Conservation Begins Here
Naturalist Participant – Tofte Ranger District
(PO-00800755-MEM)
Position Summary
The Resort Naturalist Program provides interpretive natural and cultural history programming at resorts and other sites within the Superior National Forest to help connect visitors to the resource. Campfire programs, short hikes, and ‘naturalist cart’ type programming are used to reach approximately 3000 people yearly. The objective of this informal educational outreach is to create a better-informed public who will be supportive of conservation goals and help to care for our national forests and other public lands. Interpretive programs are on a repeating weekly schedule through a ten-week season offering the opportunity to repeat programs and hone interpretive techniques. Some programs are offered twice a week. The 17 program per week schedule is split with another SCA participant.
Schedule
May 19, 2025 – August 8, 2025
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The main duties will be presenting natural and cultural history interpretive programs which have been previously developed. That will require learning the program and background information as well as conducting the actual presentation. There will also be time spent driving government vehicles to and from program sites, doing any program prep including starting campfires, and time spent maintaining program materials. The bulk of programs are campfire programs on natural history subjects to groups ranging in size from a single family to 50 people. Other program types include lumber mill tours, bird hikes, geology walks and other short explorations. Evening work Tuesday through Saturday is required. Leave for events such as weddings can be negotiated with sufficient lead time.
Marginal Duties
Additional duties can include developing new programs, creating brochures and other promotional materials for the programs, and occasional other interpretive events such as dressing as Smokey Bear, staffing booths at events, and walking in holiday parades.
Required Qualifications
- Driver’s license
- Interest in natural history
- Ability to speak in front of a wide variety of people
- Ability to manage one’s own time
- Ability to adapt to unexpected conditions
This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.
Preferred Qualifications
- Personal laptop. It can take time for a work laptop to arrive for use.
- Presentation experience
- Natural history knowledge
- Education or experience in education
- Experience with children
Hours
40 per week
Living Accommodations
Housing is in several old CCC era cabins. Rooms are doubles (shared with a roommate). There may be some single rooms, but that isn’t guaranteed. Some roommates will be wilderness rangers who are gone for 8 day shifts and back for 6 days, so the room could be a single half the time. Cabins were originally single family homes and have remodeled modern kitchens, shared living room space, and shared bathrooms. Washer and dryer are in basement. As with most cabins, mice are possible. Cabins are not air conditioned but do have fans. Wi-Fi included, cell phones do have reception. It is possible that some people could be housed in bunkhouse type housing also with double rooms. Tofte is a very small town. Limited groceries are within biking or walking distance. Larger stores including a natural foods coop are 30 miles away.
Compensation
- Living allowance – $450 per week
- Travel allowance – $1100 single payment
- Housing provided by the Forest Service.
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Required
Additional Benefits
- Bear Safety
- Defensive Drive Training
- First Aid/CPR
- Interpretive Skills
- AmeriCorps: Eligible/Optional
Equal Opportunity Statement
SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer.
Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.
