Internship - Visitor Services and Interpretation Intern
Position Dates: 5/20/2024-8/11/2024
This summer internship is a vital member of the Interpretation and Visitor Services team at Amache National Historic Site. It is tailored for those exploring careers within the field of public lands and history education and interpretation. Park staff will provide formal and informal training and mentorship to you throughout the summer.
Amache National Historic Site (AMCH), authorized in 2022, preserves and interprets resources associated with the incarceration and military service of civilians of Japanese ancestry during World War II at Amache. The park's enabling legislation also directs the National Park Service to interpret the public reaction to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in Colorado and the transition and resettlement of incarcerees and their descendants after the closure of the camp. The efforts of this internship support the interpretation initiatives at AMCH which convey a universal lesson, that rejection of conscience based on fear, hysteria, and stereotyping can lead to a catastrophic dehumanization of people of different cultures, beliefs, and ethnicities.
The intern will have a chance to grow as a public speaker, educator, and communicator by providing visitor services, answering questions, guiding informal tours of natural and historic areas, and giving brief talks.
Visitor services duties (20%) encompass a wide range of services. You will be responsible for providing clear, current, and accurate information about Amache and the surrounding area. This information can include weather conditions, highway routes (particularly to other National Park units located within the High Plains Group of Colorado) andorienting the public to opportunities to make connections with the past and environment of the site.
Answering visitor questions (20%) can include highly repetitious informational and orientation questions about basic site facts. But they can be also a moment for you to engage visitors with informal interpretation of the human and natural stories of Amache and the surrounding area.
You will also have a chance to guide (20%) small groups visitors on brief tours of specific natural and historical stations. During the day, you may be stationed at a point of interest such as a historic building, landscape feature, or natural site.
There will also be ample opportunity to give talks (20%) on topics related to Amache. Talks will be based on pre-approved interpretiveoutlines,but you will also have the opportunity to research and develop your own.
This internship will also have various minor duties (20%) supporting operations including driving park vehicles during events, assisting Amache Preservation Staff in keeping the visitor center tidy, providing emergency first aid, and more.
If selected, you will work an approximately 12-week season (mid-May through mid-August) with 40 hours scheduled per week.
Amache National Historic Site is located near Granada, Colorado in a rural area with limited nearby services. The nearest grocery store is in Lamar (18 miles) which also offers a wider range of amenities. Many area residents make regular trips to Garden City, KS (80 miles) for specialized services including flights and medical care. Internet service and cell service is available in the area.
Member Benefits:
- $1,100 - one time RT travel allowance
- $350- weekly living allowance
- $50 - weekly commuting allowance (Combined with weekly living allowance)
- $500 - monthly housing allowance (4 months of housing- Intern will locate their own housing)
For SCA's COVID guidance, please refer towww.thesca.org/covid
This summer internship is a vital member of the Interpretation and Visitor Services team at Amache National Historic Site. It is tailored for those exploring careers within the field of public lands and history education and interpretation. Park staff will provide formal and informal training and mentorship to you throughout the summer.
Amache National Historic Site (AMCH), authorized in 2022, preserves and interprets resources associated with the incarceration and military service of civilians of Japanese ancestry during World War II at Amache. The park's enabling legislation also directs the National Park Service to interpret the public reaction to the incarceration of Japanese Americans in Colorado and the transition and resettlement of incarcerees and their descendants after the closure of the camp. The efforts of this internship support the interpretation initiatives at AMCH which convey a universal lesson, that rejection of conscience based on fear, hysteria, and stereotyping can lead to a catastrophic dehumanization of people of different cultures, beliefs, and ethnicities.
The intern will have a chance to grow as a public speaker, educator, and communicator by providing visitor services, answering questions, guiding informal tours of natural and historic areas, and giving brief talks.
Visitor services duties (20%) encompass a wide range of services. You will be responsible for providing clear, current, and accurate information about Amache and the surrounding area. This information can include weather conditions, highway routes (particularly to other National Park units located within the High Plains Group of Colorado) andorienting the public to opportunities to make connections with the past and environment of the site.
Answering visitor questions (20%) can include highly repetitious informational and orientation questions about basic site facts. But they can be also a moment for you to engage visitors with informal interpretation of the human and natural stories of Amache and the surrounding area.
You will also have a chance to guide (20%) small groups visitors on brief tours of specific natural and historical stations. During the day, you may be stationed at a point of interest such as a historic building, landscape feature, or natural site.
There will also be ample opportunity to give talks (20%) on topics related to Amache. Talks will be based on pre-approved interpretiveoutlines,but you will also have the opportunity to research and develop your own.
This internship will also have various minor duties (20%) supporting operations including driving park vehicles during events, assisting Amache Preservation Staff in keeping the visitor center tidy, providing emergency first aid, and more.
If selected, you will work an approximately 12-week season (mid-May through mid-August) with 40 hours scheduled per week.
Amache National Historic Site is located near Granada, Colorado in a rural area with limited nearby services. The nearest grocery store is in Lamar (18 miles) which also offers a wider range of amenities. Many area residents make regular trips to Garden City, KS (80 miles) for specialized services including flights and medical care. Internet service and cell service is available in the area.
Member Benefits:
- $1,100 - one time RT travel allowance
- $350- weekly living allowance
- $50 - weekly commuting allowance (Combined with weekly living allowance)
- $500 - monthly housing allowance (4 months of housing- Intern will locate their own housing)
- AmeriCorps eligible ($1,718 education award)
- All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes
For SCA's COVID guidance, please refer towww.thesca.org/covid