Description
Housing: Not Provided, but the Host Site is willing to assist the potential member in finding reasonable, local accommodations
Days and Hours of Service: 40 hours per week: which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Host Site and Position Overview:
The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District is a recognized and respected leader in natural resource conservation. We accomplish our mission through public outreach; education; and directly working with individuals, watershed groups, municipalities, and many others to provide expert planning and execution of practices that protect our natural resources.
The District was established in 1946 in response to the Dust Bowl. As Washington D.C. skies darkened with Midwestern topsoil, local districts were formed to address the poor farming practices that led to the ecological disaster. Today we address soil and water conservation needs on both rural and urban landscapes.
The Environmental Steward (ES) will collaborate with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) staff and program partners to conduct several educational programs and organize multiple volunteer events to promote clean water and healthy soils. Three large-scale projects the ES will assist with include CCSWCD’s annual stormwater permit implementation tasks on behalf of 14 municipalities and 2 college campuses, watershed surveying, and providing education and testing support for lead in soil and plants in urban gardens. Additional tasks also include youth education, invasive forest pest education, social media marketing/website updates, and overall assistance of general CCSWCD needs and projects as they arise.
General Timeline:
• Winter: Provide youth education support, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, support invasive forest pest events, and outreach to campgrounds.
• Spring: Provide youth education support, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, coordinate volunteers for Urban Runoff event, assist soil lead program field sampling, and support watershed surveys.
• Summer: Assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, support invasive forest pest events, assist YardScaping and soil lead programs, and support development of watershed education and outreach video.
• Fall: Provide youth education support, support invasive forest pest events, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks
Description of Duties:
• Plan and organize tasks in an effective and efficient manner
• Assist in developing and implementing a forest pest education and outreach campaign
• Support the implementation of a soil and plant lead testing program
• Conduct rigorous observational data collection for watershed and public area surveys, including cataloging stormwater infrastructure, erosion, and stormwater pollutants utilizing smartphones, Survey 123, Quick Capture, and other software
• Support youth education programs in classrooms and summer camps
• Support the development of educational videos for watershed outreach, professional trainings, and social media
• Organize and update digital and print program materials
• Communicate with program partners, municipalities, businesses, and the public
• Assist with meeting reporting requirements to program partners and funding organizations
Essential Functions:
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, familiarity with Publisher and Adobe is desired
• Familiarity with ArcGIS/ESRI software
• Accurate and precise data management and field sampling experience
• Familiarity with the Squarespace website platform
• Ability to learn new computer applications as necessary
• Proficient with using social media platforms and generating content
• Comfortable communicating over the phone, via email, in person, and in writing with diverse audiences
• Experience teaching in classrooms or working with youth
• Ability to recruit and collaborate with volunteers
• Understand basic soil & water conservation practices
• Ability to serve in the field including traversing uneven terrain for up to 10 miles a day and use tools and equipment
• Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 35 pounds
Service Conditions:
• Service involves a mix of physically demanding tasks and office-oriented tasks that can be tailored for any needing accommodations
• January-April service is primarily indoors
• April-September may have 3-5 days in the field per week
• October-November service is primarily indoors
• Service involves some physical labor, including but not limited to planting and maintaining demonstration gardens, installing BMPs, site surveying, soil and water sample collection, storm drain stenciling, moving event and classroom supplies between vehicles and service sites
• Service involves travel to other locations within Cumberland County
Site-Specific Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be creative, organized (especially with data and field sampling), and sociable. Additional useful skills and experiences include creating social media content and videos, data entry and analysis, problem-solving, and completing tasks independently.
Housing: Not Provided, but the Host Site is willing to assist the potential member in finding reasonable, local accommodations
Days and Hours of Service: 40 hours per week: which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Host Site and Position Overview:
The Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District is a recognized and respected leader in natural resource conservation. We accomplish our mission through public outreach; education; and directly working with individuals, watershed groups, municipalities, and many others to provide expert planning and execution of practices that protect our natural resources.
The District was established in 1946 in response to the Dust Bowl. As Washington D.C. skies darkened with Midwestern topsoil, local districts were formed to address the poor farming practices that led to the ecological disaster. Today we address soil and water conservation needs on both rural and urban landscapes.
The Environmental Steward (ES) will collaborate with Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District (CCSWCD) staff and program partners to conduct several educational programs and organize multiple volunteer events to promote clean water and healthy soils. Three large-scale projects the ES will assist with include CCSWCD’s annual stormwater permit implementation tasks on behalf of 14 municipalities and 2 college campuses, watershed surveying, and providing education and testing support for lead in soil and plants in urban gardens. Additional tasks also include youth education, invasive forest pest education, social media marketing/website updates, and overall assistance of general CCSWCD needs and projects as they arise.
General Timeline:
• Winter: Provide youth education support, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, support invasive forest pest events, and outreach to campgrounds.
• Spring: Provide youth education support, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, coordinate volunteers for Urban Runoff event, assist soil lead program field sampling, and support watershed surveys.
• Summer: Assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks, support invasive forest pest events, assist YardScaping and soil lead programs, and support development of watershed education and outreach video.
• Fall: Provide youth education support, support invasive forest pest events, assist in implementing stormwater permit tasks
Description of Duties:
• Plan and organize tasks in an effective and efficient manner
• Assist in developing and implementing a forest pest education and outreach campaign
• Support the implementation of a soil and plant lead testing program
• Conduct rigorous observational data collection for watershed and public area surveys, including cataloging stormwater infrastructure, erosion, and stormwater pollutants utilizing smartphones, Survey 123, Quick Capture, and other software
• Support youth education programs in classrooms and summer camps
• Support the development of educational videos for watershed outreach, professional trainings, and social media
• Organize and update digital and print program materials
• Communicate with program partners, municipalities, businesses, and the public
• Assist with meeting reporting requirements to program partners and funding organizations
Essential Functions:
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, familiarity with Publisher and Adobe is desired
• Familiarity with ArcGIS/ESRI software
• Accurate and precise data management and field sampling experience
• Familiarity with the Squarespace website platform
• Ability to learn new computer applications as necessary
• Proficient with using social media platforms and generating content
• Comfortable communicating over the phone, via email, in person, and in writing with diverse audiences
• Experience teaching in classrooms or working with youth
• Ability to recruit and collaborate with volunteers
• Understand basic soil & water conservation practices
• Ability to serve in the field including traversing uneven terrain for up to 10 miles a day and use tools and equipment
• Must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 35 pounds
Service Conditions:
• Service involves a mix of physically demanding tasks and office-oriented tasks that can be tailored for any needing accommodations
• January-April service is primarily indoors
• April-September may have 3-5 days in the field per week
• October-November service is primarily indoors
• Service involves some physical labor, including but not limited to planting and maintaining demonstration gardens, installing BMPs, site surveying, soil and water sample collection, storm drain stenciling, moving event and classroom supplies between vehicles and service sites
• Service involves travel to other locations within Cumberland County
Site-Specific Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be creative, organized (especially with data and field sampling), and sociable. Additional useful skills and experiences include creating social media content and videos, data entry and analysis, problem-solving, and completing tasks independently.
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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