Red River Gorge Climber Stewards

Red River Gorge Climber Steward

Access Fund is the nonprofit advocacy organization that leads and inspires the climbing community toward sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment. Founded in 1991, Access Fund represents more than 8 million climbers nationwide in its work to protect and conserve the land, fight for sustainable access, and build a community of inspired advocates. We execute on that mission across six core program areas:
Public Lands Policy & Advocacy, Stewardship & Conservation, Land Acquisition & Protection, Grassroots Organizing & Advocacy, Risk Management & Landowner Support, and Climber Education.

Access Fund is currently seeking Climber Stewards to connect with and educate visitors, especially climbers, in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky. The Climber Stewards are a part of Access Fund's stewardship & education programming. Stewards will work alongside Access Fund and federal partners, including the United States Forest Service (USFS), as well as partner organizations such as Muir Valley (MV) and the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition (RRGCC) in this critical climbing landscape to connect, inspire, and educate the increasing number of visiting climbers.

Climber Stewards help to serve as a critical link between the climbing community and the important message of Leave No Trace (LNT), as well as critical protective ethics and behaviors. Climber Stewards have the opportunity to learn and develop skills in recreation management, resource protection, education and outreach, public land management, and more. If you have a passion for protecting climbing areas and love engaging and educating other climbers, this is your chance to live in and explore these areas for a season while helping to preserve key climbing areas for current and future generations.

Education and Outreach

Climber Stewards play a unique role in the long-term sustainability of recreation. The following are examples of the programming and outreach that the Climber Stewards will participate in and lead:

• Climber Coffee
  - Host morning events Friday through Sunday that provide free coffee to climbers at a rotating selection of locations. Climber Stewards will be responsible for coordinating event logistics, including brewing and serving coffee, setting up a table or booth with information about the region, ensuring flyers are posted for Climber Coffee locations, and engaging with climbers to discuss the latest issues and best practices related to climbing, camping, natural and cultural resources, and other relevant topics.
• Crag Chats
  - Visit crags to engage with climbers where they are, while they climb. Climber Stewards will visit different walls throughout the season to communicate with climbers about current issues and best practices, as well as help facilitate a richer understanding of the climbing area's special nature. Stewards are not required to climb.
• Special Events
  - Plan, coordinate, and host up to five (5) special events each season that are designed to further engage with and build a community of stewardship and respectful visitation. Past events include game day, trash cleanups, movie nights, guest speakers, and more. Events could also include participation in external programs, such as virtual webinars or representing Access Fund at an off-site event.
• Stewardship
  - Climber Stewards will encourage and promote volunteer opportunities with the Conservation Team and local partners. They will support and participate in partner-led crag stewardship events and coordinate mini clean up events such as Microtrash Mayhem or Weed Wrangles.
• Data Collection & Monitoring
  - Climber Stewards will collect visitor use data to understand user trends and impacts to better inform sustainable park management.

Your experience may refer to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to this opening. We encourage all interested applicants to apply, regardless of meeting all of the preferred qualifications. Tell us how you can contribute to our team in a cover letter.

Skills and Experience We're Looking For

• A passion for the Red River Gorge and its protection.
• Knowledge of the climbing area and history.
• Experience in environmental education, science, conservation, stewardship, and/or a related field.
• Familiarity with and experience communicating best practices for protecting natural and cultural resources.
• Familiarity with and experience with rock climbing.
  
  Please note:
  
  Stewards are not required to climb while working but must have a solid understanding of the basic skills required to boulder, sport, and/or traditional climb.
• Access to a reliable vehicle and ability to transport bulky supplies to and from Climber Coffee locations.
• Willingness to live and camp in or near the climbing area for the season (see Commitment below) in its entirety, in a variety of weather conditions.
• Strong verbal communication and presentation…