Description
Housing: Not Provided, but the Host Site is willing to help the member find reasonable accommodations and potentially provide a housing stipend to offset costs
Days and Hours of Service: 40 hours per week may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Additional Training Provided: Chainsaw Safety Training
Host Site and Position Overview:
Midcoast Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to protect vital lands and waters on a scale that matters and to inspire wonder and action on behalf of all species and the earth. Our focus area covers 26 towns and over a 500-square mile area from Montville to Friendship to Westport Island, and includes the Damariscotta Lake, Sheepscot River, and Medomak River watersheds, along with their many tributaries. Work is supported by membership, major donors, grants, and foundations.
Midcoast Conservancy seeks to protect critically important natural resources, improve the quality of life for residents of Midcoast Maine, and provide healthy outdoor adventure and learning programs for youth, adults of all ages, and families.
The Environmental Steward will contribute to the Midcoast Conservancy mission by:
1. Building a volunteer base through ongoing partnerships with community organizations to maintain and build trails across the region
2. Expanding conservation outreach and education efforts to our service area community
3. Expanding our stewardship capacity for currently conserved lands, with a focus on increasing trail accessibility
The Midcoast Conservancy Land Environmental Steward provides critical support in caring for conserved lands, trails, and facilities in the Midcoast region, both through direct service and by providing leadership that supports and builds the volunteer base. The ES will develop skills including an enhanced ability to collaborate with volunteer groups and build relationships with partner organizations, community outreach, event planning, trail development and maintenance, conserved property monitoring and recordkeeping per Land Trust Alliance standards, and safe chainsaw use.
Service Objectives and Position Breakdown:
1. Maintain and develop volunteer engagement to maintain and build trails and manage invasive plants throughout the Sheepscot River, Damariscotta Lake watershed, and Medomak Valley region (45%).
2. Help organize and lead education and outreach events, including but not limited to weekly hikes, volunteer trainings, naturalist hikes, lake paddles, and others (25%)
3. Assist Stewardship Manager with stewardship records maintenance, property management plan writing, landowner and volunteer mailings, and the annual monitoring process (35%)
Description of Duties:
• Maintain and develop volunteer engagement through partnerships to maintain and build trails and manage invasive plants throughout the Sheepscot River, Damariscotta Lake watershed, and Medomak Valley region
• Develop new networks of stewardship volunteers and trail monitors for preserve maintenance workdays
• Assist staff with monitoring of conserved lands and boundary marking, including record-keeping, landowner notification, communication with volunteer property monitors, and monitoring conserved properties
• Coordinate with town offices to collect parcel transfer information
• Conduct community outreach and build partnerships through meetings, phone calls, emails, and letters
• Lead volunteer events, public walks, and event series
• Communicate with multiple team members and manage multiple project priorities with guidance from the supervisor
• Conduct field tasks related to monitoring and natural resource analysis in variable weather
• Drive both Host Site and personal vehicles and transport and maintain tools and materials
• Perform outdoor labor using landscaping equipment (including chainsaws) in a safe manner
Essential Functions:
• Excellent communication and organization skills
• Ability to collaborate closely with volunteers in a professional manner
• Ability to put others at ease, group leadership skills
• Positive work ethic and sense of humor
• Willingness to assist with trail maintenance and other light construction projects
• Self-motivated and able to prioritize and set goals based on the mission
• Flexibility, problem-solving, and creative thinking
Service Conditions:
• Service involves daytime travel for meetings and field tasks throughout the service area.
• Field tasks occur in all weather conditions (e.g. hot, cold, wet, buggy) and can be physically demanding. We provide training for land stewardship-based fieldwork and support with trail-building techniques.
• Service requires being available for volunteer workdays at times that work best for them, including evenings and weekends. Service is 50% office/home office and 50% field.
• Service includes traversing uneven terrain
• Service includes moving materials and tools
• Service is performed independently and as part of a team
• Service includes interaction with a wide variety of program partners and the public
• Service involves managing time effectively and completing tasks with attention to detail
• Service will require the ability to self-motivate, serve independently and collaboratively
Additional Qualifications:
• Background in Biology/Environmental Studies/Natural Resource Management
• Ability to use GPS/GIS technologies
• Experience in cold-calling situations
• Experience or interest in natural resource analysis
• Outreach Skills-comfortable quickly building partnerships and rapport with community members while achieving goals and representing our organizational mission (required)
• Plant ID-familiar with native and invasive flora of the northeast (strongly preferred)
• Trail building experience-knowledge of best practices for sustainable trail management and construction (strongly preferred)
• Experience using GIS mapping techniques (preferred)
Housing: Not Provided, but the Host Site is willing to help the member find reasonable accommodations and potentially provide a housing stipend to offset costs
Days and Hours of Service: 40 hours per week may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Additional Training Provided: Chainsaw Safety Training
Host Site and Position Overview:
Midcoast Conservancy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to protect vital lands and waters on a scale that matters and to inspire wonder and action on behalf of all species and the earth. Our focus area covers 26 towns and over a 500-square mile area from Montville to Friendship to Westport Island, and includes the Damariscotta Lake, Sheepscot River, and Medomak River watersheds, along with their many tributaries. Work is supported by membership, major donors, grants, and foundations.
Midcoast Conservancy seeks to protect critically important natural resources, improve the quality of life for residents of Midcoast Maine, and provide healthy outdoor adventure and learning programs for youth, adults of all ages, and families.
The Environmental Steward will contribute to the Midcoast Conservancy mission by:
1. Building a volunteer base through ongoing partnerships with community organizations to maintain and build trails across the region
2. Expanding conservation outreach and education efforts to our service area community
3. Expanding our stewardship capacity for currently conserved lands, with a focus on increasing trail accessibility
The Midcoast Conservancy Land Environmental Steward provides critical support in caring for conserved lands, trails, and facilities in the Midcoast region, both through direct service and by providing leadership that supports and builds the volunteer base. The ES will develop skills including an enhanced ability to collaborate with volunteer groups and build relationships with partner organizations, community outreach, event planning, trail development and maintenance, conserved property monitoring and recordkeeping per Land Trust Alliance standards, and safe chainsaw use.
Service Objectives and Position Breakdown:
1. Maintain and develop volunteer engagement to maintain and build trails and manage invasive plants throughout the Sheepscot River, Damariscotta Lake watershed, and Medomak Valley region (45%).
2. Help organize and lead education and outreach events, including but not limited to weekly hikes, volunteer trainings, naturalist hikes, lake paddles, and others (25%)
3. Assist Stewardship Manager with stewardship records maintenance, property management plan writing, landowner and volunteer mailings, and the annual monitoring process (35%)
Description of Duties:
• Maintain and develop volunteer engagement through partnerships to maintain and build trails and manage invasive plants throughout the Sheepscot River, Damariscotta Lake watershed, and Medomak Valley region
• Develop new networks of stewardship volunteers and trail monitors for preserve maintenance workdays
• Assist staff with monitoring of conserved lands and boundary marking, including record-keeping, landowner notification, communication with volunteer property monitors, and monitoring conserved properties
• Coordinate with town offices to collect parcel transfer information
• Conduct community outreach and build partnerships through meetings, phone calls, emails, and letters
• Lead volunteer events, public walks, and event series
• Communicate with multiple team members and manage multiple project priorities with guidance from the supervisor
• Conduct field tasks related to monitoring and natural resource analysis in variable weather
• Drive both Host Site and personal vehicles and transport and maintain tools and materials
• Perform outdoor labor using landscaping equipment (including chainsaws) in a safe manner
Essential Functions:
• Excellent communication and organization skills
• Ability to collaborate closely with volunteers in a professional manner
• Ability to put others at ease, group leadership skills
• Positive work ethic and sense of humor
• Willingness to assist with trail maintenance and other light construction projects
• Self-motivated and able to prioritize and set goals based on the mission
• Flexibility, problem-solving, and creative thinking
Service Conditions:
• Service involves daytime travel for meetings and field tasks throughout the service area.
• Field tasks occur in all weather conditions (e.g. hot, cold, wet, buggy) and can be physically demanding. We provide training for land stewardship-based fieldwork and support with trail-building techniques.
• Service requires being available for volunteer workdays at times that work best for them, including evenings and weekends. Service is 50% office/home office and 50% field.
• Service includes traversing uneven terrain
• Service includes moving materials and tools
• Service is performed independently and as part of a team
• Service includes interaction with a wide variety of program partners and the public
• Service involves managing time effectively and completing tasks with attention to detail
• Service will require the ability to self-motivate, serve independently and collaboratively
Additional Qualifications:
• Background in Biology/Environmental Studies/Natural Resource Management
• Ability to use GPS/GIS technologies
• Experience in cold-calling situations
• Experience or interest in natural resource analysis
• Outreach Skills-comfortable quickly building partnerships and rapport with community members while achieving goals and representing our organizational mission (required)
• Plant ID-familiar with native and invasive flora of the northeast (strongly preferred)
• Trail building experience-knowledge of best practices for sustainable trail management and construction (strongly preferred)
• Experience using GIS mapping techniques (preferred)
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Living Allowance
$1500
-
$1875 monthly
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Living allowance, Student loan forbearance, Training
Additional Benefits
• Weekly living allowance of $375 (before taxes) for 44 weeks
• AmeriCorps Education Award of $6,495
• Health insurance, if eligible
• Certifications in the National Incident Management System, some members will also receive MCC Chainsaw Safety Certification
• Conferences such as the Maine AmeriCorps Member Conference
• Networking opportunities
• Maine State Park Pass
• Some members may also be eligible for student loan forbearance and childcare reimbursement
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
Education Requirements
High School Graduate
Desired Certifications or Qualifications
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be a US Citizen
• Must agree to a criminal history check
• All positions at State sites require a valid driver’s license with a good 5-year driving record
• Passion for community service and the environment
• Commitment to complete the full term of service
• Skills, experience, and education requirements vary by site
Desired Languages
English
Other Conditions
Car recommended
Uniforms provided and required
Subject to criminal background check
Age Requirement
18 - 99