The BEAT News | February 7, 2018

Incredible Wildlife
2 Sue Morse Presentations – 2 Sue Morse Hikes – and
3 Hikes in One Day this Saturday

Finally, if you’re just mad for wildlife and winter fun! A snowy mix is forcing us to reschedule our Wednesday tracking club outing. Instead, BEAT has decided to run a full day tracking EXTRAVAGANZA at three locations.

Over twelve years later, Hilltown Families is an award-winning non-profit with a Board of Directors consisting of educators, technology experts, and business people. With over 2.2 million visits to its website, Hilltown Families has 6,000 plus subscribers who receive its free eNewsletter every week, and hundreds of participating institutions who partner with Hilltown Families to reach new audiences, contributing to Wildfield’s vision to create a culture of intentional learning. Hilltown Families began as a simple email listserv for families living in the rural regions of Massachusetts, and now serves all four counties of western Massachusetts, sharing tens of thousands of community-based educational events, resources, and opportunities over the years for all generations and all levels of learning.

As Hilltown Families grew, community organizers and educators in other regions of the country began reaching out to inquire how they too could create a similar network in their communities. Wildfield realized the power a collective of community-based educational networks could have in spearheading a movement towards a culture of intentional learning. She began mentoring and training organizers in locations as different as Honolulu and Mid-Coast Maine and is talking to others. In addition to developing a framework other communities in the country can follow to create their own networks, Wildfield is also working on a book about her innovative ideas for community-based education.

As Wildfield’s work has moved to replicate the Hilltown Families model elsewhere, she continues to write for and consult with the staff and board of directors of the local Hilltown Families organization.

Hilltown Families is now seeking a half-time Executive Director to shepherd the next level of growth of the local organization. Further information about the opportunity is available at www.HilltownFamilies.org.

In her 2013 TEDx Talk, Supporting Education Through Community Engagement, Wildfield shared her vision for creating sustainable and resilient communities by strengthening a sense of place through community-based education. This vision led her to create a community tool which families, local businesses, and cultural institutions can use to connect and share community-based educational and placemaking opportunities.

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Learn Skills for the Climate Justice Movement

Here is a fantastic resource that anyone, in any part of the globe, can access to learn about the climate justice movement.

You can use it from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile. It works with low-bandwidth. It works irregardless of disability (for e-readers, cc’s always included, high-contrast pages, etc). It can be done with a group or self-paced (a group in Indiana is already planning to take it as part of an upcoming meeting!).

So far, there are 8 sessions on:

• Introduction to Campaigning
• Advanced Campaigning Lessons
• How Social Movements Win
• Divestment
• Fracking
• Climate Science 101
• Skill-up Tutorial and
• Having Climate Change Conversations – a personal favorite — and the one that’s gotten the most positive feedback from the fifty 350 volunteers scattered around the globe who have given feedback.

Each of these lessons shares tips, lessons, and interactive activities.

There are 350 stories from Turkey, Brazil, US, Ghana, Australia, Canada/Quebec, Pacific Islands, Philippines, England, France, and dozens of other countries with examples of allies and frontline communities from around the globe.

Go visit the Online Skill-ups and have fun!

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Mass Save Listening Sessions

The Mass Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has scheduled five listening sessions (listed below – NOT ONE IN THE BERKSHIRES!) to provide the public with an opportunity to offer comment on the Mass Save programs of Massachusetts utilities*.

Please, let DOER know that leaving the Berkshires out is unacceptable – especially because it seems that Mass Save is not working in the Berkshires anymore! Please, call: (617) 626-7300, email: doer.energy@state.ma.us or write: Judith Judson, Commissioner, DOER, 100 Cambridge St., Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114

Dates for two additional sessions—in Lowell and Springfield—are forthcoming and will most likely take place in April. This is your chance to provide feedback about experiences with Mass Save and make suggestions as to how Massachusetts’ energy efficiency programs should be improved in the utilities’ next three-year plans, to be filed and reviewed this year.

>> At this juncture, the unscheduled Springfield session is the only listening session planned for Western Mass. To request additional sessions in Pittsfield and Greenfield, or with any questions, please contact Matt Rusteika, DOER Energy Efficiency Coordinator.

BOSTON
Great Hall at Codman Square Health Center
6 Norfolk Street, Boston (Dorchester), MA 02124
February 28, 2018 from 6-8pm

FALL RIVER
Bristol Community College, Room C111
777 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA 02720
March 8, 2018 from 6-8pm

SALEM
Salem State University, Marsh Hall, 2^nd floor
71 Loring Avenue, Salem, MA 01970
March 14, 2018 from 6-8pm

MASHPEE
Mashpee Public Library
64 Steeple Street, Mashpee, MA 02649
March 19, 2018 from 6-8pm

WORCESTER
MA Department of Environmental Protection
8 New Bond Street, Worcester, MA 01606
March 29, 2018 from 6-8pm

LOWELL
TBD

SPRINGFIELD
TBD

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Jobs

River Stewards of Tomorrow 2018 Internship Positions Available

Housatonic Valley Association

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is seeking applications for our River Stewards of Tomorrow Environmental Internship positions, available for summer 2018. 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 Stockbridge, MA and work primarily in the Massachusetts portion of the watershed; or in our office in Cornwall Bridge, CT and work primarily in the Connecticut and New York. 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).

Internship Overview: While working out of the Berkshire Office, River Stewards will be supervised by HVA’s Berkshire Director, and in the Cornwall Bridge office, by HVA Watershed Conservation Director. They will also be asked to work with other HVA staff as needed. 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 riverways to document river conditions, threats and identify restoration opportunities.
• Restoration project monitoring and maintenance: River Stewards will monitor the success of past restoration plantings and conduct maintenance activities as needed.
• 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 watershed-based 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: The intern will be involved in producing materials for the HVA website and Facebook pages when appropriate. 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 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 work both independently and as part of a team. In addition, the candidate must 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.

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).

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: April 20th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Questions and applications should be directed to:

For Massachusetts: Dennis Regan, Berkshire Director Housatonic Valley Association Mail: PO Box 496, Stockbridge, MA 01262 E-mail: dregan@hvatoday.org Phone: 413/ 298-7024

For Connecticut: 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

If a candidate would work in either Massachusetts or Connecticut, just send in one application to either site and note your interest of internship location.

Appalachian Trail Ridge Runner – seasonal

WHERE: Department of Conservation and Recreation – Cheshire office

WHEN: 1 Position available from 5/26/18 – 9/3/18

SALARY: $530.40 / 40 hours / weekends required

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Minimum age 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and dependable transportation. Heavy lifting and good physical stamina required. Housing not available.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Provide information to trail users, and educate hikers in low impact camping techniques
Provide hiker security by camping overnight on weekends along the Appalachian Trail
Maintain the Appalachian Trail and overnight camping sites
Work alongside trail volunteers to complete trail construction projects

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in trail maintenance and use of various hand and power tools, including a chainsaw
Excellent communication skills, friendly and outgoing
Experience in long distance hiking and low impact camping
Comfortable camping overnight alone or with others
Knowledge of the Appalachian Trail within Massachusetts
Environmental / Natural Resource background and keen interest in outdoor recreation
Physically fit and able to hike long distances carrying a backpack and tools

For more information contact Becky Barnes at (413) 499-7003

Deadline for applying – March 23, 2018 send resume and cover letter to:

Department of Conservation and Recreation / Attn: Becky Barnes
P.O. Box 1433
Pittsfield, MA 01202

Stream Crossing Specialist

The Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration, seeks qualified applicants for the position of Stream Crossing Specialist (Environmental Analyst III).

Position: Stream Crossing Specialist (18000019)
Posting Date: 2/2/18
Closing Date: First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

The Stream Crossing Specialist will promote river health and restoration by leading a state-wide effort to improve habitat continuity, climate resiliency, and public safety at road-stream crossings. Major responsibilities of the position include training and assisting municipal infrastructure managers and other stakeholders with planning, design, permitting, funding, and construction of stream crossings that meet improved design criteria for aquatic/terrestrial organism passage and storm hazard reduction. The position will also serve as DER’s technical expert on the design and construction of road-stream crossings.

To view the job announcement and apply online, please visit the MassCareers website at:

https://massanf.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=18000019&tz=GMT-05%3A00

Interested applicants can learn more about the MA Division of Ecological Restoration and our work here: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/division-of-ecological-restoration

For more information about the position, please contact Kristen Ferry at Kristen.Ferry@state.ma.us or 617-626-1264. For questions specific to the application process, please refer to the MassCareers website (https://www.mass.gov/find-your-future-commonwealth-job) and information contained within the job announcement.

Various Internships
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions

The Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC) is a non­profit corporation whose mission is to protect Massachusetts’ natural resources by supporting conservation commissions through education and advocacy. MACC provides legal, scientific, policy, and technical training to Massachusetts Conservation Commissions. MACC works collaboratively with gov­ernment agencies, nonprofits, and volunteers to achieve its environmental protection mission.

MACC is seeking environmental students to assist our association with educational events, conferences, database evaluations, fundraising projects, and/or environmental policy research. Internship applications will be accepted on a rolling basis at MACC. Our preference is to have interns work with us for a minimum of 8 to 16 hours per week, for a three to four-month period.

Internships are unpaid, but the experience will provide an excellent opportunity to learn first-hand about how small, statewide environmental non-profit organizations perform important educational and advocacy roles. It is possible that one intern could implement some, or many of the tasks listed below, depending upon candidate backgrounds and MACC priorities at that time.

INTERN POSITIONS

Communications, Finance, and Development Intern: This intern position will provide a key role assisting MACC with grant applications, fundraising campaigns, website updates, database management, and social media outreach. Candidates should have strong organizational and communication skills.

Educational and Event Management Intern. The Educational and Event Management Intern will assist the Associate Director in preparing educational courses, coordinating workshop events, and assist with workshop planning, conference coordination, and webinar implementation. Candidates should have strong communication skills and interest in independent project work.

Legislative and Policy Research: The Legislative and Policy Research Intern will assist the Executive Director with providing research support on wetlands, open space, and climate change policy topics. An ideal applicant will have an interest and enthusiasm for a wide variety of environmental issues, have experience with fast-paced research projects, and strong communication skills.

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to: staff@maccweb.org

Paid Turtle Internship
The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute provides the opportunity for an intern to gain experience with the study of the ecology and conservation of threatened Virginia turtle species. The intern will assist with three projects. The first is an ongoing population monitoring project examining the distribution and status of wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) populations across northern Virginia. The second is a master’s research project examining wood turtle movement at the landscape level. The third project is a new study that is part of a multi-state grant to determine the status and distribution of spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) across their range. The intern will assist with aquatic visual encounter surveys and trapping for both turtles. They will also assist with radio telemetry for one or both species and outreach activities to promote conservation in the Commonwealth.

This is a paid internship opportunity wherein the intern will support the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. Through this internship, interns will: Radio-locate turtles and manage GPS data Provide technical assistance to stakeholders and help manage a collaborative wood turtle database Complete a required brief report at the conclusion of their tenure

Qualifications: Candidates should have graduated from a college or university within the last 12 months and have undergraduate coursework in ecology, conservation biology or a closely related field. Knowledge and field experience with ecology and conservation issues is required, as well as the ability to devote long hours in cold and wet conditions in remote field settings. Candidates should take directions easily and work well with others, yet have the ability to work independently. Individuals with previous mark-recapture and aquatic survey experience, and spatial data management and analysis skills (e.g. GIS) are especially encouraged to apply. Applicants should have plans for continued education or a career in ecology or conservation.

Stipend: The stipend is $700-900 per month (dependent on education level, coursework and skills).

Housing: Housing is provided at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.Parking is available at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia.

Term of appointment: This is a six-month internship, starting March 5, and is a full-time appointment (40 hours per week). There is an opportunity for extension up to one year.

Application deadline(s): Monday, January 22, 2018

How to Apply: To apply, go to: https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/SOLAAHome.html. Select “New to SOLAA? Create Account Here” and complete the information to create an account.

Information that will be requested (in SOLAA) includes:

• Basic personal information
• Professional resume or CV
• A one-page statement of your interest in pursuing this position. The statement should mention relevant experience, career goals, your reasons for wanting this internship and what you hope to gain from the experience. Your statement is very important during application evaluations.
• Transcripts from your current and/or previous institutions. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Two letters of reference (One must be from a current or former supervisor)
• Schedule of availability

Once you create your account and provide the information above, you will see a screen where you select the type of appointment you are interested in. You will select: Type of appointment: “Internship” Unit of interest: “National Zoological Park” Program: “National Zoological Park Internship Program” Project: “SCBI – Wood Turtle Ecology” IMPORTANT: Your application is considered complete when you hit “Submit.” Your SOLAA submitted application with references must be received by the deadlines as noted above. For Additional Information Questions about this internship should be sent to Alison Ochs at ochsa@si.edu.

Office Manager
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

This is a full-time position and it will evolve in responsibilities as the organization itself evolves. The successful candidate will be a creative generalist with superb interpersonal skills who is highly organized, adaptable, strategic and detail oriented. This position is a good fit for an energetic self-starter who is interested in helping a start-up organization to grow. The work will focus on three essential areas: general office support; communications management and fundraising support.

Anyone who is interested in this position should contact me at cynthia@berkshireagventures.org. This position is open until filled.

VIEW FULL JOB DESCRIPTION HERE

Executive Director
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition

The Board of Trustees of the Mass Land Trust Coalition is seeking a full-time Executive Director with strong non-profit management experience and a highly diverse skill set.

The ideal candidate will have 5 years financial management, fundraising, grant writing, communications, governance, and administrative experience. Candidates with a working knowledge of land conservation and/or natural resource management may be given preference.

Full Job Description here.

Send resume and cover letter by January 5, 2018 to Executive Director, Marylynn Gentry at mgentry@massland.org

Western MA Organizer
Massachusetts Jobs With Justice

Massachusetts Jobs with Justice (www.massjwj.net) is seeking a dedicated, hardworking individual to coordinate and carry out the overall work of the organization as well as helping with campaigns, communications and administration of our growing community labor coalition in Western Massachusetts.

The Senior Organizer/Coordinator will work with other Jobs with Justice staff, partners, and activists to carry out the work of the organization and participate fully in the planning and implementation of our workplan as outlined by our Steering and Executive Committees. The Organizer will work under the supervision of the Executive Director based in our headquarters in Boston. LEARN MORE & APPLY HERE.

Freshwater Project Coordinator
Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy

The Freshwater Project Coordinator develops, coordinates, and advances aquatic connectivity projects, including but not limited to helping municipalities install climate-resilient and fish-friendly road-stream crossing replacements. This position will contribute to building a model aquatic regional partnership in the Adirondack region of New York State that might be replicated in other geographies. The Freshwater Project Coordinator is a three-year full-time position with the possibility of extension. LEARN MORE & APPLY HERE.

Conservation & Stewardship Manager
Kestrel Land Trust

Mass Audubon – Berkshire Sanctuaries Jobs – Lenox

Environmental Education Intern
Early Childhood Program Leader / Naturalist – Part-Time, Seasonal
Wildlife & Plant Conservation Intern
Nature Day Camp Educator – Summer 2018
Land Management & Stewardship Intern
Development Manager

Hilltown Families Is Hiring

Hilltown Families is hiring an Interpretive Writer and Development & Sales Officer, as well as an Executive Director.

They also have openings for volunteers and interns. Take a look at their website here for all of the details.