Landscape Stewardship Corps

Landscape Stewardship Corps

Join Us! LSC Open Positions

Do you have a passion for the environment, a love of history, and enjoy spending time in the great outdoors?

The Landscape Stewardship Corps, a program of the National Park Service and our partner, American Conservation Experience, places aspiring young conservationists at National Parks nationwide to help care for America's treasured places --cultural landscapes that reveal the diverse stories of our past.

Young people (to age 30 or 35 if a veteran) interested in landscape conservation--especially those from backgrounds underrepresented in the horticulture and historic preservation trades—have unique opportunities to work on real-life projects, build professional experience, earn a decent wage, and nurture life-long connections to America's national parks. Through the program, National Park Service gardeners, horticulturists, and arborists mentor and share their trade skills, helping ensure these remarkable places inspire future generations too.

NPS

Program Overview

Throughout a 26-week immersive experience, Landscape Stewardship Corps participants train and work alongside experienced NPS staff to preserve historic cultural landscapes. Participants learn the fundamentals of landscape preservation and hands-on skills in horticulture, arboriculture, urban forestry, and other landscaping trades. Landscape Stewardship Corps participants will:

• Gain foundational skills for a career in landscape preservation and conservation
• Foster lifelong connections to the national parks
• Help care for our nation's treasured places
• Enrich the fields of historic preservation and horticulture with diverse views, experiences, and backgrounds

The Landscape Stewardship Corps is a new focus of the Traditional Trades Advancement Program, known as TTAP, established by the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center with support from the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation. Visit the TTAP webpage to learn more about opportunities focused on historic building preservation and related skills, such as masonry and carpentry.

Who Can Apply

• Youth must be between 18 and 30 years of age.
• Veterans must be between 18 and 35 years of age and possess a DD214 with a discharge status of Honorable or General under Honorable Conditions.
• Participants must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident.
• No prior landscape or preservation experience is required to be eligible to participate.

How to Apply

LSC positions have varied start dates but typically begin between March and June, with a few positions starting in summer or fall.LSC positions currently accepting applications will be posted on our partner’s webpage.

Applicant's Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a federal job with the National Park Service?

No. While you will be mentored by National Park Service employee on National Park Service sites, you will be employed by one of our approved Corps Network partner organizations.

What are the benefits for participants?

Participants will receive hands-on training opportunities in cultural landscape preservation and conservation while earning a base living allowance equivalent to $18 per hour. Additionally, interns will receive:

• $1,000 professional development funds
• Hands-on training in landscape preservation and historic preservation from NPS professionals
• NPS networking opportunities
• Professional development training
• Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority

Is this a full-time position?

Yes. Participants will work an average of 40 hours per week for the 26-week position. These may be five 8-hour days, or 10-hour four day weeks, depending on park staff schedules.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Under the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps initiative, young adults participating in LSC must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years to participate. Veterans qualify up to the age of 35 years of age and must possess a DD214 with a discharge status of Honorable or General under Honorable Conditions. The only other requirements are to have a strong interest in history, horticulture, public land management, historic preservation, and/or the environment, and have enthusiasm to both learn and work hard!

What are the physical requirements?

Participants must be comfortable working outside in varying weather conditions and sometimes at heights. Participants must have a willingness to work hard and get dirty. Given the nature of the work, it is important for participants to be realistic about their capabilities and ensure they understand the expectations of the position they apply for.

Will I get a job at the end of the internship?

While there is no guarantee of employment when the program is completed, a program goal program is to support diverse youth in gaining marketable skills in the conservation field —skills that are sought after both private and public sectors, including the National Park Service. Young adults successfully completing the Landscape Stewardship Corps requirements are eligible for Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. This means that they are eligible to receive PLC noncompetitive hiring authority and use it to apply for eligible federal jobs within two years of completing the program.

Contact

Questions? Contact our team at [e-mail]

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