Friends of Acadia

Friends of Acadia 2012 Recreation Technician Position Description 

Duties (Primary Duties are listed as numbers 1 - 5 below)

  1. Maintains electronic trail counters on carriage roads and trails. Tests, troubleshoots, and corrects trail counter power and alignment, and downloads computer data.

  2. Uses GPS to map and record condition of social trails in the park, and map other sites of interest. Downloads and processes data.

  3. Enters trail counter, computer, and observation data in database and spreadsheet programs.

  4. Distributes survey cards and administers visitor questionnaires for routine monitoring and research projects. 

  5. Conducts stationary counts of visitors on carriage roads, hiking trails, and summits for long periods of time (1-3 hours), and other counts as needed. Often educates visitors about Leave No Trace concurrently.

  6. Hikes selected foot trails inside and connecting to Acadia National Park, educating with visitors about Leave No Trace principles and offering trail guidance, first aid, water, maps, and information about Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park programs. May serve as first responder to emergencies in Park (SAR, fire, EMS, etc.) 

  7. Performs trail maintenance. The main tasks are cairn building and destruction of inappropriate cairns and rock art (REQUIRES HEAVY LIFTING). Other routine trail maintenance tasks may include waterbar cleaning, pruning, brushing in impacted areas, and trash pick-up. 

  8. Works with FOA staff on special events: FOA annual meeting, benefit auction, Family Fun Day, and local parades.

  9. Collects other visitor use and impact data, assists in other park activities, and performs other duties as assigned. 

  10. Writes an end-of season evaluation of work experience with FOA and ANP.

Qualifications: Ability to use basic computer software—word processing, database, and spreadsheet. Ability to use or learn GPS technology. Excellent communication and people skills. Practical experience in record keeping in field and office environments. Eagerness to work hard at physically and socially demanding job, which may involve lifting 50 pounds, hiking 10 miles per day, working in inclement weather (hot, cold, or wet), assertively contacting visitors about Leave No Trace, or sitting for long stretches in often uncomfortable positions, attending to routine tasks. Flexibility to adapt to quickly changing work demands and schedules and ability to be prepared for anything on any given day. Hiking or other outdoor experience. Sense of humor. Patience. Knowledge of Acadia National Park. Natural resources or outdoor recreation coursework helpful

Requirements: Valid Driver’s License. Certifications in basic first aid and CPR. Applicant must have appropriate personal footgear (closed-toe hiking shoes or boots) and raingear.

Period of Service: June 18 - August 25 (50 days), with some flexibility. Successful applicant must attend Acadia National Park training which may include one night of camping. Days off: 2 days/week to be arranged. Hours will vary. Weekend work expected. Wages: $10.00/hr. if housing is provided and subsidized by the park; $12.00/hr if not. Pay period: Every two weeks. Housing: Usually available from Acadia National Park. Work Environment: Most work is performed outdoors and may involve moderate risks or discomfort. Uniforms/Equipment: Uniform shirts, first aid kits, and gloves and other personal protective equipment provided.

Send cover letter and resume postmarked by February 11, 2012 to: Stephanie Clement, Conservation Director, Friends of Acadia, P.O. Box 45, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; or e-mail to stephanie@friendsofacadia.org. Call Friends of Acadia at (207) 288-3340 or 1-800-625-0321 with questions.

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