Wilderness Ranger Intern

Immerse yourself in the unique beauty of the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area as a Wilderness Ranger. Nordhouse Dunes is a 3,450 acre Federally Designated Wilderness Area on the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan and is popular for hiking, camping, hunting, nature study, wildlife viewing, and for its miles of undeveloped beach, soft sand, and cool waters.

As a Wilderness Ranger on the Cadillac/Manistee Ranger District, you will have the opportunity to preserve the Wilderness Area through education, outreach, interpretation, and monitoring. Alongside Forest Service Recreation Technicians, you will educate visitors on Wilderness regulations and responsible use, Leave No Trace Ethics, and Wilderness Character. You will help visitors understand the value of solitude, and the importance of leaving the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area undeveloped and untrammeled. Wilderness Rangers will maintain Wilderness trailheads, routinely perform wilderness patrols, develop educational materials, conduct presentations, and lead interpretive hikes. Wilderness Rangers will be part of a four-person team that receives day-to-day direction from the Lead Recreation Technician.

The successful candidates will need to be a motivated team-players, able to work with a wide array of the public in a variety of settings, and capable of identifying and implementing environmental stewardship projects in ways that are consistent with the management of designated Wilderness Areas. This work will, at times, be physically arduous. Wilderness patrols will involve public interaction, data gathering on a tablet utilizing Survey123, trash removal, and trail clearing. Housing is provided in an on-site bunkhouse with kitchen and bathroom facilities in an adjacent building. Personal vehicle is recommended.

Duties Include:

• Wilderness patrols, public interaction, and monitoring surveys (50%)
• Trailhead and recreation site maintenance (20%)
• Interpretive programs, presentations, volunteer support, and educational material development (20%)
• Support the District’s Recreation Program staff on other projects (10%)

Compensation:
– $300/week Living Allowance*
– $1,100 Travel Allowance*, paid once with first paycheck
– Housing on-site
– Eligible for AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,718.25, to be received upon successful completion of position
– Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority

• All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

It is SCA’s policy that all AmeriCorps-required background checks must return cleared results prior to the position’s start; this includes being fingerprinted for the FBI check. Otherwise, the AmeriCorps award will be removed or the position’s start date will be delayed due to non-compliance.

• For SCA's COVID-19 guidance, please refer to www.thesca.org/covid

Position ID: PO-00734008

Expected Dates: May 15, 2023 - August 6, 2023

Location:
1170 Nursery Road
Wellston, MI 49689
US

Training Provided: First Aid and CPR, Boater Safety, Driving

Educational/Recreational Opportunities: Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, disc golf, camping, fishing, hunting.

Handicap Accessible?: Yes

Main Area of Focus: Education and Interpretation

Further Details

AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible

Driving Logistics: Required

The housing facility is a 20-minute drive from the nearest towns and there is minimal public transportation. It is also at least an hour drive to the nearest airports.

Housing or Stipend Provided?
A. Partner will provide suitable housing for the member

Bunkhouse located on-site at new office in Wellston, MI. Bunk house has semi-private rooms. Bathrooms, washer & dryer, and full kitchen are in an adjacent building. An intern can expect a shared room in the bunkhouse style building. The bunkhouse, kitchen and baths are not ADA
compliant.

Indoor/Outdoor: Outside

US Citizenship: Yes