Traditional Trades Program - Landscape Stewardship Corps - Herbert Hoover National

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking TWO members to contribute to landscape stewardship and historic preservation projects alongside Herbert Hoover National Historic Site staff.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program - Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who want to gain experience in the fields of historic preservation and horticulture. No education or experience in the field is necessary.

For more information about the National Park Service's Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) - Landscape Stewardship Corps, please visit our website.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

May/June 2026

November/December 2026

* a 26-week minimum commitment is required

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (West Branch, IA)

Orphaned at age nine, Herbert Hoover left West Branch never to live here again. In later years, he returned to his humble birthplace to celebrate his long career of public service. A memorial landscape remains to tell his story: how community, hard work, honesty, and usefulness to others opened a world of opportunity- and the presidency of the United States- to a child of simple beginnings.

For more information, please visit the NPS website.

HEHO has 186 acres of land that it maintains, with 100 acres of it being maintained landscape and 80 acres of Tallgrass prairie. TTAPS will get to learn turf maintenance, planting, arboriculture, and natural resource maintenance. The Mackey house will be getting roofed and TTAPS will have a chance to learn how to do cedar shake roofing. We will be painting both the PT Smith and William Wright Houses.

TTAPs will have an opportunity to learn historic window and siding work.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm

Living Allowance:
The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority:
Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC‑eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC‑eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement.

PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: A housing allowance of $250/week will be provided for the duration of the term.

Professional Development Stipend: $1,000 of professional development funds will be available to participants for pre‑approved uses.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position‑specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training includes OSHA‑10 and Introduction to Preservation Horticulture.

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts.
• Members must have a High School Diploma or GED.
• Members must be ages 18‑30 (up to 35 if a U.S. veteran).
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self‑directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable…