Education Assistant (26 Weeks) - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy • Billings, VT

2d

About The Position

This Education Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position has the opportunity to support of the community science programs (salamander, phenology, and dragonfly mercury monitoring) at the park. This will provide the park with critical data to inform management decisions in the face of environment change. This project also supports the necessary elements of community science: communication, engagement, and involvement of the public. There is also the opportunity to collect and analyze off-site data from these projects if schools wish to use the monitoring protocols on their school properties or in nearby green spaces. This position will also give the park the resources to engage communities that have never had the opportunity to take advantage of the educational and natural resources the park has to offer. This position will also contribute to forest health monitoring at our park. This data is critical in informing resource management at the park on the overall trends in forest regeneration in the face of multiple stressors such as deer over-browse and shifting environmental conditions with the goal of forest resilience. The SIP will be providing support on a project that could have huge benefits to our forest’s health.

Requirements

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the host site.
• The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
• Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
• A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.

Nice To Haves

• The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in environmental education, community science, and forested ecosystems, and have a bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental education, forestry, environmental studies, natural resources, science communication, or a similar field.
• Desired skills/experience: educating and guiding children, data collection/field projects, ability to hike multiple miles often uphill, ability to complete projects independently at times, well organized, strong writing and communication skills, leadership experience, attention to detail.
• Experience with forestry, tree identification, and community science would be a bonus.
• Required qualities: willingness to learn, commitment to educational best practices, enjoyment in spending long hours outside in a variety of temperatures/conditions, strong teamwork skills, flexibility.

Responsibilities

• This position will be a part of a two-park Natural Resource Management, Science Communication and Education team with technical support from the Northeast Temperate Network.
• The selected candidate will be responsible for valuable data collection, entry, analysis, and science communication at the parks.
• The primary project will involve coordinating community science efforts at the parks. This includes eastern redbacked salamanders, phenology, and dragonfly mercury monitoring.
• These efforts include assisting with programs for school groups, volunteers, and park staff to coordinate monitoring events.
• It also includes developing educational resources, facilitating lessons, and leading field trips about the parks’ community science projects.
• A secondary project will include forest health monitoring. This includes developing strong tree/plant identification skills, creating staff training resources, and collecting data with the natural resource team.
• Additional tasks will be assisting with various natural resource projects at the parks, assisting with youth and family summer programs, leading field trip groups, and assisting with science communication at the parks.

Benefits

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award : $ 3,697.50 upon successful completion of position
• Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
• Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
• Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED