Summer Interpretive Intern

POSITION TITLE: Interpretive Intern at the Sacajawea Center

SERVICE TERM: 40 hours per week/ June 1 – August 15 (moderately flexible on end date)

There is also the possibility to work in shorter blocks of time depending on school schedules i.e. May 11-June 15

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION: Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center and the City of Salmon, Idaho

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION’S MISSION: The Sacajawea Center’s mission is to foster the knowledge and appreciation of the Agaidika Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Western frontier life, and the natural environment.

The Sacajawea Center interprets the rich cultural and natural history of the Salmon and Lemhi River Country, deepening people’s connection to the unique place this area holds in our nation’s history, which was shaped in part by the Lewis & Clark Expedition and Sacajawea as well as her people, the Agaidika Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

LOCATION: Serving in Salmon, located in east central Idaho, offers a great opportunity for an individual or couple seeking a summer experience in a unique and interesting setting. Salmon is the gateway to the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the homeland of Sacajawea and her tribe, and the self-proclaimed whitewater capital of the world. Here you will find rugged peaks, alpine lakes, the famous Salmon River, and front row seats to prominent parts of American history. This stunning landscape inspires reverence and observation as well as offers unlimited opportunities for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, camping, boating, and many other recreational activities.

The Sacajawea Center is one of a kind. Opened in 2003 to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s bicentennial, the Center boasts 70 acres with walking trails, an interpretive center, an amphitheater, a dog park, the Learning Center with space for meetings, performances, art shows and parties, a rustic 55-seat theater, a community garden, and the Salmon Outdoor School where primitive and ancestral skills classes are held weekly. The Center partners with twelve local agencies and organizations that provide rich layers of content and support and were instrumental in bringing the park to fruition.

    Mailing address: Sacajawea Center, 200 Main Street, Salmon, ID 83467

    Physical address: 2700 Main Street

POSITION SUMMARY: The Sacajawea Center is looking for an energetic individual to come work with us! The intern would assist in creating positive, memorable experiences for visitors and community members at the Sacajawea Center. Their primary role is in providing interpretive and educational programs and assisting in events but may support all aspects of operations at the Center, including visitor services and grounds and site maintenance. The intern will be able to direct their own interpretive focus as it pertains to local history, natural and/or cultural resources. The intern will help operate the Center’s ancestral and frontier living skills programs for the public and visiting school groups. Topics covered in the past included fire making, shelter building, tool making, plant identification, food preparation, and Lewis and Clark history though the intern has the discretion to create programs more aligned to their interests with approval by the Center director. All interns will have a few specific duties and scheduled times of service after discussion with the Center’s director upon arrival.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Planning and implementing interpretive and educational programming. Interns will provide interpretive and educational programs throughout the week. Interns will also assist in building relationships with area schools and create programs and lesson plans that could be used either on site or presented in the classroom. The intern will also work closely with the Lemhi County Historical Society to create programs that help explain and educate river outfitters and guests on the connection between the Salmon River, the communities of Lemhi County, and important events in history (i.e the Lewis and Clark expedition) and help people understand sites and places of importance they will see on river trips. Program interests and topics will be decided upon after a meeting between the director and intern on what the intern would like to focus on or where their interests lie. Other duties include greeting visitors, answering questions, providing tourist information, and being readily accessible to the public while on duty. The intern will be expected to help staff the Interpretive Center every day, collect admission fees, and work on site maintenance and grounds upkeep. Site maintenance and grounds upkeep includes weeding, pruning, mowing, weed eating, trash collection, and other projects. A typical day would look something like this:

830-10am: Assist in opening Interpretive Center/ Grounds Maintenance – clean bathrooms, weed Center beds near statue (weather dependent)

10-12pm: Provide interpretive programs or work on program creation/planning

12pm-1230pm: Lunch break

1230-400pm: Provide interpretive programs or work on other projects (ie pollinator beds, garden plots)

400-430pm: Assist in Interpretive Center closing procedures

430-500: More project time or site maintenance- dependent on what is needed

The Center also has a community garden that is becoming a pollinator habitat. If the intern is interested in the garden programs i.e. providing pollinator and other education programming, garden maintenance, pollinator habitat creation, the intern has the opportunity to work this area as well.

The Center is unique in there are currently no scheduled programs at the Center. The intern will have the discretion on when and where to offer programs and focus their energies in terms of type of programming offered. The only thing is the Center requires is at least one program offered at least once a week down on the Outdoor School Site.

Due to the uncertainty of Covid-19, programming presented by the intern may be limited to small groups of no more than ten if permitted by the Salmon City Council and CDC guidelines. If programming is seen to be unsafe or not in accordance with CDC guidelines, the intern will not present any programs to the public besides in an online presence.

 In the absence of staff, take appropriate action during visitor or maintenance emergencies: identify problems, obtain relevant information, and notify appropriate authorities (staff, police, ambulance, etc.)

 During the performance of duties listed above, may operate and help maintain a variety of equipment, such as pick-up truck, electric powered golf cart, riding and push mowers, backpack and walk-behind blowers, power trimmers, and weed eaters.

$1000/month and monthly stipend for housing and amenities as housing is not available on-site

City vehicle provided for work-related driving needs

Complete orientation and training

Continual evaluation and feedback on performance

Work shirt and name tag provided

Garden plots available for growing vegetables, etc.

A beautiful location for a seasonal position

Be self-motivated, professional, and flexible in our often fast-paced and ever-changing work environment

Have the skill to present oneself as an enthusiastic, friendly, people-oriented individual

Demonstrate excellent communication skills, orally and in writing. Must be comfortable with public speaking.

Have the ability to work effectively alone without supervision as well as with others

Possess a valid state driver’s license; have access to a personal vehicle

Have some knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and social media sites or a willingness to learn

Be willing to work weekends and some evenings

Be comfortable living and working in a rural setting

At least 2 years of college completed in one of the following areas: history, natural or cultural resources, interpretation, education, environmental sciences, recreation or related fields; hold a degree in one of these fields; or have equivalent job-related experiences

Basic knowledge of interpretive techniques

Basic knowledge of Sacajawea and the Corps of Discovery

The director will meet with the intern on a weekly basis to ensure professional development.

The director will assure adequate training is obtained and provide feedback on interpretive/educational programs throughout the summer.

 The intern will serve as one of the main program presenters so the ability to work unsupervised is important.

The intern will be supervised by the director and trained in specific site protocol and programs by the director.

The Sacajawea Center will provide training for the intern regarding interpretation and lesson planning, natural and cultural history of the area, and our mission, partners, and policies. Some of this will be accomplished through shadowing and independent study.

Open until filled. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Prior to first day of service, intern(s) must pass a background check and sign an intern use agreement.

Interested? Contact Suzy Avey, Director: 208.303.0245 or savey@sacajaweacenter.org

If you are ready to apply, send your cover letter and resume to the email address listed above.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions!