National Park Service - Stones River National Cemetery Restoration Steward - AmeriCorps

Description

Position Title: National Park Service - Stones River National Cemetery Restoration Steward - AmeriCorps

Number of Openings: Three

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Stones River National Battlefield

3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Terms of Service:

• Anticipated Start Date: 09/14/2026
• Anticipated End Date: 12/04/2026 (12 weeks)
• AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hours

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements is an AmeriCorps Program which provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and protect our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting the conservation of natural areas. Established in 1927, Stones River National Battlefield and Cemetery conserves, protects, and promotes understanding of the significant sites and historic events associated with the Battle of Stones River, fought during the American Civil War. The National Cemetery Investment Initiative is an effort to rehabilitate the cultural areas, historic structures, and facilities in national cemeteries managed by the National Park Service.

The Stones River National Cemetery Restoration Steward is an AmeriCorps position that will support restoration of the cemetery at Stones River National Battlefield through the installation of trees and shrubs that enhance the historic setting and improve long-term vegetation health. The member will serve as part of a supervised field crew performing various outdoor restoration tasks. Duties will include refining previously excavated planting holes, planting specimen trees, screen trees, and shrubs, backfilling with soil, forming watering basins, applying mulch, installing tree stakes and ties, and assisting with site cleanup. The member will also help protect surrounding cultural resources such as turf, walkways, and headstones while following safe service practices in a visitor-use area.

If you are ready to embark on a fulfilling journey with Stones River National Battlefield, apply now by uploading your resume and cover letter, and take the first step towards a rewarding career with the National Park Service!


To learn more about Stewards, please visit: Homepage | Stewards Individual Placement Program

To learn more about the Stones River National Cemetery at Stones River National Battlefield, please visit: Stones River National Cemetery - Stones River National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)

Description of Duties:

As an AmeriCorps Member serving with the Stones River National Cemetery in Murfreesboro, TN, your responsibilities will include:

• Staking Trees by installing wooden stakes at correct distances from trees, ensuring stakes do not split or break.
• Measuring, cutting, and installing webbing at correct heights around trees using proper anchoring techniques.
• Mulching by creating shallow ditches around the edge of tree burial sites and installing mulch at correct depths and distances around trees.
• Coordinating with NPS staff to ensure availability of landscaping materials.
• Planting trees by shaping and scarifying the inside surface of planting holes, removing ground roots and/or rocks, and assisting in positioning trees in holes.
• Backfilling holes with care to ensure correct tree root placement and soil compaction.
• Planning and leading at least one community volunteer project supporting rehabilitation or maintenance of the national cemetery.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.

• Between the ages of 18 - 30, or up to age 35 with Veteran status.

• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

• Must have a valid Driver's License.

• Interest in cultural area management.
• Interest and ability to perform arduous outdoor labor.

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.


Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve 40 hours a week Monday - Friday, but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service
• The member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.
• The member will serve fully in person on site.

Orientation and Training:

• The member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• The member will receive an NPS orientation and complete a Safety Program, Job Specific Safety Training, and Historic Headstone Cleaning.
• The member will receive training that will cover correct installation measurements, proper techniques for tying webbing anchors, identification of root zones, and techniques for safely and effectively pounding stakes. Training will also address the purpose and benefit of tree stakes.
• The member will receive training that will cover an overview of hole design, techniques for hole shape and surface scarifying, safety around machinery, and filing holes with dirt around root wads.
• The member will also receive training covering identification of tree burial perimeters, proper depth and techniques of creating trenches, and proper installation of mulch. Training will also address purpose and benefit of mulch rings.
• The member will have the opportunity to gain hands-on skills training in other area management and historic structure maintenance as well as interpretation.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.35.
• Living Allowance of $680 per week.
• Housing stipend of $450 per week.
• Professional Development funds of $1,000.
• Loan forbearance if Eligible.
• Interest Payments if Eligible.
• Eligible for Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority upon successful completion of term.

• Training and Professional Development Opportunities.
• Employee Wellness Program (connect with a licensed professional counselor and 24/7 support).

• Networking and Mentorship.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, 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 and accomplishment tracking.

Recruiter & Program Coordinator Contact Information:


Meaghan Hall


Stewards Individual Placements Program Coordinator


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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.