POSITION TITLE:
Summer Stewardship Intern (paid) (2 positions)
June 3-August 16, 2019
About Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust (http://weantinoge.org/)
Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust is the largest land trust in Connecticut and steward of more than 10,000 acres in Connecticut’s Litchfield and northern Fairfield counties. Weantinoge serves as the only regional land trust in Litchfield County and provides vital services to our conservation partners throughout Northwest Connecticut.
Over the past several years Weantinoge has substantially accelerated its mission and currently protects in perpetuity 15 percent of all the land held by Connecticut’s land trusts. Our conserved lands include wilderness areas, 12 public hiking preserves, working farms, wetlands, and critical drinking water resources. Weantinoge hosts school education programs and monthly public events serving 2,500 people annually. Over 200,000 residents and visitors to our service area benefit from clean air and water, healthy recreational activities, and enhanced quality of life resulting from Weantinoge’s conservation efforts.
The Opportunity Weantinoge is hiring two paid Stewardship Interns to work 30 hours per week (each), June 3, 2019 thru August 16, 2019. They will be based in Weantinoge’s Kent, CT office and be trained and managed by Weantinoge’s professional staff. Work will take place at Weantinoge preserves and at preserves owned and managed by Bethlehem, Litchfield, and Warren Land Trusts. This is a unique hands-on opportunity to learn about land and public preserve management, trail construction and maintenance, GPS/GIS, and other important stewardship work at different organizations. These internships are funded by a grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation as part of Weantinoge’s partnership program.
Work will be performed outdoors in various weather conditions and on rugged terrain, as well as indoors in an office setting.
Housing is available.
Primary Responsibilities • Trail and preserve stewardship including trail building and maintenance, (re)blazing, boundary posting, and invasive species control. • Restoration projects in field, forest, and wetland habitats • Monitoring protected properties using photography and GPS; completion of required documentation. • Data entry and processing with Microsoft Office Suite, ArcMap, image software • Participation in volunteer trail work days and other outreach events. • Water quality sampling and analysis. • Record keeping, including weekly logs, other reporting, and self-reflection.
Minimum Qualifications
• Age 18 or older.
• Demonstrated knowledge and interest in natural resources issues (related to land management, recreation, agriculture, and forestry, etc.).
• High school diploma and one year of college level coursework in environmental studies, environmental science, education, biology, ecology, forestry, or other related field.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
• Strong sense of ethics, integrity, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work some non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends.
• A valid insurable U.S. driver’s license. Ability to drive stick is a plus. Own reliable vehicle a plus (mileage to be reimbursed).
Working Conditions:
• This position will include approximately 70% field and 30% office duties.
• This position requires walking/hiking and working in uneven terrain, sometimes at remote locations, in all summer field conditions (heat, humidity, inclement weather, bugs).
• This position will involve the use of hand held (power) tools.
The Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer without regard to race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.
Please send cover letter and resume by email to info@weantinoge.org (preferred) or by mail: Paul Elconin, Director of Land Conservation, Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust, P.O. Box 821, Kent, CT 06757.
Applications accepted until positions filled.
No phone calls please