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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

PLAN and Berkshire Environmental Action Team Join Forces To Appeal MassDEP 401 Water Quality Certificate Issued for TGP Connecticut Expansion Project

Members of the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast (PLAN) and landowners in Sandisfield have teamed up with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) to appeal a 401 water quality certificate, issued at the end of June by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the Kinder Morgan/Tennessee Gas Pipeline Connecticut Expansion Project.  The appeal was filed with DEP on Wednesday, with the assistance of the Boston law firm of McGregor & Legere, P.C. Press release issued by PLAN on July 20, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Concerns grow as GE identifies three potential sites for PCB dumps

LENOX — Concern is growing over the possibility that GE could dump contaminated PCB material on three potential local sites from a potential massive dredging and excavation of the likely cancer-causing chemical along the Housatonic River from southeast Pittsfield into Lenox. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final decision on the Rest of River cleanup of PCB-laden soil and sediment is still weeks, if not months, away. Acknowledging that the ruling has taken longer than expected, EPA Community Relations official Jim Murphy told The Eagle that “we’re saying it should come by the end of the summer.” By Clarence Fanto, The Berkshire Eagle, July 14, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

PHOTOS: Protecting an Elm tree in Pittsfield – 072016

An American elm tree in Brattlebrook Park is disease free due to the efforts of a private donor and Elm Watch, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Elm Watch is having the tree injected with fungicides to prevent Dutch Elm Disease. Photos by Ben Garver — The Berkshire Eagle, July 20, 2016. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation Announces New Self-Guided Hikes

As the height of the hiking season approaches, Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, which provides public access to its properties by means of hiking trails, is going to make it easier for hikers with smartphones to find their way. WRLF will post at the trailhead of three of its trails a QR (Quick Response) code that will enable a hiker with a smartphone who simply scans the QR code to download a trail map and a trail description, providing information about the length of the trail and its degree of difficulty, and describing the natural features to be encountered along the way. [text-blocks id=”26627″ slug=”click-headline-read”]

Too Many Deer on the Road? Let Cougars Return, Study Says

Cougars can kill hundreds of deer over the course of their lives, leading some scientists to argue that restoring them to 19 states with large populations of deer could prevent automobile-deer collisions. Credit Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures What large mammal regularly kills humans in the Eastern United States? And what other large mammal might significantly reduce those deaths? The answer to the first question is the white-tailed deer. Deer do not set out to murder people, as far as anyone knows, but they do jump out in front of vehicles so often that they cause more than a million collisions a year, resulting in more than 200 deaths. The answer to the second question, according to a new scientific study, is the cougar. By James Gorman, The New York Times, July 18, 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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PLAN and Berkshire Environmental Action Team Join Forces To Appeal MassDEP 401 Water Quality Certificate Issued for TGP Connecticut Expansion Project

BOSTON – Members of the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast (PLAN) and landowners in Sandisfield have teamed up with the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) to appeal a 401 water quality certificate, issued at the end of June by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the Kinder Morgan/Tennessee Gas Pipeline Connecticut Expansion Project.  The appeal was filed with DEP on Wednesday, with the assistance of the Boston law firm of McGregor & Legere, P.C.

About half of the nearly four-mile portion of the project in Sandisfield is through Otis State Forest, acquired by the state for protection from further development less than a decade ago, at a cost of over $5 million. The project is designed to serve gas companies in Connecticut, which has a statewide plan in place to convert 300,000 homes and businesses to natural gas.

“I feel like the government is turning a blind eye to the environmental damage you can see from TGP’s existing pipelines here,” said Sandisfield resident Jean Atwater-Williams, who is part of the group appealing the 401 water quality certificate. “On our property alone, their poor maintenance practices have led to invasive species spreading across wetlands. Once they get the go-ahead, I think they do the minimum they can get away with,” she said.

PLAN’s president, Kathryn Eiseman, said, “Otis State Forest has become a flashpoint for a lot of people. We all want to make sure that the natural resources here are protected, and that DEP and Kinder Morgan follow the letter of the law.”

“Kinder Morgan has a terrible track record,” said Jane Winn, BEAT’s executive director. “I don’t think they even live up to their own ‘best management practices.’” For over a decade, BEAT has worked to help people in the Berkshires take action to protect the environment. “I am very concerned about the impacts the project would have on the wetlands and Spectacle Pond.”

PLAN is funding, and fundraising for, the appeal. “One of the reasons PLAN formed was so that people and organizations across the region could pool their resources to hire top-notch legal and technical experts,” said Eiseman.

People who want to contribute to this effort can donate to BEAT and put “401” in the memo line or donate at www.thebeatnews.org/donate and include reference to “401.”

Meanwhile, at Berkshire County Superior Court in Pittsfield, a status conference was held on Wednesday afternoon in TGP’s condemnation case against the Commonwealth, where the pipeline company is seeking to take land in Otis State Forest for the project by eminent domain.

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Concerns grow as GE identifies three potential sites for PCB dumps

By Clarence Fanto
The Berkshire Eagle
July 14, 2016

LENOX — Concern is growing over the possibility that GE could dump contaminated PCB material on three potential local sites from a potential massive dredging and excavation of the likely cancer-causing chemical along the Housatonic River from southeast Pittsfield into Lenox.

But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final decision on the Rest of River cleanup of PCB-laden soil and sediment is still weeks, if not months, away.

Acknowledging that the ruling has taken longer than expected, EPA Community Relations official Jim Murphy told The Eagle that “we’re saying it should come by the end of the summer.”

The agency’s “intended final decision” issued last Sept. 30 called for a $613 million, 13-year project requiring GE to excavate most of the PCBs heavily contaminating a 10.5-mile stretch of the Housatonic between Fred Garner Park in southeast Pittsfield and the worst “hot spot,” Woods Pond in Lenox. There, the EPA has found PCB concentrations in wildlife are 100 times the limit considered safe.

But within a month, GE blasted the proposed remedy as “arbitrary, capricious” and “unlawful,” aiming its harshest criticism at the EPA’s insistence that under Massachusetts environmental regulations, the contaminated material must be shipped to a licensed out-of-state facility.

Instead, the company has targeted three sites near the river where the PCBs could be dumped — a landfill at Lane Construction on the Lee-Lenox line, an area off Forest Street in Lee, and the Rising Pond vicinity in the Great Barrington village of Housatonic.

GE insisted that its preferred sites would be safe while acknowledging that the company would save at least $250 million by avoiding a requirement to ship the material out of state. The company has predicted that 100,000 trips by dump trucks would be required.

The EPA plan would remove 89 percent of the PCB contamination flowing over the dam at Woods Pond; GE wants to save an additional $130 million by limiting that to 13 percent.

Concerned citizens have staged several rallies in Great Barrington protesting any storage of PCBs in South Berkshire.

If EPA Regional Counsel Carl Dierker’s final decision — based on an examination of the agency’s proposal, GE’s response and other public comment — continues to require out-of-state shipment, a prolonged legal wrangle would be the next phase.

GE or any others who have filed public comments with the agency could take the dispute to the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board in Washington, D.C., whose four independent judges are the agency’s final decision-maker on major controversies.

The company or others dissatisfied with that decision could then take the dispute to the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

The EPA is caught in the middle between GE’s fierce opposition to its proposed cleanup plan and an insistence by some environmental advocates, notably Tim Gray of the Housatonic River Initiative, that the government’s remedy is inadequate and that a more extensive, expensive cleanup costing over $900 million over a 50-year period should have been recommended.

“We’ve heard GE saying, you’re taking too much out, you’re going to hurt the river; other people saying you’re not taking enough out, you’re gonna hurt the river and all the critters,” the EPA’s Murphy has pointed out. “We’re someplace in the middle. We’re hearing criticism from both sides, that’s not a surprise.”

The two sides don’t even agree on how much PCB contamination remains in the river. GE says 70,000 pounds, the EPA puts it at 600,000 pounds.

In response to an Eagle query, the company issued a statement late Thursday: “GE will clean the Housatonic Rest of River. The only question is how it will be cleaned. We remain committed to a common sense solution for the Housatonic Rest of River that protects human health and the environment, does not result in unnecessary destruction of the surrounding habitat, and is cost-effective.”

According to David Lurie, public relations manager for GE Corporate, “EPA has repeatedly approved and implemented on-site disposal in many other instances across the country and in Massachusetts, including in New Bedford where EPA was responsible for funding the disposal costs. As recently as December an EPA spokesman said that on-site disposal options for the Rest of River remedy are ‘just as safe’ as out-of-state disposal.”

In his only recent public comment, GE’s CEO Jeffrey Immelt defended his company in response to a question from public radio station WBUR’s reporter during an April 4 celebration of the company’s upcoming relocation of its headquarters to Boston.

He stated that the company has already spent $500 million on the Housatonic cleanup in Pittsfield over the past decade. GE, which employed about 13,000 people in the city during the 1940s, discharged PCBs into the Housatonic from its former electrical transformer plant in the city from 1932 to 1977, two years before the U.S. banned use of the chemical.

“You know, we have a certain perspective on how we think it should be done, and we plan to stand up for what we think is right,” Immelt said. “We’ve done more dredging than any other company on earth, I’d have to say. It’s our intention to work well with the governor and the EPA to do another successful project on the Housatonic.”

In its documents, the EPA has detailed adverse health effects that “PCBs have been demonstrated to cause, including cancer. PCBs also cause serious non-cancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system and other organs.”

The agency cited studies in humans providing “supportive evidence for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs.”

In Lenox, which would suffer a major impact from an extensive excavation project, Select Board Chairman Warren Archey is urging consideration of “nanotechnology,” an alternative approach to river restoration as suggested in an article by Nature Conservancy science writer Cara Byington.

Archey told board members that it’s worth exploring “whether that process, bioremediation, can be used, rather than digging [PCBs] out of the river and throwing them somewhere else.”

“I’m absolutely convinced that GE’s plan to stick the stuff somewhere else just doesn’t make it,” Archey contended. “No matter where the ‘somewhere else’ is, that’s the problem, especially locally, where it’s a bigger problem.”

“I hope we’re all of the notion that we should neutralize these things rather than throw them somewhere else,” he added. “It’s a big, big issue, truly complex.”

Selectman Kenneth Fowler agreed that it would be in the town’s best interests to determine whether newly emerging technology could restore the river. “I’d like to see that exhausted before we go to dredging and everything that goes along with that,” he said.

“The cleanup and remediation that follows it must emphasize minimizing adverse environmental impacts, and should leave the river free to flow within natural banks, not riprap channels,” according to Lenox resident George Darey, board chairman of the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Hopefully, town officials will be diligent in not allowing PCBs to be dumped in Berkshire County.”

These are among the most significant recommendations the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency included in its intended final decision issued Sept. 30. The agency’s regional counsel in Boston is preparing a final decision, expected by the end of this summer:

— Excavation and backfill of an estimated 990,000 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated material;

— Containment and capping of remaining PCBs;

— Monitored Natural Recovery where appropriate;

— Use of a sediment amendment, such as activated carbon, to reduce mobility of PCBs.

— Disposal of excavated material off-site at an existing licensed facility out of state.

More information: www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic.

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PHOTOS: Protecting an Elm tree in Pittsfield – 072016

Photos by Ben Garver
The Berkshire Eagle
July 20, 2016.

An American elm tree in Brattlebrook Park is disease free due to the efforts of a private donor and Elm Watch. Elm Watch is having the tree injected with fungicides to prevent Dutch Elm Disease.

SEE SLIDE SHOW.

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Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation Announces New Self-Guided Hikes

As the height of the hiking season approaches, Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation, which provides public access to its properties by means of hiking trails, is going to make it easier for hikers with smartphones to find their way.

WRLF will post at the trailhead of three of its trails a QR (Quick Response) code that will enable a hiker with a smartphone who simply scans the QR code to download a trail map and a trail description, providing information about the length of the trail and its degree of difficulty, and describing the natural features to be encountered along the way.

Trails to get QR codes are the Fitch Trail, at its trailhead on Bee Hill Road; the Pine Cobble Trail, at its trailhead on Pine Cobble Road; and the Phelps Trail, at its trailhead on Oblong Road. The Fitch Trail passes through WRLF property onto state land and land belonging to the Boy Scouts, and connects to the RRR Brooks Trail in Flora’s Glen. The Pine Cobble Trail passes through Williams College and WRLF land to reach one of the best scenic overlooks in Williamstown. The Phelps Trail climbs through state-owned land to the crest of the Taconic Range.

QR codes, with directions to the trailheads, will also be posted at the trail kiosks at the foot of Spring Street, on Main Street and outside the WRLF Office at Sheep Hill on Cold Spring Road (Route 7).

The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is a member-supported non-profit land conservation trust celebrating its 30th year in 2016. WRLF manages a number of trails in Williamstown and invites everyone to get out and hike!

Find additional information on the Website, www.wrlf.org.

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Too Many Deer on the Road? Let Cougars Return, Study Says

By JAMES GORMAN
The New York Times
JULY 18, 2016

Cougars can kill hundreds of deer over the course of their lives, leading some scientists to argue that restoring them to 19 states with large populations of deer could prevent automobile-deer collisions. Credit Konrad Wothe/Minden Pictures

What large mammal regularly kills humans in the Eastern United States?

And what other large mammal might significantly reduce those deaths?

The answer to the first question is the white-tailed deer. Deer do not set out to murder people, as far as anyone knows, but they do jump out in front of vehicles so often that they cause more than a million collisions a year, resulting in more than 200 deaths.

The answer to the second question, according to a new scientific study, is the cougar.

Laura R. Prugh, a wildlife scientist at the University of Washington; Sophie L. Gilbert, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Idaho; and several colleagues argue in the journal Conservation Letters that if eastern cougars returned to their historic range, they could prevent 155 human deaths and 21,400 human injuries, and save $2.3 billion, over the course of 30 years.

And although cougars do kill humans sometimes, the scientists estimated that the total number of lives lost would be fewer than 30, far fewer than the number of lives saved.

The scientists studied 19 states, including Maine, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Four other states — Delaware, Illinois, Maryland and Rhode Island — were part of the eastern cougar’s historic range, which was wiped out by the early 1900s. However, those states do not have enough open forestland to support viable cougar populations, the scientists said.

I have a personal interest in this new report. In 2004, I wrote an entirely selfish and completely undocumented essay lamenting the damage that deer were doing to my garden and suggesting, only partly tongue-in-cheek, that the lawn and garden community would be willing to sacrifice a few pets and joggers if mountain lions could be brought to the suburbs to get rid of the Bambi plague.

I noted that deer were also responsible for human deaths, although that was not my true motivation.

I’m sure I wasn’t the first to have this idea. What deer do to cultivated suburban yards can make otherwise peaceful people quite bloody minded.

But I didn’t do the numbers.

Dr. Prugh and her colleagues have done the numbers in an attempt to find some real answers.

The return of cougars on their own is entirely possible, they say. The animals have come back to parts of the Midwest over the past few decades and are starting to appear in the East. One animal was documented in Connecticut. That kind of natural repopulation would be likely to face less resistance than a human-engineered reintroduction, which she was not advocating, Dr. Prugh said.

But would their reappearance really help?

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

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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