects.
He will also have the opportunity to work closely and pass on knowledge with the Maintenance and Natural Resource Interns that are hired at the park each year. A true full-circle moment!
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Micki served on our Invasive Plant Management Team where she treated invasive plant species and helped restore native plant species at National Capital Region sites surrounding the D.C. area. After her service ends, Micki will be working as an Urban Forester with the District Department of Transportation to inspect, evaluate and manage urban tree populations.
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Kalen, a member of the Nansemond Indian Nation, joined the program as a Cultural Steward Intern in 2022 with a focus of learning about and educating the public on the historic native site, Werowocomoco. After a second term as a Lead Intern and completing his degree in Environmental Studies, he secured a permanent role at the park where he will continue to manage this important part of Indigenous history and culture through maintenance and education.
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Ryann joined the cohort as a Digital Design IP with the Civil War Defenses of Washington, focused on developing Junior Ranger and activity booklets for parks around the DC region, visiting parks to learn more about their history and adding in new and diverse stories to the booklets that will be available to the public for years to come. Through her internship she was able to develop connections within the Public History sphere in DC, and recently accepted a position in Museum Collections at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture where she will utilize her Master's Degree in History.
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Erin served for a year with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park as a Digital Interpretation IP, revamping the parks digital media through photography, videography and graphic design to make the parks story accessible to all. Directly after her term ends, she will be starting as the Assistant to the Superintendent of the park.
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Faith, grew up nearby and would often visit Cuyahoga Valley National Park. After volunteering at the park, serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA supporting the volunteer program administratively as well as serving with ACC as a Service Learning IP, she was able to develop the skills necessary to move into a permanent role with the park directly after her service term ended. Faith will be working with the Business Management department as an Administrative Support Assistant.
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Owen served for a year as a Land Steward Intern with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, monitoring private land easements across the state through GIS mapping. Directly following his term, he accepted a position with the Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative as a Conservation Field Assistant where he does similar work, engaging with landowners to ensure best practices are being utilized to conserve watersheds and lands.
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Michael served with ACC at Antietam National Battlefield as a Resource Management and Maintenance IP. His training and Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority certificate assisted him in landing a role in southern Wyoming working at the Fossil Butte National Monument. There he will continue working in natural resources with the National Park Service.
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Brandon served multiple terms at Antietam National Battlefield as an Education and Interpretation IP, developing and facilitating educational and living history programming to visitors of the park. With the help of the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority, he was able to secure a position at Assateague National Seashore as a Recreation Fee Technician. In this role he will support visitors as they enter the park and continue his journey with the National Park Service.
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Becca, who served with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation as a Land Steward IP, learned policies and skills related to private land easement monitoring in the state of Virginia. Through this internship she was able to land a permanent role with the host site directly after her term ended.
Where are they now?
One of the main goals of this program is to assist young people as they get started in the conservation field. The skills developed in these positions can translate to a variety of roles. Below are some recent alumni successes and examples of where your path can take you!
WHO WE SERVE
Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) emphasizes the recruitment and engagement of diverse teams and individuals who learn from each other and their projects in a supportive environment. In selecting participants, ACC encourages all types of diversity including, but not limited to; race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, social-economic, and disability.
Appalachian Conservation Corps also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve. ACC intentionally searches for funding sources and program options to support the goal of offering experiences to a wide range of participants.
