Position Title: Stewards VISTA: First State National Historical Park- AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East
Site Location: First State National Historical Park
City, State or Full Address: 10 Market St., New Castle, DE 19720
Terms of Service:
Start Date: September 8, 2026
End Date: September 7, 2027
Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)
Purpose:
This AmeriCorps Program is designed to enhance public understanding of early American history and the ongoing struggle for civil rights by supporting interpretive, educational, and community engagement efforts across First State National Historical Park, Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, and affiliated Delaware historic sites. The program serves unique communities across Delaware—including students, educators, local residents, and visitors—by expanding availability to cultural resources, preserving historically significant stories, and fostering dialogue about the nation’s past and present. Guided by values of public service, historical stewardship, collaboration, and civic engagement, the program emphasizes partnerships with local organizations to strengthen community connections and promote lifelong learning.
In this AmeriCorps Position, the member will support program development, deliver interpretive and educational programming, and assist with volunteer coordination across multiple sites and partner organizations. The member contributes to the organization’s mission by helping expand availability to history education while building meaningful relationships with community partners and audiences. Through service, the member strengthens the capacity of the parks and affiliated sites to engage the public in impactful historical interpretation.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.
Description of Duties:
The VISTA member will receive day-to-day supervision from First State NHP staff while supporting capacity-building efforts at three Delaware affiliated sites of Brown V. Board of Education NHP: Claymont Community Center, Howard High School, and Hockessin Colored School 107C. During the service year, the VISTA will research and develop engaging, site-specific interpretive programs that highlight each location’s historical significance. The member will also design a volunteer program, including recruitment strategies, training materials, and program structure for staff to implement to deliver interpretive programming and enhance visitor engagement, expanding access to civil rights history and building a sustainable program.
Qualifications:
- United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
- "Must be 18-30 years of age, maximum 35 for Veterans with DD-214"
- Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements
- Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours), but exact schedules may vary.
- Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
Orientation and Training:
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service.
Benefits:
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00
o or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00
- Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
- Housing Funds ($1,000 a month)
- Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
- Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
- Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
- Loan forbearance if Eligible
- Interest Payments if Eligible
- Training and Professional Development Opportunities
- Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
- Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
- Networking and Mentorship
- For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.
- For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare.
- For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/.
- For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm.
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
For VISTA related information, contact Addie Gilkerson, [email protected]
For site related information, contact Samantha Baranski, [email protected]
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
