Training and Support

All team members will be asked to join us for an in-person training in Estes Park, Colorado April 12-14, 2024. Details will be available upon acceptance of a placement offer for the summer season. If you are serving the winter of 2024/25, your training will either be in Estes Park, Colorado (Rocky Mtn NP) on October 4-6 or in Gatlinburg, Tennessee (Great Smoky NP) November 15-17.

Ministry Program Fee (Summer/Winter Traditional Program)

There is a $350 Program Fee that covers your training, a leadership assessment, coaching, ministry materials, mid-season support, and a post-season debrief designed to help transition from and process your ministry time in a park. Returning alumni will have a reduced Program Fee of $275. Some team members choose to raise support to help cover these costs. We can help with a fundraising manual.

Additional costs:

Your travel costs to/from training and your assigned park.  We strongly recommend that you consider taking a car to your assigned park. Although, several parks are not accessible by car including: Glacier Bay, Isle Royale, and North Cascades.

Please keep in mind that the expenses related to recruiting, training, and supporting each team member exceeds $2,500.  These additional costs are covered by hundreds of faithful supporters of ACMNP who want to invest in you and your ministry in a park.

Your fee helps to cover the following:

• Training Conference
• Leadership Assessment – Administered online through our partner, The Lions Lead.
• Assessment Interpretation – Trained volunteers and ACMNP staff will assist in the interpretation of your assessment.
• ACMNP T-Shirt and Sticker
• Ministry Supplies (worship books, publicity, park permit processing, etc.)
• Mid-Season Support
• Post-season debrief (at various locations)

No, but it is strongly recommended.  You can raise money to cover your Program Fee, travel to your training, and travel to your park. Some team members decide to raise a little extra for special outreach projects in the park (community meal, themed event, Christmas in July, etc.).

After you receive a placement offer, a fundraising manual is available upon request to help get you started. Call the national office for encouragement, ideas, and support.

It depends on your specific job, but most team members are able to take home $2,500 – 3,000 after expenses are covered at the end of a summer season, and more than double this in a longer winter season.

Many colleges and seminaries will consider a placement with ACMNP for field education credit.  Due to the high concentration of international employees working and visiting the national parks, several schools will count time serving with ACMNP as a cross-cultural experience.  Consult your academic advisors and field education departments for more information.  Let us know if your school needs additional information about the program.

Many parks have local support called Ministry Support Committees (MSC).  Due to the remote locations of some parks, a local committee is not feasible.  The national office will provide support as needed to all parks.  A representative of ACMNP will visit your park.  Prayer partners are also provided.  It is strongly recommended that you build a team of supportive friends and family who will pray for you and provide financial resources.

Probably not, though this type of support may be possible through your local Ministry Support Committee. Often times, team members use their prayer partners, team members, or leadership assessment coaches in this manner. The strong leadership development nature of our ministry may mean that you are a mentor during your ACMNP experience. If having a mentor is important to you, please feel free to reach out to us and we can discuss possibilities.

Seminarians should let the ACMNP National Staff know as soon as possible if a mentor is required for their Field Education experience. We will make sure that a mentor is available to you either locally or through the national office.

Summer Placements
All Ministry Team Members serving in the summer will participate in a mandatory training in Estes Park, Colorado April 12-14, 2024. If you have an unavoidable conflict, please reach out to us. Pre-conference and post-conference online materials will also be made available. There are additional resources available through email, the team GroupMe, and our website.

Winter Placements
All Ministry Team Members serving in the summer will participate in a mandatory training in Estes Park, Colorado Oct. 4-6, 2024 or Gatlinburg, Tennessee Nov. 15-17, 2024. If you have an unavoidable conflict, please reach out to us.There are additional resources available through email, the team GroupMe, and our website.

The ACMNP training is mandatory and is considered vital for your success and the health of your team. If you have an unavoidable conflict, please reach out to us and we can talk through possibilities.

Four types of scholarships are awarded.

1. Seminary or Graduate School (theological or ministry related studies)
   • Seminarian scholarships are awarded in the amount of $2,000 for first time Ministry Team Members enrolled in graduate studies.  The scholarships are increased to $3,000 for returning seminarians.  The scholarships are awarded upon the successful completion of the student’s commitment to ACMNP and their park employer in their summer or winter season.

2. Financial Need – Limited funds are available through the generosity of friends of ACMNP to help with a participant’s Program Fee. The amount of the scholarship is awarded at the discretion of the national staff.
3. Director’s Awards – Each summer three scholarships will be awarded to outstanding Ministry Team Members whose service to Christ, their team, their park community, and ACMNP is deemed outstanding and exceptionally effective.
4. Advanced Leadership Development Program (ALDP)
   • If chosen to participate in the ALDP, a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded upon successful completion of the summer ministry program and fulfillment of commitments made to ACMNP and the park employer.

The national staff prayerfully considers many sources of information in appointing team leaders including, but not limited to: application, references, indication of a desire to lead, interviews, results from The Lions Lead leadership assessment, recommendations, and personal conversations.

The Advanced Leadership Development Program or ALDP is designed to provide a deeper level of leadership training and development. A limited number of participants, usually 12-15, are accepted in the program each summer. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded which may be offered in addition to the Seminarian Scholarship.

To apply, check out this link: www.acmnp.com/aldp. You can also reach out to our national office to request an application: Please email info@acmnp.com.

While alum and seminarians may receive priority for this program, any team member is welcome and encouraged to apply!

The Lions Lead is a partner organization that provides world-class leadership development tools to organizations and individuals globally. Ministry Team Members will take the Successful Student Profile (valued at $150) online through The Lions Lead. This resource is covered in your Program Fee. Participants in the ALDP will take the more robust and substantial Leader Manager Profile (valued at $400). This resource is covered by generous donors through ACMNP. Additional information can be found at: www.thelionslead.com