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Thank you to Rachel Branch, producer of the television show Solutions Rising for including a “BEAT” series for people to learn more about the fracked gas pipelines proposed to bring gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania across New York, Massachusetts, and New

Prohibit the ‘pipeline tax’
There are smarter ways to invest in economy

What is the proposed “pipeline tax” on our electric bills, and why is there a bipartisan effort to ban it? The so-called “pipeline tax” is a scheme under which consumers across New England would be charged on their electric bills to finance construction of new gas pipelines – as well as above-ground gas infrastructure, such as the stadium-sized liquefied natural gas facility proposed for the South Coast town of Acushnet and the industrial compressor station proposed for a densely populated area of Weymouth. Massachusetts electric ratepayers have never funded gas pipelines before. The legality of the scheme is questioned by parties ranging from the Massachusetts Attorney General to the New England Power Generators Association, and a challenge to the approach is pending before the Supreme Judicial Court. Kathryn R. Eiseman, Commonwealth Magazine, July 13, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Drought Watch, Drought Advisory Issued for Portions of Massachusetts

Following four continuous months of unusually dry weather, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton today declared a Drought Watch for Central and Northeast Massachusetts and a Drought Advisory for Southeast and the Connecticut River Valley. The declaration was the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state, federal and local officials, and will remain in effect until water levels return to normal in the affected regions. U.S. Drought Monitor, July 7, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Tim DeChristopher Arrested Again in the “Age of Anticipatory Mass Graves” for Climate Victims

On Wednesday, 23 people were arrested protesting Spectra Energy’s fracked gas pipeline in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Longtime climate activist Tim DeChristopher was one of about 30 people who ventured onto the Spectra pipeline construction site in an attempt to nonviolently stop work. Local residents and politicians have long opposed the West Roxbury Lateral pipeline, which they say is dangerous for the pipeline to run alongside a quarry where there is frequent blasting. During the action, DeChristopher and 11 others climbed inside the pipeline trench and refused to budge for almost two hours before being forcibly removed by firefighters. DeChristopher drew a comparison between the trenches of the gas pipeline and the mass graves recently dug in Pakistan in anticipation of a climate-fueled heat wave. By Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, June 30, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Utility Renewables Rise, But Fail To Lift All Boats; State Policies Play A Big Role

This just in: Americans are getting more and more of their electricity from renewable sources. Okay, so maybe that isn’t exactly “news” if you follow the sector, but it’s important to underline from time to time regardless. Last year, wind and solar combined to account for far more new U.S. generating capacity additions than any other resource, totaling 62% of all new capacity. Now a new report shows which utility holding companies are leading the way in renewable energy generation. The non-profit group Ceres’ new Benchmarking Utility Clean Energy Deployment: 2016, produced in partnership with Clean Edge and released on June 28, offers data on not only renewable generation, but also the amount of electricity saved through utility energy efficiency programs. And the gap between the leaders and the laggards on these measures is significant. By Andrew Rector, Clean Edge, July 01, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

 

Jobs

Field Biology volunteers – Great Gull Island Project, Waterford, CT (remote NYS waters)

Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY

Camp Counselor – Becket Day Camp – Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket

Greenagers Middle School and High School Program – Various locations in Berkshire County

Greenagers Summer Jobs – Trail Crews & Agricultural Apprentices – Various locations in Berkshire and Columbia Counties

Outdoor Educator – Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Cropseyville, NY

Assistant Director, Summer Camp – Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Cropseyville, NY

Camp Counselors – Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA

Weekend Visitors Services Staff – Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA

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Prohibit the ‘pipeline tax’
There are smarter ways to invest in economy

By Kathryn R. Eiseman
Commonwealth Magazine
July 13, 2016

What is the proposed “pipeline tax” on our electric bills, and why is there a bipartisan effort to ban it?

The so-called “pipeline tax” is a scheme under which consumers across New England would be charged on their electric bills to finance construction of new gas pipelines – as well as above-ground gas infrastructure, such as the stadium-sized liquefied natural gas facility proposed for the South Coast town of Acushnet and the industrial compressor station proposed for a densely populated area of Weymouth.

Massachusetts electric ratepayers have never funded gas pipelines before. The legality of the scheme is questioned by parties ranging from the Massachusetts Attorney General to the New England Power Generators Association, and a challenge to the approach is pending before the Supreme Judicial Court.

The specific pipeline project currently on the table is called Access Northeast, proposed by Spectra Energy, National Grid, and Eversource. The scheme could work out well for the Eversource and National Grid corporate families because they would profit from the construction and operation of the pipeline, while their electric ratepayers would take on the costs of the project and the risks associated with the fluctuating price of natural gas and the general volatility of the gas industry.

In other words, real families struggling with their monthly bills would be saddled with the costs and risks instead of the shareholders of the energy companies.
In addition to this unfair funding scheme, there are real environmental, safety, and community concerns. The mayor of Weymouth, Robert Hedlund, recently turned down $47 million that Spectra Energy offered the town in an attempt to end official resistance to the proposed compressor station. The antiquated federal Natural Gas Act takes away the right of municipalities and private property owners to simply say “no” to the buildout of fossil fuel infrastructure on their land and in their communities. But the states retain the right to decide whether ratepayers will be forced to fund it.

This comes down to a fundamental policy decision about how Massachusetts ratepayers should be investing our energy dollars over the coming decades. Our energy efficiency programs help keep Massachusetts electric bills down – while rates run high, the average bills paid by Massachusetts homeowners are actually lower than in most states because, on average, we waste less energy. And investment in renewables means investing in energy sources that do not have an ongoing fuel cost, which is beneficial to consumers.

A study commissioned by Attorney General Maura Healey’s office last year confirmed that there are cleaner and cheaper ways to meet our electrical reliability needs than building out new gas infrastructure. Kinder Morgan recently withdrew its Northeast Energy Direct pipeline proposal primarily because there was not sufficient market demand for its proposed pipeline.

Lost in the clamor about a “need” for more pipelines are a few salient facts:

  • Existing gas infrastructure meets our current needs;
  • Electrical demand in New England continues to decline;
  • The wholesale electric price spikes of 2013-14 have essentially been resolved by the market; and
  • The clean energy economy in Massachusetts (including the renewable and energy efficiency sectors) includes 100,000 jobs and is among our fastest growing job sectors, while natural gas, and much of the labor to create the infrastructure, is brought in from elsewhere.

A bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives, led by House Ways and Means Vice Chair Stephen Kulik and House Minority Leader Brad Jones (joined by 95 other members of the House), succeeded in keeping the “pipeline tax” out of the House version of the energy bill. The Senate voted 39-0 to explicitly prohibit a “pipeline tax” on consumers’ electric bills.

The legislative session ends at the end of this month. Citizens across the Commonwealth would like to see an explicit prohibition of the “pipeline tax” in the final bill.

Meet the Author – Kathryn R. Eiseman is the director of the Massachusetts PipeLine Awareness Network and the president of the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast.

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 Drought Watch, Drought Advisory Issued for Portions of Massachusetts

Increased monitoring of water resources to continue, water conservation is advised

U.S. Drought Monitor
July 7, 2016
Press Release from Secretary Beaton of the MA Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

BOSTON – July 8, 2016 – Following four continuous months of unusually dry weather, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton today declared a Drought Watch for Central and Northeast Massachusetts and a Drought Advisory for Southeast and the Connecticut River Valley. The declaration was the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state, federal and local officials, and will remain in effect until water levels return to normal in the affected regions.

“Drought conditions can contribute to lasting agricultural, environmental, and economic impacts, and also raise serious public safety concerns,”said EEA Secretary Matthew Beaton. “This drought declaration is an important tool which will help officials on all levels of government to work together to ensure we take action where necessary, and we advise all residents to conserve water and take increased care with any outdoor burning such as campfires and disposal of smoking materials.”

“If these very dry conditions continue through the summer months, the threat of wildfires will become even greater,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Kurt Schwartz. “To that end, we remind our residents and visitors to continue to not only conserve water, but also utilize extreme caution when dealing with outdoor burning.”

A Drought Advisory, the second of five levels of drought conditions outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, indicates a level of dry conditions that warrants closer tracking by government agencies.  The decline of the state’s rainfall in the Connecticut River Valley, Central, and Northeast Regions since March led to the drought condition, with cumulative precipitation deficits of four to five inches below normal for the months of April, May and June.  For the months of May and June, precipitation was less than 61 percent of normal in the regions under Drought Watch and Advisory. Data from the state’s groundwater, streamflow and reservoir monitoring network show very low levels for the beginning of July. Seventeen streams across the four regions impacted by drought have registered record-low flows for early July.

A Drought Watch, a higher degree of drought, represents extremely low groundwater and streamflow levels resulting from a precipitation deficit of nearly ten inches over the past 12 months, including a lack of snowfall in the winter months.  The declaration of a Drought Watch warrants detailed monitoring of drought conditions, close coordination among state and federal agencies, and technical outreach and assistance for the affected municipalities.

“The lack of rainfall leaves many public water supplies at reduced levels and puts a strain on water infrastructure as water use increases just as the supply becomes more limited,” said Philip Guerin, Director of Water and Sewer Operations for Worcester Department of Public Works & Parks. “Residents and businesses need to heed water use restrictions and take steps to fix leaks and limit non-critical water use to assure adequate supplies for health and safety in the coming months.”

Task Force officials noted that while some smaller reservoir systems in Drought Advisory areas are low for this time of year, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) supply system is well above any drought conditions within its individual plan. Additionally, public water suppliers around the state have issued conservation measures in response to the dry conditions.

The declaration of a Drought Advisory and Drought Warning requires the Drought Management Task Force to meet on a regular basis to more closely assess conditions across the state, coordinate dissemination of information to the public, and help state, federal and local agencies prepare any responses that may be needed in the future. The Task Force will next meet in August.

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 Tim DeChristopher Arrested Again in the “Age of Anticipatory Mass Graves” for Climate Victims

By Amy Goodman
Democracy Now!
June 30, 2016

On Wednesday, 23 people were arrested protesting Spectra Energy’s fracked gas pipeline in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Longtime climate activist Tim DeChristopher was one of about 30 people who ventured onto the Spectra pipeline construction site in an attempt to nonviolently stop work. Local residents and politicians have long opposed the West Roxbury Lateral pipeline, which they say is dangerous for the pipeline to run alongside a quarry where there is frequent blasting. During the action, DeChristopher and 11 others climbed inside the pipeline trench and refused to budge for almost two hours before being forcibly removed by firefighters. DeChristopher drew a comparison between the trenches of the gas pipeline and the mass graves recently dug in Pakistan in anticipation of a climate-fueled heat wave.

TRANSCRIPT

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: Tim DeChristopher, you initiated this action. You gave this speech, an excerpt of which we just played, where you compared the trenches to the mass graves in Pakistan. Explain.

TIM DECHRISTOPHER: Yeah. You know, I mean, as you and, I think, probably a lot of your listeners know, I’ve been doing climate work for a long time and have been following a lot of the escalating disasters that we have been witnessing, and have spent a lot of time thinking about kind of where we’re headed, you know, and I consider myself pretty—pretty open to just the level of hardship and suffering that we’re moving towards. And yet, when I read that article last month about digging anticipatory mass graves in Pakistan, which, to my mind, is the first case of anticipatory mass graves, of just kind of accepting that, you know, we know we’re going to need mass graves, because we know we’ve entered this age where these disasters are going to happen. When I read that, it just—

AMY GOODMAN: Mass graves for people dying in heat waves?

TIM DECHRISTOPHER: Yes, and that just broke my heart in a whole new way, you know, after having it broken so many times from the news of climate change, and it just really weighed on me and wouldn’t let go. You know, it was one of those things that just settled deeply into my heart, and I felt really compelled to take action, connecting those dots, because when I looked at those pictures of this long mass grave trench that they’re digging in Pakistan, one of my first thoughts was, “My god, that looks exactly like what they’re digging in West Roxbury to lay a pipeline.” And, of course, these things are connected, not just in their shape, but in one causing the other. And so, it felt something that was very personal and emotional for me. And even when I was giving that speech yesterday, I was getting very emotional. And, you know, in the workshops and trainings that I do with activists around the country, I always tell people that we’re at our most powerful when we’re sharing our deepest personal truth, that when we’re most authentic is when we’re most powerful. And this, for me, was something that—was something that I was genuinely torn up about, and so that’s why I felt so called for this to be my first civil disobedience action after I just got off probation a couple months ago.

AMY GOODMAN: After you served almost two years in prison, you just got off probation in April. Are you willing to go back to prison again?

TIM DECHRISTOPHER: Yes, I am. You know, I don’t know how likely that is in this case. We did get charged with a few charges, including resisting arrest. But, you know, at this point, there’s been almost 150 people arrested in this ongoing, sustained resistance campaign against the West Roxbury pipeline, and all of those charges have been reduced to civil infractions or dismissed, you know, because the city of Boston is actively opposed to this pipeline, and that’s whose court we’re ending up in. You know, as Karenna mentioned, literally every elected official at every level, other than the president and the governor, who represent that neighborhood are opposed to this.

AMY GOODMAN: We’re going to have—

TIM DECHRISTOPHER: The Boston City Council unanimously opposed it.

AMY GOODMAN: We’re going to have to leave it there, but we’ll continue to cover this story. Tim DeChristopher and Karenna Gore, thanks so much for being with us.

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Utility Renewables Rise, But Fail To Lift All Boats; State Policies Play A Big Role

This just in: Americans are getting more and more of their electricity from renewable sources.

Okay, so maybe that isn’t exactly “news” if you follow the sector, but it’s important to underline from time to time regardless. Last year, wind and solar combined to account for far more new U.S. generating capacity additions than any other resource, totaling 62% of all new capacity. Now a new report shows which utility holding companies are leading the way in renewable energy generation. The non-profit group Ceres’ new Benchmarking Utility Clean Energy Deployment: 2016, produced in partnership with Clean Edge and released on June 28, offers data on not only renewable generation, but also the amount of electricity saved through utility energy efficiency programs. And the gap between the leaders and the laggards on these measures is significant.

The Ceres report ranks 30 of the largest U.S. investor-owned utility (IOU) electric utility holding companies on three different indicators: renewable sales (the total amount of renewable electricity sold to customers during the reporting year, which is 2014); incremental energy efficiency savings (reporting-year savings from both new energy efficiency programs and new participants to old programs); and life-cycle energy efficiency savings (energy savings from all efficiency programs put in place during the reporting year, both for the reporting year and future years). The graphic below shows the large gap between the top utilities and those at the bottom [CLICK HERE FOR GRAPHICS.]

On the renewables front, Sempra Energy stands out as the runaway leader. It received more than 36% of retail electricity sales from renewable sources, up nearly 20 percentage points since the last report two years ago. Sempra is the parent of San Diego Gas & Electric, which services a city with a goal to reach 100% renewable energy. Sempra has more than 60 contracts for renewable energy, and in 2015 became the first of California’s utilities to supply its customers with 33% renewable energy. Four companies – Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Edison International, Xcel Energy, and Berkshire Hathaway – each supplied more than 10 million megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable generation, together totaling nearly 70 million MWh, more than half of total renewable energy sales by all of the 30 utility companies tracked in the report.

California’s three largest IOUs top the renewables rankings: After Sempra, PG&E and Edison International (owner of Southern California Edison, or SoCalEd) come in second and third, respectively. That probably isn’t surprising: all three companies have invested heavily in utility-scale wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass generation. (Hydropower is not included in the Ceres analysis.) Additionally, SoCalEd has a warehouse rooftop solar program with a maximum capacity of 220 MW.

One reason for the Golden State’s success – in addition to dramatically falling clean-energy costs, federal regulations, and international agreements – is the high bar that state policymakers have set. Leading the way are mandates such as a strong renewable portfolio standard (RPS, which was 33% by 2020 in 2014 but has since been increased to 50% by 2030); an energy storage requirement (1.3 GW installed by 2020); requirements for utilities to plan for more distributed resources on the grid; and incentives such as the Self-Generation Incentive Program that doles out money for wind turbines, storage systems, and fuel cells, among other technologies.

Meanwhile, as the report notes, states in the Southeast have historically had weaker renewable policies in place. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence, then, that four of the five lowest-ranking companies in this indicator – SCANA, PPL, American Electric Power, and Florida Power & Light (FPL), along with the New York City area’s ConEdison – have service territories encompassing the South (as well as the Rust Belt). None of the bottom five gets more than 2% of its electricity from renewable sources.

The story is similar on the energy efficiency side of the equation. Eversource Energy leads on both efficiency indicators, bringing three other companies – PG&E, National Grid, and Pinnacle West (owner of Arizona Public Service) – with it to the top of each ranking. The only difference between the incremental and life-cycle lists has Portland General Electric joining the top five in the incremental annual efficiency indicator, while Exelon supplants it in life-cycle savings. Exelon deserves particular recognition: It boosted its incremental efficiency savings by half a percentage point over 2014’s report, and outpaces its closest competitor (PG&E) in total life-cycle savings by 10 million MWh

These companies generally serve states in three parts of the country: the West Coast (plus Arizona), the Mid-Atlantic, and New England. (Exelon also services Illinois.) One connection between these states? Most of them have energy efficiency resource standards (EERS) driving their efficiency goals. Four of these states – Arizona, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island – have the strongest EERS in the nation, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 2015 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The Northeast states receive an additional boost from their participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which through 2013 had dedicated 62% of its proceeds to funding efficiency efforts.

Contrast that with the companies at the bottom of the efficiency rankings. OGE Energy, Southern Company, Entergy, FPL, and Dominion Resources constitute the bottom five in annual efficiency savings; the life-cycle savings bottom five is nearly identical, with SCANA replacing FPL. These utilities generally serve states in the southern part of the country, where EERS are less prevalent. Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas are the only states with EERS policies among the states served by these five companies. And while it can be difficult to draw a straight line between specific policies and deployment numbers, it’s also hard to ignore evidence of a connection.

The report wraps up with a series of recommendations, many of which focus on data reporting and availability. The report notes that many of the 11 different types of sources that Ceres gathered data from (ranging from RPS reports to company websites) often had incomplete or out-of-date data. That’s a real problem when considering industry transparency and benchmarking accuracy, as is the fact that the best data on renewables and distributed energy resources is often not available for free. As the U.S. continues its transition to a clean-energy economy with large utilities necessarily playing a key role, we hope that the Ceres and Clean Edge report will provide some impetus for both industry and public data providers to shift to more standardized, timely data collection and reporting.

Andrew Rector is a market analyst for Clean Edge. He manages much of Clean Edge’s analytical work, including the annual production of the U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index, the Grid Modernization Index, and custom analysis and reports.

Field Biology volunteers –
Great Gull Island Project ,
Waterford, CT (remote NYS waters)

Posted Jun 03 2016

The Great Gull Island project is a monitoring study of Common and Roseate Terns nesting on Great Gull Island. Recently it has been expanded to include surveys of the South American coast to determine where numbers of both species spend the nonbreeding season. It has been gathering data on these important seabirds since the 1960s.

Great Gull Island is an island of 17 acres at the eastern end of Long Island Sound, NY. The former site of an army fort, its overgrown battlements are now defended by the largest concentration of nesting Common Terns in the world (9,500 pairs). The boulders dumped around the edge of the island to stabilize the shoreline, as well as some of the retaining walls of the fort, offer nesting sites for 1300 pairs of Roseate Terns, the largest nesting concentration of this endangered species in the Western Hemisphere.

Volunteers are needed to aid a variety of biological research tasks. The greatest need is for people to come in July to do daily surveys of the island, to band newly hatched chicks, and some observation work in the blinds.

Room and board are provided, with rustic accommodations in historic fort barracks and battlements. Good cell service and limited electrical service.

Learn more about all that’s been discovered at GGI here:

http://www.greatgullisland.org/Main_Page.html

Boats leave from Waterford, CT, with direct service to the research station located on the island in NY waters.

TO APPLY
To learn more or arrange a volunteer stay on the island this summer, contact lead researcher Helen Hays at hays@amnh.org.

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Research Scientist – SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry – Albany, NY

Category: Research Foundation
Department: EFB
Locations: Albany, NY
Posted: Jun 27, ’16
Type: Full-time
About College of Environmental Science and Forestry: Founded in 1911, the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is the nation’s oldest and most respected school dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies and building a sustainable future. The ESF main campus is in Syracuse, NY and has regional campuses throughout Central New York and the Adirondack Park. ESF consistently earns high rankings in US News and World Report, Forbes, Peterson’s Guide, The Washington Monthly, Princeton Review and other national college guidebooks.

Job Description:

Title:  Research Scientist

Department: Environmental and Forest Biology

Salary: $50,000 minimum

Duration: Through March 2018, with likely continuation through March 2023

Location: Albany, NY (New York State DEC Headquarters)

Brief Description of Duties:  This position will work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Wildlife (BOW) staff and will function as the BOW’s Data Scientist.  This position will assist the Game Management Section with annual monitoring efforts by maintaining current systems in antiquated database software (i.e., Visual FoxPro and Turbo Pascal) while simultaneously working to upgrade the programs in a modern data analysis language (i.e., R or Python) and database platforms (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, sqllite, or MS Access). The position will seek opportunities to streamline and automate the workflow and data flow involved in annually recurring surveys conducted by the Game Management and Wildlife Diversity Sections.

The Research Scientist also serves as a consultant to BOW staff throughout the state and research collaborators, providing direct support with statistical analyses, guidance on sampling designs, evaluation of project proposals to ensure statistical validity, assistance with preparation and review of technical reports and manuscripts, and response to data requests from staff and the public.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Oversee annually recurring deer harvest estimation. This is a major project and involves validation of all input data sources (e.g., harvest reports from hunters, biological data from field checked deer, etc.), statistical analyses (descriptive and inferential), development of summary tables, and appending estimates to several long-term databases and spreadsheets.
Oversee data validation and analysis of annual data collection from a variety of wildlife observation surveys (e.g., bow hunter sighting log, big game hunter survey, grouse and turkey hunter logs, drumming surveys, incidental sightings) to monitor relative abundance of deer, bear, moose, turkey, selected furbearers, and other game and non-game wildlife species statewide. Evaluate and refine as appropriate.
Provide technical guidance on data management systems, maintain and update computer programs used to analyze survey data, and help identify and correct sources of errors that occur in telephone, internet and scannable form reporting systems.
Provide statistical expertise and consultation for design and analysis of wildlife population research, user surveys, and monitoring programs and evaluate those surveys and programs after implementation.
Provide user-friendly reports and data queries from the above surveys as needed for public information or management purposes.
Assist BOW biologists in the preparation of peer-reviewed manuscripts and technical reports.
Train and supervise support staff to assist with data quality assurance and validation procedures.
Travel around New York State as needed to meet with and make presentations to regional staff, other professionals, and wildlife management stakeholders.
Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a Master’s Degree and one year of professional research experience, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Expertise MS Access and with one or more statistical programming language such as R, Python, and/or SAS.
Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships and collaborate with diverse personalities on project teams.
Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s Degree and two years of professional research experience, OR a PhD, in biometrics, biostatistics, data sciences, wildlife population ecology or related field.
Proficient with a version control system for software development (e.g., Git, Subversion, etc.)
Familiarity with Turbo Pascal and/or MS Visual FoxPro
Proficient at writing custom functions and/or packages in R and/or Python
Strong familiarity with relational databases and proficient using SQL
Experience developing dashboards such as RShiny Flex Dashboards, ArcGIS Dashboard for Operations, Rbokeh, Python bokeh, etc.
Proficiency with likelihood-based and Bayesian inference.
Experience working closely with state or federal wildlife agency staff.
Advanced user of ArcGIS for Desktop.
Additional Information: In accordance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act” institutions of higher education are required to prepare an annual report containing information on campus security policies and campus statistics. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by SUNY-ESF; and on property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a printed copy of this report by contacting SUNY-ESF University Police at 315-470-6667 or by accessing the following web site: http://www.esf.edu/univpolice/crimereports/

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin and veteran or disability status.

Application Instructions:

Date to Be Filled: August 1, 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Application Deadline: Although the college will accept applications until the position is filled, interested candidates should submit their materials by July 15, 2016 to ensure optimal consideration.

Application Procedure: Employment application must be submitted on-line.  Be sure to include contact information for a minimum of 3 references in your resume/CV.

APPLY HERE.

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Camp Counselor – Becket Day Camp –
Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, Becket

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Seasonal) Reports to: Day Camp Director

General Function: The Day Camp Counselor is responsible for creating, leading and managing group activities daily. The Day Camp Counselor is also responsible for managing individual and group behavior, providing a safe and nurturing environment for all campers.

Required Qualifications & Experience: The Day Camp Counselor must be:  Aged 18 or older and able to work with children in the outdoors  Able to administer and participate in all typical camp activities, some of which may be physically demanding  Able to follow instructions, accept guidance and respond well to supervision  Patient with children, peers and leadership staff  Available Monday to Friday during regular program hours, including pre-program and post-program duties, and presentation evening.  Available for all staff training sessions – both before camp and evening in-services during camp.

Principal Activities:  Create and lead structured camp activities for campers aged between 3-5 years old, 6-12 years old or 13-14 years old.  Supervise and manage camper behavior effectively, including but not limited to, campers with special needs.  Provide opportunities for campers to learn, grow and be challenged in a physically and mentally safe environment.  Follow all healthcare policies

Additional Activities:  Follow established guidelines for enforcing all safety rules and regulations among campers, peers, parents and guests  Supervise all aspects of each camper’s day including bus transportation, arrival and departure, activities, lunch, swimming, hiking, waterfront and free time activities  Instruct campers on all swimming policies, supervising in a public place policies and emergency action plans  Be an effective lifeguard or lookout at all times (if qualified)  Plan activities in advance, getting all supplies and equipment ready in time, commencing activities punctually  Submit all required paperwork completely and on time  Actively participate in morning circle and closing circle with enthusiasm each day  Actively participate and socialize with campers’ parents and families  Actively participate in weekly meetings and staff trainings  Be on time and prepared for any duty as requested  Demonstrate and teach the YMCA’s four core values of Caring, Honesty, Responsibility and Respect  Function as an effective part of the staff team to maintain and improve the program  Ensure all equipment is safe and put away after use  Participate in routine cleaning of buildings, grounds and the general site  Be flexible with schedule changes and team needs  Participate in curriculum review and development  Be a role model to the Assistant Counselors and aid them in their progression to become good counselors  Perform other duties as assigned

Further Responsibilities of Staff who live On-Site:  Maintain cleanliness of staff housing and follow resident camp staff policies while present on site Effect on end Results:  Each camper will experience a consistent and high quality experience  All programs will be conducted in a fun, safe and age appropriate manner  Staff morale and retention will be consistently high

APPLY HERE.

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 Summer 2016 Internship, Eagle Eye Institute,
MountainStar Forest, Peru, MA

This is more than an internship; it is a transformational learning opportunity!

Title: Residential Land Management Intern

Positions Available: 2

Background: Eagle Eye Institute is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in
Peru, MA, committed to engaging underserved urban youth with the environment
through hands-on exploratory learning, stewardship, and career bridging
programs. This internship program takes place at MountainStar Forest, a 200+
acre forest training site in Peru, MA, just 30 miles west of Northampton, MA. The
mission of the site is to protect the spirit of this forest and to conserve and
enhance its beauty and health by engaging people of all ages and cultural
backgrounds in its stewardship, so that future generations of all life can flourish.

Description: As an intern, you will live on the land for six weeks and connect
with nature, others, and yourself in an immersive outdoor setting. Housing will be
provided in private Eureka Equinox 6 standup tents, each on its own tent
platform. You will live off the grid without electronic devices, participate in food
preparation (all food is vegan and will be provided), learn about energy and water
conservation while living outdoors, help grow organic vegetables, and deepen
your overall relationship with nature. You will gain hands-on experience in land
management, including but not limited to, tree, shrub, and flower planting,
mowing and weed whacking, trail building and repair, forest management and
firewood production, brush cleanup, vegetable gardening, and traditional and
alternative building construction. You will also have the opportunity to assist with
Eagle Eye Institute overnight programs for youth held at the land over the
summer. This will include camp setup, food prep, and overall logistics. In
addition, you may keep a daily journal of your experiences, share your personal
story, and participate in daily morning meditation and exercise.

Melinda Stockmann, former MountainStar Forest intern, says:
“So, I think what I’ll tell other people is that this is a really good chance to …well,
not to be too clichéd… but to connect with yourself and with others and with
nature… and to just really get back to the basics…Coming out here for six weeks
you get to really just be. And work. And appreciate work. And appreciate play
and appreciate the food you eat. And just think about what you want to be and
what you want to do and what you are doing and what you are being. And that’s
really an opportunity that a lot of folks don’t get…It’s challenging… especially if
you’re used to being in a routine and having constant stimulation in different
ways…You have to be committed to the opportunity for what it is…I think it’s
definitely worth it and it pays off on a lot of different levels…Outdoor living is fun!”

We are looking for the right individuals with the following qualities:
• Hard-working
• Positive attitude
• Willingness to learn with an open mind
• Sense of humor
• Sense of cooperation
• Experience and commitment to working with diverse people, especially
urban youth of color
• Trustworthiness
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Good communicator
• A leader who can take initiative

Qualifications:
• Current college/university student
• Good physical condition
• Knowledge of and interest in the environment
• Camping and outdoor living experience
• Use of basic hand tools: shovel, rake, mower, weedwacker, etc.
• Some carpentry skills

Additional Qualifications:
• Must have own transportation to and from the site.
• We prefer that interns have an additional living situation within
commuting distance, for weekends and days off.
• Flexibility with days and hours.

Timeline: Six weeks, approx. July 6 – August 17, 2016 (exact dates TBD).
Schedule: 40 hours per week, flexible based on weather and work to be
accomplished any given day or week.
Compensation: Room (camping) and board.

How to Apply:
Submit a resume, two character references, and a letter stating why you are
interested, why you are the best person for this internship, what skills you have to
contribute, and what you would like to learn from this experience. How do you
see this internship helping you in your own personal development?
SEEKING DIVERSE APPLICANTS
Contact: Anthony Sanchez, Board President, Eagle Eye Institute
MountainStar Forest Manager
(413) 655-0103
asanchez@eagleeyei.org

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Seasonal Outdoor Educator –
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton, NY

This could be a perfect summer job for an enthusiastic teacher or youth leader.
Job Description: We are seeking enthusiastic candidates who would like to make a difference in the lives of children this summer.  The Outdoor Educator will be responsible for assisting in all aspects of  environmental education programs held at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center including but not limited to:  preparing lesson plans, delivering environmental education lessons related to environmental science and natural resources and supervising camp staff and campers,  Outdoor educator will deliver educational programs to the public, at summer camp and in scheduled groups on –site. Will also assist in day-to-day operation of nature center. Option of two or four month position.

Experience needed: Experience working with children in the outdoors required. Some experience in outdoor recreation preferred.   Education required: Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences or Education.

Job Requirements:    Must be able to perform physical work in the outdoors, be able to work some weekends and evenings and possess a valid driver’s license.

To apply: Please send resume and Rensselaer County application (available at www.rensco.com)  to: Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyille, New York 12052 or contact Lisa Hoyt at 518 658-2055 ordykenpond@gmail.com. Applications accepted until position is filled.

Visit our website for more information about our summer camp and programs at:http://www.dykenpond.org

Dyken Pond
Environmental Education Center
475 Dyken Pond Road
Cropseyville, New York 12052
518 658-2055


Assistant Director, Summer Camp –
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, Grafton, NY

Job Description: Assistant Director has on-site responsibility for daily camp operations including basic administrative tasks, teaching environmental education programs to youth ages 6 – 13, and supervising other staff. In addition, the Assistant Director will assist in other environmental education programs before camp starts. This position is assigned a wide variety of tasks and duties that must be performed to insure the efficient operation of the camp program.  Experience needed: College degree required in natural history subject area or education. Must be 21 years old and hold a valid NYS drivers license. Experience working with elementary aged  children in the outdoors required.

For more information on seasonal positions, please contact Lisa Hoyt at 518 658-2055 or dykenpond@gmail.com. To apply, please download a Renssealer County application from www.rensco.com (click on Employment) and return completed application and resume to: Lisa Hoyt, Dyken Pond Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, NY 12052

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Greenagers Summer Jobs

Apply now.

Greenagers employs 50 youth each year for work on local trails and farms, through our trail crews (3 in Berkshire County and 2 in Columbia County) and our Farm Apprenticeships. Click here to find out more information and apply online.


 

Greenagers’ Summer Programs

Starting soon!

Greenagers has some great summertime opportunities for middle and high school students and we still have a few spots open in two of our programs.

For middle-schoolers living in and/or attending SBRSD: Greenagers is hosting a summer environmental program exploring our conservation areas and local farms. Activities will include hikes, canoeing, farm visits, and service projects with our community partners. These partners include The Nature Conservancy, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Sheffield Land Trust, Indian Line Farm, Trustees of Reservations, and many more. Our main goal with this program is to provide engaging, thought provoking activities that promote a deeper connection with our local resources. For more information, please contact Greenagers: 413-644-9090 /office@greenagers.org.

For Berkshire County high schoolers: we currently have two spots available on our community trail crews.  These are paid summertime positions. Please contact Elia for more information.

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 Camp Counselors – Pleasant Valley

Location: Lenox, MA
Sanctuary: Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley Nature Camp is celebrating its’ 67 th year. We are seeking caring, committed, and enthusiastic staff to lead campers for their best summer ever! Our counselors:

  • Plan, develop and implement a variety of outdoor activities utilizing Pleasant Valley’s 1300+ acres of forests, fields, streams and ponds;
  • Are responsible for supervising the health and safety of campers;
  • Maintain communication with parents and other staff;
  • Must be able to work and learn together, have outstanding communication skills, and be willing and able to share their interests and talents with children aged 5-14;
  • Provide leadership and mentor Leaders in Training (LITs).

Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years old;
  • College experience preferred;
  • Should have knowledge and interest in the nature of the Berkshire region;
  • Applicants with a background in Environmental fields, education, or the arts are strongly encouraged to apply;
  • Experience working with children;
  • Willingness to obtain certification in CPR/First Aid are required-training is provided;
  • Some positions also require lifeguard/water safety certifications;
  • Successful candidates will pass a background records check (CORI and SORI);
  • And…of course, flexibility and a sense of humor is a must!

Compensation and Benefits – Rate of Pay: $10.00- $12.00 per hour – depending on experience and position.

Additional Comments

Camp Session: June 9 – August 19   Hours:  Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm or 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Camp Counselors are required to work at least one camp overnight during the summer.

How to Apply

Please send (email preferred) your cover letter and resume to:

Gayle Tardif-Raser – Education Coordinator

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
472 West Mountain Road
Lenox, MA. 01240

Job# 2499

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Weekend Visitor Services Staff

Location: Lenox, MA
Sanctuary: Pleasant Valley

Responsible for staffing the admissions office, Sundays, 10am – 4pm and some Monday holidays, greeting visitors, answering telephones, selling books, gifts, and bird feeders, processing registrations for programs, events and camp and generally representing Pleasant Valley and Mass Audubon to the public.

If you are looking for a part time position, have a love of nature, and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm with our visitors, this is a great opportunity for you. This is a year round position, however seasonal applicants will also be considered.

Qualifications

  • Friendliness, tact, dependability, enthusiasm and a desire to work with people.
  • Ability to deal with the varied pace of a public attraction necessary (there can be over 400 visitors on a busy day).
  • Experience with handling money, using a cash register and credit card machine.
  • Ability to take responsibility for office without additional staff.
  • Customer service experience preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to learn basic computer programs.
  • An interest in natural history is helpful, natural history background a plus.
  • Must pass a background records check (CORI and SORI).

Compensation and Benefits – Rate of pay $10-$11.00/hr

How to Apply

Please email your resume and cover letter to:

Marianne Hall, Office Manager
Job# 2763

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