Park Program
Crew Leader Positions - Six Months
Serving as a Crew Leader for the VYCC's Park Program is an experience unlike any you've ever had before! Imagine starting your day with stretching or an inspirational quote and ending it with stargazing around a campfire…all while in one of Vermont’s beautiful State Parks!
As a VYCC Crew Leader, you will change lives, serve as a role model, promote environmental stewardship, and help shape today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.
The Park Program kicks off in late April with a paid residential training for all Park Crew Leaders. This training is hosted at our Youth Leadership Education Training Center at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond, Vermont. During this training you will learn and cultivate skills in park management, youth development, environmental education, and community building.
- 2010 Park Crew Leader Details
- State Park Crew Leaders: April 26 - Oct. 22
- Minimum of 22 years old
- Room and Board included
- Work and live in a Vermont State Park or a United State Forest Service Campground
- Build a strong community
- Experience a summer you will never forget
After training you will live and work in either a VT State Park or a United States Forest Service Campground with a dynamic crew of Corp Members, ranging in age from 17 to 24. Corps Members come from a broad range of social, economic, and geographical backgrounds and have varied gifts, talents, and work experiences. This combination of a diverse crew, tremendous leaders, and a beautiful Park setting makes for a memorable experience full of laughter, creative challenges, and amazing successes.
Throughout the late spring and summer, you and your crew will be responsible for managing every aspect of a park, which includes overseeing park fee collection, visitor programming, public education, visitos' safety, grounds and facilities maintenance, park outreach, and ensuring that the park's high-quality standards are met.
Park Program Crew Leader Responsibilities
- Focus on developing personal leadership skills in yourself and the young adults you lead
- Provide dynamic leadership and supervision to a diverse group of Corps Members
- Develop cooperative leadership skills with a Co-Leader and/or Assistant
- Build a healthy community
- Train the crew in work skills and proper tool use and maintenance
- Work with project sponsors to coordinate and ensure project completion
- Lead formal and informal educational activities
- Facilitate the WoRD Program
- Ensure that healthy food is prepared
- Regularly update VYCC Headquarters Staff on progress, developments, or challenges
- Maintain relationships with Park Program Partners (Vermont State Parks, USFA, AmeriCorps)
- Process paperwork and payroll
- Write a detailed final evaluation of the program
Qualifications
- Strong interest in environmental stewardship
- Minimum of 22 years old
- Dedication to service
- Strong desire to teach personal responsibility to young people
- Excellent organization and communication skills, including customer service
- Leadership experience with diverse groups of young people
- Problem-solving ability, self-confidence, and a strong work ethic
- Sound judgment, creativity, humor, and maturity
- Background in education, parks and recreation management, hospitality, environmental studies, or a related field
- Naturalist or public speaking experience
- Outdoor leadership experience
- Budget management and bulk food purchasing experience
- Good driving record and a valid driver's license
- Willingness to undergo a criminal background check
Benefits
- Competitive Salary - Based on position, crew duration, VYCC experience, and other relevant experience. CCL Leaders: $430-500 per week
- Paid Training - Park Leaders will receive a training stipend upon completion of our trainings
- First Aid and CPR Certification
- Room and Board - Provided for all staff on residential crews
- AmeriCorps Education Award - $1,250 to $2,362 offered to all qualifying Field Staff (pending successful grant application)
- Sterling College Education Award - $1,000 scholarship available to all VYCC alumni accepted to attend Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT
- Valuable Job Skills - Learn management, interpretation work, maintenance, supervisory, and leadership skills
- Exceptional Work Environment and Travel Opportunities - Live, work, and travel in the Green Mountains of Vermont and potentially the nation
Dates:State Park Crew Leader positions run from April 26, 2010 through October 22, 2010.
For more information about the Park Program's Crew Leader positions, please contact Ry at 802.434.3969 Ext 131 or ry.parcell@vycc.org.