Stewards VISTA: Acadia National Park

Job Details

• Job Category Conservation , Ameri Corps
• Employee Type VISTA
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Manage Others No

• Phone

Position Title: Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) VISTA:
Acadia National Park
- Ameri Corps

Site

Location:

Bar Harbor, ME 04609

City, State or Full Address: 20 McFarland Hill Road

Terms of Service:

Start Date: August 10, 2026

End Date: August 9, 2027

Must serve a 365‑day (1 year) service term

Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

Stewards Individual Placements & Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) Initiative:
Stewards Individual Placements provides individuals with Ameri Corps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural and cultural resources. The Youth Empowerment Steward (YES) initiative aims to increase access to the outdoors for all Americans.

Are you passionate about expanding access to public lands and creating welcoming outdoor experiences for all visitors? Do you believe everyone should have the opportunity to explore and enjoy our National Parks? Our health, our planet, and our collective future rely on variety – in thought, ability, experience, and ideas. Join the Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) program and contribute to strengthening park operations and enhancing the visitor experience by helping to remove barriers to outdoor access—ensuring that our national parks remain open and welcoming to all Americans.

Acadia National Park is a stunning coastal national park located on Mount Desert Island and surrounding areas along the rugged Atlantic shoreline of Maine. Established in 1916 as the first national park east of the Mississippi River, it is known for its dramatic rocky coastlines, granite peaks, dense forests, and pristine lakes. Visitors come to hike miles of scenic trails, drive the historic Park Loop Road, bike the carriage roads built by John

D. Rockefeller Jr., and watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain—one of the first places in the United States to see the sun rise during parts of the year. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including white‑tailed deer, peregrine falcons, and harbor seals, making it a destination that blends natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and rich conservation history.

The Ameri Corps VISTA member will serve with the park’s education and interpretation team to help expand outreach to underserved groups, with a special focus on reducing barriers so that all have access to public lands. The member will develop educational curriculum for local schools, community organizations, and youth groups—particularly those from lower‑income neighborhoods—with the goal to increase awareness of public resources, deepen understanding of environmental and cultural history, and cultivate a strong ethic of stewardship.

Through indirect service, the VISTA will build the park’s long‑term capacity by developing new interpretive and educational programming (both in‑person and virtual), creating outreach materials, and enhancing communications strategies to reach broader audiences.

The Ameri Corps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

The VISTA will collaborate with park staff to design public education programs for a wide variety of audiences, including underserved schools and youth organizations. They will develop interpretive talks and curriculum‑aligned programming for K–12 students in science, history, and social studies—both in person and virtually. The member will create new educational content (videos, signage, digital materials), improve outreach to economically disadvantaged communities, and identify ways to reduce barriers to participation for people with disabilities.

This role strengthens long‑term capacity through relationship‑building, resource development, and strategic outreach.

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• College graduate
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Conservation…