Friends of Acadia

Friends of Acadia 2012 Ridge Runner Position Description

(4 positions available)

 

Duties (Primary Duties are listed as numbers 1 - 3 below)

  1. 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.).

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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

  5. Completes daily patrol log of work activities and time spent on them. Records observations of visitor use and impacts; visitor comments, compliments, and complaints; and trail maintenance needs. Reports trail maintenance needs to ANP Trails Foreman. Enters data in computer spreadsheet and database programs. Rainy day projects include data entry for curatorial projects. 

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

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

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

Qualifications: Knowledge of or willingness to learn about Acadia National Park and its trails and carriage road system. Hiking or other outdoor experience. Excellent communication and people skills. 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. Familiarity with word processing and database management. Patience. Sense of humor. Flexibility to adapt to quickly changing work demands and schedules and ability to be prepared for anything on any given day. Natural resource 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. Applicants will be expected to use their own automobiles and will be reimbursed for mileage beyond their daily commute to park headquarters.

Period of Service: June 18th – August 25th, with some flexibility (50 work days, funding permitting). Successful applicant must attend Acadia National Park Leave No Trace training which includes one night of camping. Days off: 2 days/week to be arranged. Hours will vary. Weekend work expected. Wages: $12.00/hr. Pay period: Every two weeks. Housing: Applicants will be expected to find their own housing on or near Mount Desert Island. Work Environment: Most of the work is performed outdoors and may involve moderate risks or significant discomfort. Uniforms/Equipment: Uniform shirts, first aid kits, and gloves and other personal protective equipment provided.

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

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