Last updated: November 22, 2024
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Community Volunteer Ambassadors: National Early Service Training Held at National Parks of Boston
From November 11 to November 15, Community Volunteer Ambassadors (CVAs) participated in National Early Service Training at National Parks of Boston in Massachusetts. For three days, members connected in-person and received robust training to prepare them for their roles in assisting their site’s Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program and in building lasting connections to local communities.
National Early Service Training kicked off with CVAs presenting the Early Service Projects they had developed during their first weeks of their service term. This project helped foster CVA’s understanding of their host site’s VIP program structure, partnerships, and community engagement efforts. Building on this foundation, VIP program management training sessions equipped the cohort with resources and knowledge on:
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Local policy and handbooks
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Onboarding and training
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Recruitment and recognition strategies
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Community outreach best practices
CVAs also engaged in sessions focused on individual development, such as identifying key steps in project management and practicing non-violent communication to navigate potential workplace challenges. Notably through cultural humility training, CVAs established common language around Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice, which prepared them to work and facilitate meaningful connections with diverse communities.
I feel much more equipped and inspired heading back to my park, thanks to the wealth of resources and ideas shared by everyone [at National Early Service Training].
On the final day, CVAs had the opportunity to connect with Jennifer Steele, a 2020 CVA alum and current Education Technician with National Parks of Boston, as she led a guided tour of the Black Heritage Trail. CVAs immersed themselves in the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood as they learned about the residences and buildings associated with the thriving Black community that lived on and around the north slope of Beacon Hill before, during, and after the American Civil War.
A special thanks to National Parks of Boston for hosting and supporting participants throughout the three-day training, as well as to the National Park Service Northeast Region and Lowell National Historical Park staff for their collaboration in co-facilitating sessions with returning second-year CVAs. We also want to recognize these second-year CVAs for taking on leadership roles and providing valuable mentorship to first-year members.
Congratulations to Fall and Winter CVAs for successfully completing National Early Service Training and for their commitment to making our parks better!
Community Volunteer Ambassador Internship Opportunities
The Volunteers-In-Parks Program is now recruiting paid interns for the Winter 2025 cohort of the Community Volunteer Ambassador program! Learn more about the Winter program and its key benefits by reading: Community Volunteer Ambassadors: Recruiting paid interns for Winter 2025 Cohort (U.S. National Park Service).
For application questions please contact James Gasaway, Stewards Program Director, at jgasaway@conservationlegacy.org.
About the Community Volunteer Ambassador Program
The 48-week Community Volunteer Ambassador Program, a partnership between the National Park Service's Volunteers-In-Parks program and Conservation Legacy's Stewards Individual Placement, empowers young adults (ages 18-30, or 18-35 for veterans) to pursue careers in service and conservation. In 2024, 80 members will serve at park sites nationwide, strengthening community connections through volunteer engagement.