Position Summary
Join the team at the Tongass National Forest’s Southeast Alaska Discovery Center (SEADC) in Ketchikan and work in the largest visitor centers in Alaska! We’re seeking two people enthusiastic about sharing the state’s cultural heritage, economic diversity and natural beauty with Discovery Center visitors.
During the off-season, SEADC remains busy with multiple weekly homeschool programs, a weekly community-based Friday Night Insights lecture series (think Tedtalk’s more casual little brother), and monthly art classes. Our facility also co-hosts larger events including rotating art shows in our exhibits, movie nights, workshops, or even a haunted house. We begin preparing for cruise ship season in late winter. Exhibits are revitalized and annual chores are checked off. The off-season officially ends with our Alaska Hummingbird Festival, a month-long birding extravaganza celebrating the 5 billion birds who migrate to Alaska each year.
From our landmark downtown location, we are surrounded by the largest in-tact temperate rainforest in world. The Tongass National Forest’s 17 million acres spans the majority of Southeast Alaska. While winter may not be thought of as the ideal recreation or wildlife viewing season in Alaska, there are amazing experiences that come with the quieter seasons.
Hosting Organization
Tongass National Forest
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
Location
Ketchikan, AK
Schedule
November 1, 2026 - May 1, 2027
There is flexibility in the start date to begin in October or as late as November 15. Positions will have to end by mid-May to make room in the bunkhouse for summer staff.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
• Welcome and orient visitors, open and close visitor center, provide information, and show refuge film.
• Participates in the development and management of a high-quality Interpretative Center by orienting and guiding visitors along their trip or about their backyard. Create and present interpretive programs on a variety of Southeast Alaska topics.
• Run the day-to-day operations of the Discovery Center, including checking admission tickets, answering visitor questions, maintaining the grounds, and operating audio-visual equipment.
• Assist the Discovery Center’s Director and Assistant Director with creating programs and activities.
• Curate interpretive content for exhibits. Maintain museum exhibits.
• Assist with planning and presenting special events and activities within the Discovery Center.
Marginal Duties
While this is a front-country position focused inside the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, we will try our best to offer chances to explore other professions and projects within the Tongass National Forest and with our partners. It is our goal to help you make the most of your time here and explore beyond our Visitor Center. The following is a list of example activities that may be offered based on the participants’ interest and our schedule availability.
• Identify potential partnership activities within the local community. Maintain relationships with local partners (such as museums, state and local government, schools, and non-profit organizations). This could include visiting local schools, guest hosting a ranger themed radio show, helping our history museum with hanging their new summer exhibit, or representing the Forest Service at a career fair.
• Create and present outdoor environmental education programs at our Ward Lake location.
• Develop content for the Discovery Center’s strategic marketing, including updating the Forest’s social media streams.
• Record or present virtual programs for distant learning in classrooms throughout Alaska.
• Seek out trainings that would advance your career and meet the Visitor Center’s needs.
Required Qualifications
Strong communication skills. Great public speaking skills, or the willingness to build this skill. It is strongly recommended candidates be enthusiastic with the idea of living in a secluded, small town.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with the geography, cultures, and ecology of Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska.
Working Conditions
- Work schedules and projects may change on short notice or be ambiguous.
- Work settings require the ability to positively interact with people of varying perspectives.
- Work settings may be located in natural environments and regionally significant locations that require respect for the land and local peoples.
- Work environment may be in inclement and severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and flash flooding, gusty and strong winds, foggy or decreased visibility, lightning events, and/or decreased or inclement air quality conditions due to wildfire smoke or smog.
- Work settings may involve exposure to natural and environmental hazards, such as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac; harmful, poisonous, or disease-carrying ticks, mosquitos, insects, snakes, bears, and other wildlife.
- Work may take place in cold temperatures and adverse winter weather which could include temperatures in some regions -20°F or colder with wind, snow, and sleet.
Hours
40 per week
Staff at the SEADC operate on a maxi-flex schedule. We work as a team to ensure the Visitor Center is covered during operating hours and special events while allowing for staff leave and flexibility.
Living Accommodations
The Bunkhouse:
Housing includes a fully furnished bunkhouse with housemates. Rooms may be shared with one other person of the same gender. As a winter placement, it is likely you will have a solo room throughout most of your position, but this is not guaranteed. Common areas, including the kitchen, living room, and bathroom are shared. There are two separate gendered multi-person bathrooms and one private unisex bathroom. The bunkhouse includes laundry facilities. Bedding and towels are provided. There is one ADA accessible room and bathroom.
Housing is located within walking distance of two grocery stores, a mall, a few restaurants, and a hospital. Outside of the bunkhouse is a bus stop on Ketchikan’s year-round public transit system. It takes about 10-15 minutes to navigate to the downtown Discovery Center from the bunkhouse by bus or about a 45-minute walk.
Compensation
$475/week living allowance
$400/month housing allowance (6 months)
$1500 one-time roundtrip travel stipend
$400 duty-related reimbursements
AmeriCorps Eligible ($3,697.50 Award requires 900 hours of service)
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Driving
Driving is not required
Additional Benefits
AmeriCorps: Eligible/Optional
Equal Opportunity Statement
SCA is an equal opportunity employer. Selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and performance, without unlawful discrimination.
Skills Required
- Strong communication skills
- Great public speaking skills or willingness to build public speaking skills
- Enthusiasm for living in a secluded, small town
- Familiarity with the geography, cultures, and ecology of Ketchikan and Southeast Alaska
What We Do
SCA is a forest industry company that develops and refines forest resources into sustainable products, contributing to growth and societal development.
