Contributed by: Danielle Parker
Company/Organization: Preservation Alliance of West Virginia
Salary Range: $12,000
Date Posted: August 20, 2026
Location: Elkins, West Virginia
Website: Visit External Site

*This is a part-time position!*

The Preserve WV AmeriCorps program gives you the chance to make a real difference by helping small museums, historic sites, and community organizations in West Virginia protect and share their history! We are seeking a Historic Trails AmeriCorps member to help preserve and promote West Virginia’s cultural heritage by updating two statewide heritage trails: the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail and the West Virginia New Deal/CCC Trail.

The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV) is the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation. It is the main administrator of the Preserve WV AmeriCorps program and is headquartered at the Darden House in Elkins. In 2008, PAWV partnered with the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office to create the two heritage trails using Preserve America funding. These two trails were originally paper brochures but have since been turned into online websites. PAWV is seeking assistance in updating these trails and transforming them into accessible interactive digital experiences. This AmeriCorps member will also be asked to plan a panel presentation related to their service project and help coordinate volunteers for the West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference scheduled May 25, 27, 2027 in Charleston.

This is a part-time service opportunity, 15-20 hours per week, and it will be based at PAWV’s office located at 421 Davis Avenue, Elkins, West Virginia. The main responsibilities will be:

Heritage Trail Research & Updates:

• Review existing information for both statewide heritage trails and identify outdated, incomplete, or missing information
• Update site names, locations, dates, historical descriptions, photographs, accessibility information, links, and other relevant information
• Update existing trail applications and help to solicit new applications for sites that may have opened since the most recent update
• Process new applications and share with the PAWV board for review
• Develop new content for any new sites added to the trails

Interactive Mobile App Development

• Research and evaluate free and low-cost online tools that can be used to create a mobile-friendly interactive heritage trail (may involve a fundraising project to secure funding for fee-based services)
• Develop an easy-to-use digital platform that allows users to explore trail locations from a smartphone
• Create interactive maps showing trails sites and geographic relationships
• Develop QR codes or other simple ways for visitors to access trail information while traveling
• Explore features such as GPS-enabled maps, multimedia content, self-guided tours, and suggested itineraries
• Test the digital experience on different mobile devices and improve usability based testing
• Develop instructions so PAWV staff can maintain and update the digital trails after the member’s service term ends

Community & Partner Engagement

• Communicate with communities and organizations located along the two heritage trails
• Write press releases about the project and encourage local promotion through convention and visitors bureaus
• Participate in meetings, site visits, and community events as appropriate
• Develop tabling materials to share about the project
• Create 2 social media posts per week about a site on each of the trails

Historic Preservation Conference

• Plan a conference panel session about the heritage trails for the West Virginia Historic Preservation Conference
• Coordinate volunteers for the conference

How to Apply:

1.) Email your resume and statement of interest to the AmeriCorps program director at info@pawv.org. The statement of interest should directly reference the description of the position the applicant is applying to and speak to how the applicant's interests, experience, and career goals are a good match for that particular service opportunity. If interested, applicants may use the statement of interest to apply for more than one position.

2.) Create an account and submit an AmeriCorps application under the "Preserve WV AmeriCorps" listing - https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/publicRequestSearch.do

*For problems creating and submitting an application, contact the National Service hotline at 1-800-942-2677.