San Juan Islands Youth Intern Project.docx

Office: San Juan Islands National Monument Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L23AS00444 Project Submission Dates and Times: April 14, 2023 5PM EST

Project Title: Recreation and Interpretation Individual Placement Internship Maximum Available Funding in FY23: $80,000 The PO recommendation is for an $800 weekly stipend equal to $20.00 per hour as reasonable. This figure is based on the current extremely high costs for rental accommodations and the toll of inflation on all living costs.

BLM encourages Indian tribes under 16 USC 1727b that qualify as a youth or conservation corps to apply.

Project Background Information:

Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State's Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands are a uniquely beautiful archipelago of over 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles. The new San Juan Islands National Monument encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of land spread across many of these rocks and islands and managed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management. Drawing visitors from around the world, this is a landscape of unmatched contrasts, where forests seem to spring from gray rock and distant, snow-capped peaks provide the backdrop for sandy beaches. The San Juan Islands National Monument is a trove of scientific and historic treasures, a refuge for an array of wildlife, and a classroom for generations of Americans.

This project supports the mission of the BLM by training the next generation of land management professionals. Interns also provide direct support in during the high visitation season in the areas of site monitoring and maintenance, interpretation and outreach, and special project work.

Project Objective: The internships created through this assistance agreement will help us to build the skillset of the interns, which in turn will help us to create a better educated and more prepared workforce. This will create a better understanding of the BLM and its mission in the public sphere by spreading understanding through our interns.

Capstone Project: The intern will work with the monument manger, and other mentors as available and appropriate to complete capstone project that aligns with both the BLM needs and the interests and needs of the intern to develop professional skills.

Responsibilities:

This program involves a variety of education, recreation and management and resources management activities including but not limited to:

· represents a positive image of the area and of the BLM; ensuring visitor contact is conducted in a courteous, professional, and friendly manner.

· Advises visitors concerning safety, fire prevention, amenities available, and proper and authorized uses of recreational facilities

· Patrols and inspects facilities ensuring compliance with rules and regulations pertaining to parking, campfires, noise level, sanitation, and safety; bringing problems or violations to the attention of visitors.

· Reviews visitor use patterns and their effect on the resources; suggesting changes in operations or facilities when necessary

· Participates in or coordinates with Volunteer Coordinator in meeting volunteer program goals and objectives.

· Meets with visitors to provide information concerning points of interest, travel routes, historical and natural features, site use opportunities and limitations, and park activities.

· Prepares correspondence to respond to visitor inquires (to include walk-ins), and answers telephones.

· Works closely with the Public Affairs Officer in the development and production of information flyers, public notices, recreation brochures, and exhibits.

· Occasionally camp on remote islands to conduct multiday patrols for visitor contacts and site maintenance.

Interpretation:

· Where appropriate, develops interpretive programs, conducting independent and in-depth research of topics using sources such as records, books, files, and, where appropriate, interviews with people who have personal knowledge of a particular site or event.

· Selects and organizes material to fit the purposes of a program and the type of group for which it is intended such as preschoolers, special senior citizen groups, and U.S. or foreign dignitaries.

· Presents a variety of formal and interpretive programs to include but not limited to, orientation talks, environmental education programs, conducted walks, demonstrations, and campfire programs.

· Initiates or assists with the creation or revision of interpretive materials, such as guidebooks, handouts, and exhibits.

· Operates a variety of audiovisual and other equipment used in connection with interpretive material including movie and slide projectors, recorders, and video equipment.

Recreation Planning Support:

· Gathers and analyzes data related to existing recreational resources to recognize prominent trends.

· Identifies additional development opportunities for realization of maximum potential.

· Completes volunteer performance evaluations as required.

Facility Maintenance:

· Prepares recreation areas/sites for visitor use, to include planning, operation, and required maintenance.

· Oversees fee collection activities, maintaining records on and accounting for funds, and submitting deposits.

· Ensures facilities and customer use areas are free of visible safety hazards.

· Performs more complex facility maintenance and/or repairs under the guidance of experienced staff or contractors.

· Monitors condition of sites and natural/cultural resources; ensuring protection of property from natural depredation.

· Installs and maintains various types of signage on public lands

Other Duties and Tasks as assigned:

Beyond core work individual development goals will be prioritized, training and learning opportunities provided, ability to assist specialists with field work when available such as cultural resource work, biology, botany, forestry, historic preservation, land use planning, and other interdisciplinary work with the BLM and its partners.

The creation of internships through this assistance agreement will also allow young people to gain valuable skills to build their careers toward higher-level family-supporting jobs. The work of the interns in helping survey additional lands, better organize legacy records will assist the BLM in more efficiently processing projects focused on the development of renewable energy on public lands.

Work Schedule: Negotiable but will generally include weekends and holidays. Example, a Friday to Tuesday schedule or Friday to Monday schedule. Schedules will vary to manage public events and busy holiday weekends. Camping for short periods of time on other islands will be necessary. Camping equipment is provided.

Qualification Requirements: Interns must have the ability to work independently in outdoor and remote environments. The position will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions.

Applicants must also meet the following criteria: 1). Pass a DOI security background check; 2). Possess a valid driver’s license; 3). Pass all mandatory BLM courses, including computer security and defensive driving.

As this is a youth assistance agreement, applicants for internships must be under the age of 30 on the day they begin their internship. Military veterans holding that status may begin internships up to the age of 36.

Housing: The BLM does not have housing to offer interns for this position. However, assistance with finding appropriate housing is available by contacting Brie Chartier, monument manager.

Vehicle Needs: When working in the field the BLM will provide a work vehicle. Candidate must possess a valid driver’s license. Boat transportation will be provided when needed. No boating skills required.

Other Project Considerations: The BLM will supply all needed technical equipment for the completion of work in both the office and the field. In the event of fieldwork or travel, the interns will be expected to provide their own apparel (hat, sunglasses, and boots included) and luggage (including a field backpack).

Duties: Duties required for outside work involve walking, bending, climbing hills, and lifting and carrying various materials or supplies which are occasionally heavy. Use of a vehicle will be routine. Remote field sites may require camping out at the site for a period of 1-3 nights. Public speaking leading activities and staffing a fair/farmer’s market booth will be a regular part of assigned duties. During camping trips or while on any extended travel, alcohol or any illegal controlled substances are not permitted. Violation of this policy will result in immediate dismissal.

Work Environment: Approximately 90 percent of the work is in the field. The fieldwork will involve driving and walking over rough and sandy terrain with wide variations in temperature ranging from below freezing in the fall and winter to above 90 degrees F during the summer. Ferry travel between islands will be routine.

The interns will be based on Lopez Island Washington.

BLM’s Involvement: The interns will work directly with the monument staff daily. Project needs will dictate the schedule and appropriate changes to it. All project direction will be given by the monument manager or their designee. As the interns develop skills in the office and field, they will be given more independence to follow-through on projects and weekly meetings with the manager will allow for discussions of progress, tracking of project outcomes, and review of training needs.

BLM Program Contact:

Cell: 509 220 5976 San Juan Islands National Monument 650 Mullis Street Suite 100 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 she, her

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L23AS00444 posted on Grants.gov for all program requirements and applicable terms and conditions. Recipients selected for awards will be required to adhere to those requirements should an award be made.

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