NPS HPTC Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Build Up LiDAR Member - AmeriCorps

Position Title: NPS HPTC Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Build Up LiDAR Member – AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Empire, MI

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: June 2026, Preference will be given to applications received by 3/6/26
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification : 450 hours (12-16 week term)

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (STE) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our cultural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.


The Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) is dedicated to providing youth with a professional experience and exposure to technical fields, helping the National Park Service to recruit and develop entry-level talent to build a more technically skilled and inclusive workforce. While also providing meaningful and relevant technical internships for students and military service members. The goals of this program include, supporting high-priority projects in parks, regional offices, and Washington support offices while establishing a pipeline for converting talented students, recent graduates, and service members into career positions in the NPS.


Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is committed to improving access to its unique glacial landforms and ecosystems, vast cultural landscapes, and rare maritime historical sites along the Lake Michigan coastline. Using cutting-edge mobile LiDAR and 260 video technology, this project will document trail conditions on the popular Empire Bluff trail and historic Maritime Museum. Selected members will develop concept design plans and visual support drawings for recommended site improvements, develop maps, plans and graphics required for existing condition analysis and planned recommendations, as well as compile and present the final report and its findings to NPS staff and leadership. The individuals selected for this opportunity will develop and contribute to both physical and virtual park experiences for people with disabilities at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Description of Duties:

• Using a Mosaic Xplor backpack LiDAR unit, member will hike the Empire Bluff trail gathering point cloud data and video imagery.
• Member will document interior and surrounding grounds of the Maritime Museum in the historic Glen Haven village using the LiDAR backpack.
• Hiking 1.5 miles on varied terrain wearing a 12+ pound backpack.
• Walking on uneven grounds and interior structures while wearing a 12+ pound backpack
• Survey and provide detailed documentation of existing conditions at the popular Empire Bluff trail using LiDAR
• Develop site design solutions for the Lake Michigan overlook at the Empire Bluff trail terminus
• Survey and document existing conditions at the historic Maritime Museum
• Present final conceptual drawings and plans to Park and Partner Group Leadership

Minimum Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Applicants must be between ages of 18-30 years old, or up to 35 for veteran, based on Public Land Corps Act of 1993 authorizing this AmeriCorps opportunity.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Must be a current student working to complete post-secondary degree (Associate’s or higher)
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience
• The ability to adapt new skills, ideas, technologies, and processes to the public sector
• Willingness to collaborate with others, work in a team environment, and coordinate and lead meetings related to project.
• Willingness to work in the field as work will require on site analysis and data collection.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AutoCAD or Civil3D
• Experience with GIS and LiDAR
• Experience in site design and park planning.
• Seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree in landscape architecture, civil engineering, or related field.
• Special consideration will be given to individuals between their 3rd and 4th year of their undergraduate degree or graduate students about to enter the final year of their degree program.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Req uirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.
• Members must be available to serve full-time for the entirety of the 12-16 week term.
• Members may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Direct Hire Authority:

• This position is classified as a DHA (Direct Hire Authority) Internship. DHA positions target exceptional, current upper-level undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in pursuing careers with the NPS. DHA positions will be rigorous internships that develop the participant’s technical and creative thinking abilities, leadership skills, and problem-solving capabilities.
• After successful completion of the internship and all DHA program requirements, and after graduation from the member’s degree program, the member will be eligible to receive DHA non-competitive hiring eligibility.

Orientation and Training:

• Members will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Training and Mentorship in NPS operations, historic preservation, and cultural landscape management.
• Opportunities to attend NPS Preservation Horticulture training or Historic Preservation Fundamentals Training.

Benefits:

• $520/wk living stipend + $320/wk additional benefit (equivalent to $21/hr)
• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of required hours
• Park Housing Available
• Direct Hire Authority
• Professional development stipend
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Kevin Record

Program Coordinator, STE

[email protected]

(681) 666-3621

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.