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6 Apr 2018

Temporary Summer Crew Leader

Housatonic Valley Association – Posted by HVA Watershed Conservation Cornwall, Connecticut, United States

Job Description

Position Announcement: Still River Watershed Connections Crew Leader

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Summary:  

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to lead a small crew of young people on environmental restoration work in the summer of 2018.

About HVA:

HVA is the watershed conservation organization and accredited land trust whose mission is to protect the natural character and environmental health of the Housatonic River Watershed for this and future generations. The Housatonic River Watershed covers nearly 2,000 square miles across western Massachusetts, western Connecticut, eastern New York, and ultimately to Long Island Sound. HVA partners with business and community leaders to achieve its mission through three major programs and associated projects:  1) Land Protection aimed at conserving our most vulnerable natural areas and special places; 2) Watershed Conservation aimed at protecting rivers, streams and drinking water supplies; and 3) Community Education and Events with projects aimed at, among other things, river cleanups, family hikes and paddling events, and publications that reach land use leaders, river users and the public at large. This position is within the Watershed Conservation department.

About the Still River Watershed Connections (“Connections”) Program:

Connections is an HVA youth program focused on the Still River watershed in the Danbury metropolitan area. This program emerged from an ongoing local watershed planning effort to restore water quality in the Still River and its tributaries. The program provides high school students with opportunities to build personal connections to the river and each other through meaningful restoration projects, all while gaining exposure to key job skills and careers in environmental science that will ultimately help catalyze future stewardship in their communities.

Position Description:

The Crew Leader will help design and implement the Connections program for the summer of 2018. This individual will mentor, guide, and supervise a group of 3-6 young adults in watershed restoration work and community outreach throughout the Still River watershed. Specific restoration projects may include, but not be limited to: invasive plant management; riparian buffer plantings; water quality sampling; macroinvertebrate sampling; trail work; boat launch installation; rain garden construction and GPS mapping. This program has three goals that the Crew Leader will be responsible for: 1) Implementation of the Still River watershed plans through restoration projects sites identified; 2) Environmental Education and Career building for the youth in the program; and 3) Public outreach about the program and Still River Watershed Planning efforts.  At the end of the season, field work will wind down and the Crew Leader will help the crew design and execute a presentation to the community about the work they’ve accomplished.

Program structure:

This is an 8-week paid position (35 hours/week) from late-June to mid-August. During the first and last week, the Crew Leader will work with HVA staff at our office in Cornwall Bridge, CT on program preparation and wrap-up. The Crew Leader will work directly with the crew for the 6 weeks in between (20 hours/week with the crew, with the remaining 15 hours/week designated for preparation and follow-up). The Crew Leader works with HVA’s Conservation Projects Manager throughout the season.

 

Duties:

  • Ensure the personal safety of crew members
  • Coordinate with program partners (e.g. Danbury Youth Services, local conservation professionals, town staff) to schedule and implement projects
  • Plan and execute daily activities
  • Reinforce positive work etiquette and approve crew members’ time sheets
  • Ensure group cohesion and harmony
  • Assist crew members in sharing their knowledge with the public
  • Maintain contacts and outreach materials and track program progress

Required Experience/Qualifications:

  • Experience working outdoors with groups of young people (ages 14-19). Examples may include, but are not limited to: outdoor leadership programs, science education, camp experience, etc.
  • Experience planning environmental education activities on a daily and/or weekly basis
  • Strong scientific background in environmental science, hydrology, natural resource management, or similar field
  • Enthusiasm for teaching and learning
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
  • Familiarity using Facebook and Instagram
  • Valid driver’s license, clean driving record, willingness to drive truck/rental van when necessary
  • First Aid/CPR training (HVA can help qualified applicants obtain this training)

Desired Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with the Still River and/or any of the towns in the watershed, which include Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, Newtown, and Ridgefield, CT
  • Spanish fluency is a plus

Time and Compensation:

  • This is a temporary position (35 hours/week for 8 weeks) from late June to mid-August. Exact start date TBD.
  • Hourly rate commensurate with experience and qualifications.

How to Apply

To Apply:
  • Send cover letter describing interest and qualifications, resume, and contact information for 3 references to Courteny Morehouse (HVA Conservation Projects Manager) at [email protected]
  • Position open until filled

Job Categories: Water. Job Types: Temporary. Job Tags: conservation, Edcuation, Educator, environmental, environmental education, Restortaion, and Youth. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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