Massachusetts Climate Corps Member

Mass Audubon•Worcester, MA

4d•$20

About The Position

Mass Audubon is committed to creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just organization and to providing greater access to nature for everyone which is why the Massachusetts Climate Corps (MCC) was created. The MCC aims to empower young professionals and broaden pathways into the conservation field. We strive to do this by providing meaningful summer career opportunities at Mass Audubon sanctuaries and/or partner organizations on various climate focused projects initiatives. The Corps is designed to support young adults in refining their professional goals, propelling them forward in their careers, and building the foundation to grow into experts and conservation thought leaders in their respective fields. Under the guidance and support of the MCC Corps Leader, Mass Audubon ecologists, and the Director of Early Career Programs, an MCC Corps Member works within a team of five to eight Massachusetts Climate Corps members to strengthen Mass Audubon’s climate resilience projects, in particular the restoration of Broad Meadow Brook’s heavily degraded wetlands. The MCC will work in partnership with the City of Worcester, the state Division of Ecological Restoration, and Mass Audubon to improve wildlife habitat value, flood storage capacity, and water quality, supporting ecological function in an urban wetland system, while enhancing sanctuary visitor experience. The City has identified flooding in the Broad Meadow Brook watershed as an important climate-related risk; the restoration project is part of a broader, watershed-scale effort to address this risk. Broad Meadow Brook is located in the headwaters of the Blackstone River, and its restoration will be an incremental step toward long-term environmental improvement goals for the Blackstone and Narragansett Bay. Over eight weeks, crew members rotate through core skill areas—substrate characterization, water quality monitoring, and plants & wildlife management—before specializing in one track to develop a focused project. The program culminates in a symposium where each team presents its findings and recommendations for future restoration efforts.

Requirements

At least 18 years of age
Currently enrolled in or have completed high school, community college, and/or university level science courses
Demonstrate a strong interest in learning about conservation and environmental work and learning new skills
Demonstrate a strong interest in learning and practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and principles
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Solid skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, and Outlook)
Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team
Ability to work in a physically demanding environment, on all types of terrain and in all weather conditions

Responsibilities

The Corps Members engage with their supervisors to carry out climate resilience projects through the Massachusetts Climate Corps. Activities mainly include habitat restoration and field work under the supervision and training of the MCC Crew Leader.
Actively engage in wetlands and non-native/introduced species fieldwork and research to assess the vulnerabilities and improve resilience of urban sanctuary habitats
Develop a coarse understanding of below ground bedrock topography.
Monitor the current water quality at Broad Meadow Brook
Relate water quality to temperature, streamflow and rainfall events.
Track changes through use of trail cameras for streamflow observations.
Complete ecological management projects such as mapping and removing non-native/introduced species, monitoring plant and wildlife
Participate in in-person and virtual professional development workshops and field trips led by Mass Audubon and partner organization staff
Co-lead a summer research project with fellow Corps Members
Create a research poster and present on research at the Early Career Programs symposium