Overview

This position is a part of SCA Massachusetts Conservation Corps, a 30-week AmeriCorps program focused on leadership development, completing critical conservation service projects, and building a sense of community.  If you’ve ever wanted to learn the hard and soft skills of being a conservation leader, come join this community of like-minded, service oriented individuals and help us tackle some of Massachusetts most pressing conservation issues.

The SCA Massachusetts Conservation Corps is a partnership between SCA, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), AmeriCorps, and The Massachusetts Service Alliance.

Two Wildlife Sanctuary Stewards will work together and with Mass Audubon staff to care for conservation land across the West region. Their focus will be on unstaffed wildlife sanctuaries in the region.

Each Wildlife Sanctuary Steward will have a focus – one Stewardship Focus and one Outreach Focus. There will be overlap and room for collaboration between the two Stewards, but their focus will determine which projects they spend the most time on during their term of service.

Projects are as follows: 

1. Property Stewardship:

  • Monitoring trails and boundaries
  • Trail clearing and improvements
  • Invasive species removal
  • Ecological monitoring
  • Member with the Stewardship Focus will be engaged in property stewardship for about 75% of their time
  • Member with the Outreach Focus will be engaged in property stewardship for about 25% of their time

2. Community Outreach:

  • Building a team of volunteer trail stewards from the community for different sanctuaries
  • Serving at unstaffed sanctuaries to answer questions, direct people where to park and not park, and educate the public about our Mass Audubon land and policies
  • Posting to social media about the sanctuaries
  • Member with the Outreach Focus will be engaged in community outreach for about 75% of their time
  • Member with the Stewardship Focus will be engaged in community outreach for about 25% of their time

Required Member Responsibilities (Essential Functions) 

  • Commitment to service in working conditions that will include: extreme heat, extreme cold, high winds, and precipitation.
  • Must be willing to learn how to use hand tools and power tools to accomplish service activities.
  • Ability to enroll in AmeriCorps Education Award Program.
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs, and walk/hike on uneven terrain, uphill or downhill, for 1 mile.
  • Ability to pass SCA’s background check.

Recommended Qualifications

  • Strong interpersonal skills; ability to positively interact with and build relationships with new people
  • Strong communication skills
  • Natural history experience/knowledge
  • Interpretation/education experience
  • Trail work experience

* This position is not eligible for travel reimbursement to site.*

**This position is part of a specialized SCA AmeriCorps program and if you are selected, you will be serving as an SCA AmeriCorps member. **

*** The COVID-19 pandemic has required SCA to implement several safety protocols and policies to help our teams manage the risks associated with the pandemic.  While it is likely these will change slightly before the position starts, please review the documents below for SCA’s updated organizational response plan and participant agreement form to learn more how our teams will be operating in the field. ***

SCA COVID Response Plan

It is our strong belief that equal opportunity for all members is central to the continued success of our programs. We will not discriminate against an applicant because of race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, physical disability, mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity characteristics or expressions in selections, terminations and or recommendations. Opportunity is provided to all applicants in the basis of qualifications and program requirements. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants during the selection process and to members during service.

Expected Dates: March 29, 2021 to October 22, 2021
Site: Massachusetts Audubon Society
Position ID: PO-00731449
  • The members will be based at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton and Northampton. The service locations will include Arcadia, other Mass Audubon properties, and communities across the four counties of Western Massachusetts.
  • Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Game of Logging Level 2 chainsaw certification (Stewardship Focus). trail work skills; other trainings will be provided by Mass Audubon staff and partners – details TBD
  • A variety of trainings through Mass Audubon will be available. Lots of recreation opportunities are available at Arcadia and throughout the work area.
  • The members will have ample opportunity to meet and network with a number of conservation professionals and organizational partners during various projects. Other professional development opportunities (provided by SCA) include a Leave No Trace trainer course, SCA risk management, data collection and reporting for AmeriCorps, and “Life After AmeriCorps” career training
  • No
Main Area of Focus: Visitor Services and Site Operations

Education, Training & Skills Expected

  • Biology: some coursework or experience
  • Communications: some coursework or experience
  • Recreation Management: some coursework or experience
  • Resource Management: some coursework or experience
  • Hand Tools: competent with supervision
  • Social Media: competent with supervision
  • Community Engagement: competent with supervision
  • Trail Maintenance: competent with supervision
  • Volunteer Coordination: competent with supervision

AmeriCorps Eligible: Eligible

Driving Logistics: Valid Drivers License Needed

Housing or Stipend Provided? Yes

The Wildlife Sanctuary Stewards will be housed together in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. The apartment is the second floor of an old farmhouse next to the Arcadia Visitor Center. The first floor is office space for Mass Audubon staff. The apartment has minimal furniture.

Indoor/Outdoor: Indoor

US Citizenship: Required