Developed Recreation Technician (USFS Mount St. Helens, North)

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service (Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, managed by Gifford Pinchot National Forest), is recruiting 2 Developed Recreation Technicians to participate in maintaining visitor center and area grounds and facilities, communicating with visitors, roving, maintaining trails, and recreation site monitoring. 

Developed recreation are activities that take place within the built facilities (visitor centers, restrooms, parking lots, sign boards, trail heads, etc.), viewpoints, and recreation areas of the National Volcanic Monument.

Johnston Ridge Observatory is a site that is visited by people from around the world to learn about the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens, the impacts of that eruption, and the long-term challenges of such an event. People visit for many activities, which can include: watching the movie, reading interpretive panels, listening to ranger programs, scenic driving, hiking, bird watching, fishing, boating, mountain-biking, etc..

The District-wide developed recreation goal is that sites are maintained to standard, evidence of human waste and litter is minimal, and resource damage is minimal. Where resource damage has occurred, especially in high traffic locations, we want to document and monitor the sites and try to rehabilitate to reduce impacts and discourage expansion of impacts.

• Daily cleaning and maintenance visitor sites, parking areas, and trail heads.  

• Technicians will participate in developed recreation program maintenance and larger projects.

• Providing support to Visitor Center staff, including public contacts and partner assistance.

• Installing and maintaining site signs, information boards, travel signs, regulatory signs and other signs associated with recreation sites, travel management and safety.

• Patrolling management unit to collect use data, identify or correct unsafe conditions, answer visitor inquiries, prevent vandalism and other anti-social behavior, gather current information regarding recreation opportunities, and prevent theft of Forest resources and their destruction resulting from carelessness with vehicles or fire.

• Naturalizing sites where necessary to control use and prevent resource damage. 

• Providing public information and interpretive services, including detailed information concerning recreational opportunities.  

• Educating users on potential resource damage caused by inappropriate use.

• Approx. 19-week appointment

• Full time (40 hours/week)

• Start date: 08/01/23 at the latest

At 8:32 Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Within a few moments, nearly 150 square miles of forest was blown over or left dead and standing. Fifty-seven lives were lost and the ensuing 9-hour eruption left a dramatically changed landscape.

In 1982, the President and Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument to be managed by the Forest Service for research, recreation, education, protecting local communities, and allowing natural processes to unfold. In addition to the legislated Monument, Mount St. Helens administrative unit also includes general forest areas. These areas are primarily to the south and east of the Monument, and are where the majority of dispersed recreation activities occur.

This position will be on the northside of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Today, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument contains many popular visitor centers, trailheads, waterfalls, lakes, forests, and lava tubes, managed by the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

• Living Allowance: $10,200 (Approximately $1,000.00 biweekly, pre-tax)

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $2,474.27 (Upon successful completion, this award may be used for past, present or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans and Title IV accredited college tuition)

• Onsite housing provided at no extra cost

• Employer-provided health insurance, inclusive of all seasonal employees too: Medical, dental, and vision

• Related degree or coursework in Recreation, Natural Resource Management, Education/Interpretation or comparable field;

• Strong interest in resource management;

• Experience/familiarity with field work. 

• Demonstrated experience and comfort with public speaking and communicating with diverse audiences;

• Comfortable living onsite in shared housing;

• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record; and

• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.