18 pipeline protesters arrested after blocking access
to Otis State Forest
A demonstration at the entrance to Otis State Forest early Tuesday led to the arrest of 18 protesters who had blocked two access roads in opposition to a Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. project. The protesters were among a group of more than 50 who arrived on the site to oppose an easement that allows the company to widen its right of way through the forest. “We are doing what our state has not done to protect Article 97,” said Ron Coler, a member of the Sugar Shack Alliance, referring to the article of the state constitution designed to protect state lands. By Heather Bellow, The Berkshire Eagle, May 2, 2017 <more>
Help Bats by Reporting Colonies
If you see a colony of bats, please let MassWildlife know! 10 or more bats make up a colony. We study bat colonies in Massachusetts to see how many have survived after the onset of White-nose Syndrome, a deadly disease affecting hibernating bats. Monitoring leads to advances in conservation and management for endangered bat species, ensuring protection and security of the colonies. From MassWildlife <more>
On May Day, Pacheco Announces Massachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour, a Statewide Committee Initiative on Clean Energy, Climate
Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton), founding chairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming Change, has announced the Massachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour, a new, statewide committee initiative on clean energy, climate change and constituent engagement. Set to begin on May 8, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour will consist of nine public hearings in various communities across the Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to the Cape, to hear the thoughts and suggestions of constituents and stakeholders on clean energy and climate change issues. Press Release from Office of Senator Marc R. Pacheco, May 1, 2017 <more>
6 most common sources of plastic pollution
The 5 Gyres Institute has published a report called “The Plastics BAN List.” Its purpose is to assess which plastics are most damaging to human health and the environment. Plastic waste was collected and analyzed to see in which form it’s most commonly found, which toxic chemicals are used to create the plastics, and what recovery systems (i.e. recycling, composting, reuse) exist, if any. The list includes “Better Alternatives Now” (that’s where the BAN acronym comes in) – ways in which consumers, industry, and government can take voluntary action without waiting for technological fixes. By Katherine Martinko, Treehugger, May 2, 2017 <more>
On May Day, Pacheco Announces Massachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour, a Statewide Committee Initiative on Clean Energy, Climate
Press Release from Office of Senator Marc R. Pacheco
May 1, 2017
BOSTON— Senate President Pro Tempore Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton), founding chairman of the Senate Committee on Global Warming Change, has announced theMassachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour, a new, statewide committee initiative on clean energy, climate change and constituent engagement.
Set to begin on May 8, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Future Tour will consist of nine public hearings in various communities across the Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to the Cape, to hear the thoughts and suggestions of constituents and stakeholders on clean energy and climate change issues. In these public hearings, committee members will hear the questions and suggestions of residents regarding clean energy and climate action in a forum-based fashion. As we begin our legislative session, this input is imperative to crafting policy and making sure we implement the proper legislation for Massachusetts.
Joined by fellow committee members and stakeholders at a State House press conference on Monday, Sen. Pacheco explained the tour’s origins.
“This tour is an answer to thousands of constituent conversations, calls and emails concerning the health and future of our local communities, our state, our country and our world as a whole,” Senator Pacheco said. “Our residents want a strong economy. They want clean air. They want clean water. They want decent surroundings. And most of all, they want a future for their kids. We need to craft legislation that reflects that. This tour will give us a perfect opportunity to hear from our communities who demand a clean energy future.”
“Massachusetts must continue to move towards a green energy future to build a sustainable environment, grow jobs and reduce carbon emissions to combat climate change,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “The Clean Energy Future Tour will allow the Committee to hear the thoughts and desires directly from our residents on how we achieve our energy goals.”
Clean energy now employs 105,212 workers across the Commonwealth, an increase of 75 percent, or 45,000 jobs, since 2010, according to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s annual Clean Energy Industry Report. Clean energy employment in Massachusetts grew 6 percent between 2015 and 2016. The clean energy sector has become an important part of the overall Massachusetts economy, contributing $11.8 billion in economic activity in 2015. Over the last six years, Massachusetts has taken first place, among our 50 states, in the energy efficiency sector. And in the U.S. as a whole, clean energy jobs outnumber coal and gas jobs 5 to 1.
“Massachusetts is at a critical crossroads, and the decisions we make now will impact our economy and environment for decades to come,” said David Ismay, senior attorney at the Conservation Law Foundation. “We can invest in clean energy like wind and solar, which will create thousands of new jobs and ensure regional energy independence, or we can continue to defy the law and common sense by tying ourselves down to outdated, polluting fossil fuels. The choice is clear.”
“If Trump is moving backwards, Massachusetts must move forward,” said George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts. “We need to fight the devastation of climate change by reducing pollution. We need to build new industries and jobs around off-shore wind, solar and hydro. We need utilities that understand the future is about a modernized grid, a price on pollution and a commitment to clean energy, not an endless addiction to fossil fuels of the past. We commend Senator Pacheco and his committee for reaching out to residents, listening and making the case for science and safety.”
“The Nature Conservancy is encouraged to see Senator Pacheco convene public hearings to continue the progress and leadership by Massachusetts on a clean energy future,” said Wayne Klockner, state director of the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.
“There can no longer be an argument made for the reality that is climate change – and that its impact on our environment and the air we breathe is unsustainable, dangerous, and most importantly, causing serious harm to public health,” said Jeff Seyler, president & CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast. “As it causes temperatures to rise, it increases ozone levels and particle pollution, putting people at risk for serious lung diseases like asthma, COPD and even lung cancer. We applaud Senator Pacheco for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with the greater Massachusetts legislature to address climate change and its effects on the health of Massachusetts residents.”
In addition to the nine hearings, the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change will also be making a site visit to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Activities are set to include a discussion of clean energy, climate adaptation and economic development in the Commonwealth; a visit to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s dock and near-shore research vessel; and a visit to the Trunk River Beach for a hands-on discussion on infrastructure, vulnerability, planning and more. The committee has invited the congressional delegation to join as well.
Real-time scheduling information, including dates, locations and times of the hearings, can be found on the tour’s website at malegislature.gov/ cleanenergyfuture.
Hearings will be hosted in Mashpee, Sudbury, Taunton, the Malden area and Weymouth during the month of May. Hearings will be hosted in the Berkshires, the Springfield area, the North Shore and Boston during the month of June.
Residents can also use social media to voice their thoughts. Tweet your energy and climate ideas to the committee at @MACleanFuture or use the hashtag #MACleanFuture.
For more information, visit the tour’s website at malegislature.gov/ cleanenergyfuture, call Senator Pacheco’s office at (617) 722-1551, visit Senator Pacheco’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ SenatorMarcPacheco or follow Pacheco on Twitter (@MarcRPacheco)
6 most common sources of plastic pollution
By Katherine Martinko
Treehugger
May 2, 2017
The 5 Gyres Institute has published a report called “The Plastics BAN List.” Its purpose is to assess which plastics are most damaging to human health and the environment. Plastic waste was collected and analyzed to see in which form it’s most commonly found, which toxic chemicals are used to create the plastics, and what recovery systems (i.e. recycling, composting, reuse) exist, if any.
The list includes “Better Alternatives Now” (that’s where the BAN acronym comes in) – ways in which consumers, industry, and government can take voluntary action without waiting for technological fixes.
Voluntary action is key because, as the BAN list explains in its Findings and Recommendations, nearly all of these products have no economic value in today’s recycling systems. This may come as a shock to those people who think recycling is a viable green solution:
“Nearly all of the 15 products on the BAN List have no economic value in today’s recycling systems. They are literally ‘designed for the dump’ and are often contaminants in recycling systems, either damaging equipment and causing costly repairs when they enter recycling facilities (like plastic bags) or ending up as a net cost for recyclers to unload at a loss (like polystyrene) rather than as profitable materials.”
You’ll recognize every single one of the following items from your own forays into parks, along beaches, and through forests. They are ubiquitous, persistent, ugly, and unhealthy. These are plastic products you should reject at every opportunity, opting for better alternatives whenever possible.
[BEAT NOTE: BEAT is working to remove invasive species in Berkshire County! Join us on Thursday mornings at Burbank Park in Pittsfield to cut invasive hardy kiwi! And we have received a grant from the Northeast Integrative Pest Management Center to form a regional task force to study the problem and share resources with other organizations!]
Why invasive plants love climate change
America is under attack by a group of bad actors with deceptively innocent names. Their roles could have been written for a bizarre science-fiction movie.
Carp. Bullfrogs. Beetles. Mosquitoes. Grasses. Diatoms. As vastly different as these swimming, croaking, creeping, biting, waving-in-the-slightest-breeze and microscopic single-cell organisms are, some types have one truly scary thing in common: They are invasive species. Even worse, climate change is fueling their spread around the United States and beyond in ways that can affect all of us.
Because an invasive species can be almost any kind of animal, plant or microbe, there’s no hard and fast definition for just what an invasive species is, said A. Townsend Peterson, University Distinguished Professor in the Biodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. Even so, Peterson said, there are characteristics that define when a species becomes invasive.
What exactly is an invasive species?
“First, an invasive species is a species that’s not from that place originally,” said Peterson. “Those are called alien species. Frequently, that means they came from another continent.” But, he added, just being a non-native or alien species is not enough to make it invasive. A second requirement to be invasive, he said, “is that the species essentially has to become enough of a problem or affect the natural systems of the place so that you notice it.” It’s worth adding, he said, that there are probably thousands of species that have come in from another continent but aren’t causing any trouble. “The question is whether the species is affecting natural ecosystems or agro-ecosystems,” he pointed out. “That could be anything that gets out of control. Then you call it an invasive species.”
Climate change is affecting the spread of invasive species through their response to three factors, Peterson said. The first of those is the physiology of the species, which, in the case of a plant, for example, includes its requirements for temperature, humidity, sunlight and the number of days it needs to set flowers or fruit — anything that is a feature of its environment. These are called abiotic factors.
“Clearly, climate change moves these conditions around,” Peterson said, citing two ways this happens. “The general wisdom is that with changing climate, especially warming climates, species will tend to move their distribution toward the North or South poles, away from the equator, and into higher elevations, into the mountains.” Another way species respond to climate change is by shifting activity patterns to earlier in the season. “For example,” he said, “plants have been dividing, flowering and fruiting earlier and earlier during the past four decades.”
The second factor is called biotic and occurs when there’s an absence or presence of some pathogen, parasite or any other species that modifies where a species can be. This could occur, for example, if there’s a long enough winter that the cold kills back some parasites or pathogens, Peterson said. “Whatever it might be, you can definitely imagine a particular species could be either absent or present and that modifies the presence of another species. Biotic factors can get really complicated and unpredictable,” he emphasized, “because a species must respond to the species around it.”
The third factor is access. “This is especially important to invasive species,” Peterson said. To understand this factor, Peterson said you need to ask this question: What places are available or accessible to the species? Peterson answers the question by telling a story about dandelions. The story illustrates how scientists think about the distribution and the ecology of species.
“If we were having this conversation in the year 1300, we might talk about dandelion being an Asian species. Dandelions were distributed across Asia out to the limits of their abiotic requirements subject to the modifications of their biotic requirements. That means they could spread to the oceans but not beyond. But changing technology allowed humans to move around more, and oceans were no longer a barrier to dandelion distribution. And, so, dandelions were essentially transported by humans onto every continent except Antarctica, but were still subject to the abiotic and biotic requirements of the species.”
Jobs
Housatonic Valley Association – River Stewards of Tomorrow
2017 Internship Positions Available
The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is seeking applications for our River Stewards of Tomorrow Environmental Internship positions, available for summer 2017. The River Stewards will work on a variety of projects related to water quality and habitat conservation. River Stewards will either be assigned to our Berkshire field office in South Lee, MA and work primarily in the Massachusetts portion of the watershed; or to our main office in Cornwall Bridge, CT and work primarily in the Connecticut and New York portions of the watershed. Each River Steward will be expected to complete at least 280 hours of work from June – August (at least 35 hours/week over 8 weeks). There is the potential to extend the internship to 12 weeks- with a proportional increase in stipend- depending on available funding.
Internship Overview: While working out of the Cornwall Bridge office, the 2016 River Stewards will be supervised by HVA’s Conservation Projects Manager, but may also be asked to work with other staff as needed. In the Berkshire Office, River Stewards will be supervised by HVA’s Berkshire Director. Work will include a mix of office and field-based activities. Projects that the intern may be involved with include:
Environmental Monitoring: The River Stewards will assist HVA staff in the field with water quality monitoring and habitat assessment activities including collecting water samples for chemical analysis, macroinvertebrate sampling and conducting visual surveys along important stream reaches to document threats and identify restoration opportunities.
Restoration project monitoring and maintenance: River Stewards will monitor the success of restoration plantings and conduct maintenance activities like weeding and watering.
Data Compilation, Document Analysis and Mapping: River Stewards will assist with gathering and summarizing environmental data and planning documents from a variety of local, state and federal sources. This work will support a number of ongoing HVA efforts, including watershedbased planning.
Road/Stream Crossing Assessment: River Stewards will visit and assess bridges and culverts throughout the Housatonic watershed to identify barriers to fish and wildlife passage, and assist with post-assessment data processing and report writing.
Websites and Social Media: HVA maintains a website for the organization as well as websites focused on the Naugatuck River and the Still River, both important tributaries of the Housatonic in CT. The intern will be involved in producing materials for the websites and Facebook pages that HVA manages. Related tasks might include identifying and summarizing relevant news items, sharing photos of HVA events and field work, and writing project updates.
Opportunities may be available for the intern to assist with other organization work including conservation easement monitoring, GIS analysis of land and water resources and outreach activities such as guided paddle trips, community events, and school field trips.
Qualifications: Candidates must be highly-motivated, passionate about watershed conservation, and able to succeed both independently and as part of a team. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess:
Enthusiasm for outdoor field work, including working in remote areas under potentially inclement environmental conditions; Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to represent HVA in a professional manner; Excellent writing skills; Familiarity with basic website administration and social media; Experience using GPS and GIS; Willingness to work the occasional evening or weekend. 2016 River Stewards of Tomorrow Summer
Requirements: Daily access to a personal vehicle is a requirement of the position. The intern must also be physically able to participate in potentially strenuous field work (i.e. physically active work outside for several hours at a time during the summer). Housing is not provided. HVA will assist successful applicants in finding summer lodging convenient to their assigned office.
Compensation: The intern will be provided with a $2,400 stipend for the course of the internship. Work related travel will be compensated at a rate of $0.48/mile.
Application Procedure: Interested candidates should submit the following materials via email: 1. COVER LETTER explaining your interest and qualifications 2. RESUME 3. TWO (2) PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES 4. (Optional but encouraged) Examples of past projects relevant to HVA’s mission (please limit to 1-2 pages/project, max of three projects) Incomplete applications will not be considered. Deadline: We expect to make hiring decisions no later than April 15th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Questions and applications should be directed to: Michael S. Jastremski, Watershed Conservation Director Housatonic Valley Association Mail: PO Box 28, Cornwall Bridge, CT 06754 E-mail: MJ.HVA@outlook.com Phone: (860) 672-6678
Sierra Club – Boston Organizer
Context: As the biggest city in Massachusetts and even New England, Boston carries disproportionate impact. The chapter is more likely to achieve its clean energy and environmental goals if Boston has taken steps to do so first. One example is Ready for 100 – if Boston joins this campaign it makes it easier to get other communities to do so.
Scope: The Boston Organizer creates and carries out clean energy and/or environmental campaigns within the City of Boston.
Job Activities: Plans, develops and implements campaign strategies for clean energy and/or environmental campaigns within the City of Boston. Recruits and trains volunteers to facilitate grassroots involvement to achieve campaign ends. Builds and maintains relationships with Sierra Club Boston members and supporters, Boston local and state level elected officials, other advocacy groups, and relevant stakeholders. Makes presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies regarding clean energy and environmental campaign efforts. Writes press releases, newsletters, flyers, etc. to keep Club membership and the general public informed. Advocates the Sierra Club position on proposed legislation involving clean energy programs; informs and communicates with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, and other non‑profit organizations. Participates in task forces, committees, coalitions, etc. representing the Club’s objective or mission. Produces written reports for funders as needed. Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Knowledge & Skills: BA/BS degree in Environmental Studies, Political Science or a closely related field. 1-2 years’ experience organizing campaigns – environmental experience a plus. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Proficient computer skills Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with volunteers.
Visit website to apply.
The Sierra Club offers competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan. This is a category 5 exempt position.
Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) organization. Sierra Club does not sponsor H1B visas.
Sierra Club is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce.
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet. Visit website to apply.
Volunteer Opportunities in the Berkshires w/The Trustees
“Time travel” with The Trustees, and take our visitors on the voyage with you! Become a National Historic Landmark Greeter at Mission House (Stockbridge) or Tour Guide at the William Cullen Bryant Homestead (Cummington) and share the stories and magic of these special places. No experience necessary. Training provided. Fridays through Sundays. Flexible. Fun. Social. Rewarding.
Visit www.thetrustees.org/volunteer or contact tbeasley@thetrustees.org or413.532.1631 ext. 3119 for more information.
Mass Audubon – Berkshire Nature Camp Counselor – Lenox
Location: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Lenox, MA
Responsibilities
- 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 preferred
- Experience working with children
- Willingness to obtain certification in CPR/First Aid are required-training is provided
- Lifeguard/water safety certifications or Wilderness First Aid desirable
- Must 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: $11.00- $12.50 per hour (depending on experience and position).
Additional Information Camp Session: June 12 – August 19, 2017 Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm or 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Must work at least two camp late nights during the summer.
How to Apply Please send (email preferred) your cover letter and resume to: Gayle Tardif-Raser – Education Coordinator, gtraser@massaudubon.org, 413-637-0320, or Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA. 01240
Outreach and Education Coordinator – BEAT – Pittsfield
The Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is seeking an Outreach and Education Coordinator for 20-25 hrs/week. The job pays $15/hour. Pay is monthly. Must be absolutely passionate about wildlife and wildlife habitat protection! BEAT has a strong anti-discrimination policy and you must be able to work well with ALL types of people, and ALL types of people are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities include: producing the weekly e-newsletter called The BEAT News, website updates, social media updates, writing and distributing press releases, scheduling monthly Green Drinks guests and publicizing same, set up/break down and attendance at monthly Pittsfield Third Thursdays from May to September as well as tabling at many other events throughout the county.
Must be available to work evenings & weekends several times every month. Must be extremely detail oriented and able to work without supervision. Knowledge of full suite of Microsoft Office products or similar software. Ability to use Google Groups and docs. Some knowledge of HTML a definite plus – will be required to learn some HTML programming. Must be an articulate writer. Please send resume, cover letter, and writing sample of why you care about wildlife habitat protection to Jane Winn, Executive Director, at jane@thebeatnews.org
Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is an equal opportunity organization and will not allow discrimination based upon age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, color, veteran status, marital status, size, religion, sexual orientation, LGBTQ+ status, socioeconomic background, or any other characteristic protected by law. This applies to the people we serve, our volunteers, our staff, our interns, and our Board of Directors.
Visit www.thebeatnews.org to learn more about BEAT!
Executive Director – Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) – Belmont, MA
The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) seeks an Executive Director. MACC is a small membership-based non-profit, established in 1961, that protects Massachusetts’ wetlands, open space, and biological diversity through environmental education, advocacy, and support of Massachusetts conservation commissions. The Executive Director is the Chief Executive Officer, reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for achievement of MACC’s mission and financial objectives; program planning, development and oversight; board and community relations; finances and fundraising; legislative and regulatory advocacy; and staff supervision. The Executive Director supervises two full-time and one part-time staff.
The successful candidate will have an understanding of relevant Massachusetts environmental laws, regulations, and policy; successful experience in non-profit management and fundraising; a passion for natural resources, and excellent presentation and writing skills. Compensation is commensurate with experience and MACC’s budget.
For a full description of the position, please visit MACC’s website jobs page and download the position description: http://www.maccweb.org/page/ResJobsVolunteering
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume by May 15, 2017, to staff@maccweb.org.
Bird Research Technicians – Aton Forest – Norfolk, CT
Aton Forest, Inc. has been awarded an Audubon Connecticut Important Bird Area Grant for 2017 to conduct Breeding Bird Surveys and Breeding Territory Studies in northwestern Connecticut. Two experienced birders will be hired in 2017 as Research Technicians to conduct and report on this project.
Brief Description of Project: This grant will continue and expand the breeding bird research conducted at Aton Forest by hiring two experienced birders to complete breeding bird surveys along three established survey lines and determine breeding territories within selected managed shrub land and meadow habitats at Aton Forest, Norfolk, CT. Data from such study will go into the eBird database and contribute to the understanding of the distribution, populations, behavior and habitat use of Connecticut’s birds.
Aton Forest (AF) is an ecological research field station in the Northwest Hills of Connecticut in the northeast corner of the Town of Norfolk. The Forest was designated an Audubon Important Bird Area in 2015. Because of its location the Forest falls within a rather unique geographical area of Connecticut, part of the Berkshire Plateau, with many plants and animals more common further north. The elevation, topography, terrain, weather, climate, and flora all contribute to its special nature. This uniqueness is also reflected in the variety of forest birds that breed there each year. Breeding forest birds include: cerulean warbler, black-throated blue warbler, black-throated green warbler, least flycatcher, magnolia warbler, wood thrush, eastern towhee, American woodcock, and ruffed grouse to name just a few. The AF breeding bird surveys were begun in 2002 and have been conducted continuously to the present day. All breeding bird survey data has been entered into the citizen science database eBird, as well as records maintained at Aton Forest.
Specific Goals and Objectives of Project: There are two goals of the project: one, to organize two breeding bird surveys on each of the three interior survey lines and, two, to determine bird breeding territories within selected managed shrub land and meadow habitats at Aton Forest. The breeding bird line surveys will be conducted between June 1 and 15, 2017; the breeding territory study will be accomplished between June 1 and 31, 2017. It is estimated that the project will require 72 hours per technician and wages will be $15 per hour. Aton Forest, Inc. will also make sleeping quarters, office space and a computer available for the researchers. Orientation, coordination and supervision will be provided by the Executive Director of Aton Forest, Inc.
There may also be an opportunity for student interns to work on this project, to assist the Research Technicians, to learn research techniques, to better their knowledge of northern Connecticut birds, and to further develop their birding skills.
Anyone interested please contact:
John Anderson, Executive Director, Aton Forest, Inc.
Email: contact@atonforest.org
Aton Forest, Inc.
P.O. Box 509
270 N. Colebrook Rd.
Norfolk, CT 06058
(860)542-5125
www.atonforest.org
www.sandybrook.org
Summer Interns – Environmental Voter Project – Boston, MA
The Environmental Voter Project is now taking applications for the Summer Internship Program run out of our Boston headquarters.
The Environmental Voter Project is looking for highly-motivated undergraduates to join our selective Summer Internship Program. Interns will work closely with the Field Director and the CEO to learn about subjects such as field campaigning, nonprofit communications and data analytics. Interns will be expected to devote time to field outreach, senior staff support, event planning, research, and drafting of membership communications, blog posts, and stakeholder presentations. In addition to gaining valuable nonprofit advocacy skills, interns will become talented organizers and political operatives by learning the nuts and bolts of nonprofit work and electoral campaigning from an exciting and innovative organization. We are seeking responsible, motivated candidates who can commit to 24-32 hours per week for this program.
This is an unpaid internship in Boston, MA.
Our summer interns:
- Learn the latest campaign mobilization techniques
- Conduct voter turnout and election research projects
- Attend weekly seminars on data analytics, polling, and the behavioral science of campaigns
- Mobilize non-voting environmentalists to become more consistent voters
- Gain valuable field and research skills for use on campaigns and advocacy nonprofits
You can find more details and application instructions here.
Please spread the word, and thank you for your support!
Great Summer Jobs with Greenagers!
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.
Our new and improved Farm Apprenticeships program is the result of an exciting collaboration with Jen Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm in Tyringham, MA. Jen is the new Farm Apprenticeship Coordinator and she has designed a thorough farm/soil/food curriculum to bolster the paid apprenticeship experience. The program runs from April through November. Apprentices are matched with area farms and are expected to work a minimum of four hours per week on that farm. Apprentices will also participate in the Young Farmer Education Series, bi-monthly farm education workshops and farm tours led by Jen on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Workshops are held at Woven Roots Farm, Tyringham, MA and Greenagers, Housatonic, MA. Farm visits will take place throughout Central and South County.
Participant Requirements: 15-22 years old • Able to manage own transportation • Prepared to work outdoors for a minimum of 4 hours/week • Willing to commit to workshop and farm visit schedule • Ready to engage in community dialogue and discovery
Workshop Topics Include • The Soil Food Web • Food Systems • Food Literacy • Food Diversity • Food Justice • Sustainability • Wholesome Food Preparation
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Jen Salinetti, Program Coordinator.
Apply for a Farm Apprenticeship.
Trail Crews consist of 6-8 youth aged 15-24 and one skilled leader with a minimum of 3 years field experience. Our 2017 Trail Crew options are:
~ Appalachian Trail Crew – runs for 4 weeks in July, Mondays to Fridays. This crew camps on-site during the week, returning home for weekends.
~ Community Crews (2 in Berkshire County) run 6 weeks in July and August, Mondays to Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Community Crews build and maintain trails for local land trusts and organizations and begin and end each workday at the Greenagers office in Great Barrington.
~ Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) Trail Crews – 2 crews based in Columbia County that build and maintain trails on CLC-owned land.
For more information, please contact Elia Del Molino, Trails Coordinator.
Apply for a trail crew member position.