Vacancy expired!
Expected Dates
June 8, 2020 to September 6, 2020
Site
Bighorn National Forest
Position ID
PO-00728788
The Medicine Wheel is an ancient stone structure built on top of Medicine Mountain at 9,640 feet (2,938 m) above sea level. The site is staffed seven days a week for 10 hours each day. Interns will work at the interpretors cabin near the main parking area and at the Medicine Wheel, which is 1.25 miles away. Staff at the cabin greet visitors as they arrive and provide interpretation of the site, forest information, and answer general questions about the area. All Staff help maintain the site by performing duties, such as cleaning bathrooms, painting facillities, repairing fences, clearing pathways, etc Staff is required to walk the 1.25 miles between the Medicine Wheel and Interpreters cabin each day. Weather on Medicine Mountain can change rapidly from one extreme to another. Occasional snow can be expected during the early and later parts of the season, and thunderstorms with lightning and hail are common throughout the summer.
The site is a Sacred Native American Traditional Cultural Property and National Historic Landmark where hundreds of Native Americans make a pilgrimage each year, with many having either public or private ceremonies. Many people from around the world visit the site to learn a about Native American culture. Approximately 10,700 visitors came to the Medicine Wheel in 2018. We are looking at establishing one or two guided tours each day, but generally, interpretation will be impromptu and often cursory. Various chronometric data sources, including dendrochronology, radiocarbon dating, and projectile point chronologies have been used to establish the duration of Native American use of Medicine Mountain, which extends nearly 10,000 years into the past.
Lodging will be provided at the nearby Porcupine Ranger Station. This facility serves as living quarters and as a Forest Service work center. Other seasonal and permanent employees will be housed periodically at the site. Past interpreters often spent time socializing with interpreters and staff at the Burgess work center and Shell Ranger Station. Opportunities to work with Forest Service staff conducting a variety of Forest Service management tasks will also be available.
Compensation amounts:
-
$1,100 - one time RT travel allowance
- $100 - weekly living allowance
- AmeriCorps eligible ($1,612 education award)
- Housing
- All allowances subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes
-
Location Description
The Medicine Wheel is located near the top of Medicine Mountain at 9,640 ft (2,938 m) elevation. With this site located on a mountain top it is exposed to the elements and has a commanding view of the Bighorn Basin and surrounding mountain ranges. The Medicine Wheel is in alpine tundra and, due to the weather and altitude, plants cannot grow very large. Wildlife is abundant near the site, with elk, deer, and moose seen in the open meadows below. Interpreters will greet visitors at the kiosk and monitor visitors 1.25 miles away at the actual site. Lodging is provided at the Porcupine Ranger Station, approximately 4 miles from the site.
- Training Provided
Forest orientation that includes; First aid/CPR, Defensive Driving, ethics and conduct, Thunderstorm and lighting preparedness, site information and interpretation.
- Educational/Recreational Opportunities
Interpreters will have educational opportunities, including Native American culture, archaeology, natural history, and public land management. Outdoor recreation activities are abundant. Shopping, entertainment, and dining opportunities are also available
- Handicap Accessible?
Yes
Main Area of Focus
Education and Interpretation
Education, Training & Skills Expected
Social Sciences
some coursework or experience
Communications
some coursework or experience
Education
some coursework or experience
Recreation Management
some coursework or experience
History
some coursework or experience
Bird Identification
some experience
Customer Service
competent with supervision
Leadership Experience
some experience
Plant Identification
some experience
Public Speaking
competent with supervision
Further Details
AmeriCorps Eligible
Eligible
Driving Logistics
Valid Drivers License Needed
Housing or Stipend Provided?
Yes
Forest Service compound with housing is approximately 4 miles from site. Transportation is provided to and from site for work. Housing is usually a Co-ed bunkhouse, and may or may not have a roommate, shared living areas, kitchen, and bathrooms. Washer and dryer are in each building. Cellular reception is not available at the living quarters but can be accessed within a short drive. WiFi is expected to be installed by the beginning of the season, but access will be limited to low-data-use activities such as checking email, websites, weather, etc. No streaming or download services will be allowed. Occasionally cabins and/or trailers are provided for housing. Cookware and utensils are provided. Interns need to bring all personal items; toiletries, bedding/ or sleeping bag, etc Intern must be able to go shopping and to get around for personal use as Government vehicles are not available for this. The nearest services are Bear Lodge Resort, but these are very limited. Full services can be found approximately 40 miles to the west in Lovell or at slightly greater distances in Greybull, Powell, Dayton, and Sheridan.The living quarters are surrounded by the scenic Bighorn Mountains and vast tracts of Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Parks Service, and State of Wyoming public lands, with many opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, rockhounding, mountain biking, and even rock climbing in Ten Sleep Canyon (requires a 3 hour drive). Yellowstone National Park is approximately 3.5 hours to the west, and the Black Hills are approximately 4 hours to the east.
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
US Citizenship
Required
Vacancy expired!