INTERNSHIP: Squam Conservation Internship, New Hampshire

Posted on February 21, 2013 by envs

THE SQUAM CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP  

(Application deadline is March 17, 2013.)

The purpose of this 13-week unpaid internship is to give future conservation leaders the skills and experience needed to effectively move onto the next professional level while at the same time helping the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) with our conservation mission.  This program will provide hands-on conservation work experience and certifications over a broad range of activities.  Interns will serve as campsite hosts and caretakers at our backcountry campsites, help with the eradication of variable milfoil, perform water quality testing and monitoring, help with public education and outreach projects, perform conservation duties such as shoreline restoration and trail maintenance and construction, meet and greet lake users and educate them about the dangers of invasive species.

Squam Conservation Interns will receive the following as a part of the internship:
1. Scuba diving certification
2. Weed control diver certification
3. Lake Host certification
4. NH Safe Boating certification
5. NH Commercial boating license
6. Basic first aid & CPR certifications
7. Housing with kitchen facilities
8. Travel stipend (intern location dependent)
9. Weekly Food stipend ($75/wk)

Qualifications:
1. Candidate must be 18 years of age on or before June 1, 2013
2. Have a valid United States driver’s license
3. Be a competent swimmer capable of swimming 500 yards
4. Should have snorkeling experience
5. Ability to carry and use heavy tools while hiking
6. Able to hike at least 8 miles in a day.
7. Available May 23, 2013 through August 22, 2013.  (end date negotiable)

Visit www.squamlakes.org to apply
Application deadline is March 17, 2013.

Posted in Beyond UVM, Eastern US, Internships | Leave a comment

EVENT: UVM Farmer Training Program Workshop

Posted on February 21, 2013 by envs

Feb 27, Wed 6 – 8pm
“UVM Farmer Training Program”
Just completing a 2nd successful season at the Hort Farm, Laura Williams Farm Coordinator,  will discuss the achievements and struggles involved in starting this dynamic and innovative new program at UVM. With focus on a hands-on, skill-based education in sustainable agriculture, aspiring farmers cultivate 3½ acres of vegetables, market produce to community outlets, and donate to the food shelf. http://learn.uvm.edu/sustainability/farmer-training/

RSVP requested: info@friendsofthehortfarm.org or (802) 864-3073
Event Fees: $10 FHF Members & Master Gardeners, $20 Non-Members
Address: 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington, Vermont 05403

Posted in Eastern US, Events | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM: Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage courses at the Tatoosh School

Posted on February 21, 2013 by envs

Summer field research and study in Southeast Alaska’s Inside Passage – 2013 Courses filling fast!

The Tatoosh School is an independent, university-level field school with seasonal offices in Portland, Oregon and classrooms in the towns, oceans, and forests of Alaska’s Inside Passage. It is the school’s mission to foster first-hand learning about the ecology and environmental policy of southern Southeast Alaska.

Rigorous academics focus on the development of a sense of place and passion for civic engagement, and a sound knowledge of the Pacific coastal rainforest. Students earn 12 units of credit and leave empowered to explore their surroundings with wide-eyed curiosity and to reach out as active and informed citizens.

Traveling by sea kayak through the islands that make up Southeast’s Alexander Archipelago provides students with the opportunity to build outdoor leadership and technical skills. Lectures and assignments delve into topics ranging from island biogeography to contemporary timber management. Innovative curricula teach scientific curiosity and civic engagement in ways that students can take home and practice, building a six-week field course into a lifelong passion for wild learning.

Tatoosh School students become field scientists by participating in several established long-term ecological research programs together with our partners.  These exciting projects provide students the opportunity to apply their understandings of Southeast’s dynamic terrestrial, riparian, and nearshore marine ecosystems while contributing to a valuable body of scientific data that is, in turn, used to inform management decisions across the region.

Course I – June 19 through July 29, 2013
Course II – August 2 through September 11, 2013

Academic Course Descriptions (offered concurrently during both 6-week expeditions):

Natural History & Ecology of Southeast Alaska (6 units)
Southeast Alaska encompasses the Alexander Archipelago – composed of more than 5,000 islands – and a narrow strip of mountainous mainland, split by glacial fiords and major river systems.  The land is home to an array of plant and animal life, and is considered the front lines of study in island biogeography.  This course explores the natural environment from the nearshore intertidal zone to the high alpine, examining the adaptations and relationships of organisms to their environments over time and space.

Politics of Place: Southeast Alaska (6 units)
This course explores the political landscape of Southeast Alaska and covers a wide range of topics including land ownership, public and private land management, conservation strategies, local and regional economies, Alaska Native cultures, land settlements, corporate structures and current resource management issues.  It focuses on the evolution of social and legal structures and how those structures guide current decision-making.  Inquiry and reason are applied to real-life challenges, and students engage with citizens and policymakers to consider solutions.

Learn more and apply at http://tatooshschool.org

Questions?
Contact the School (peter@tatooshschool.org)

Like us on Facebook for the latest updates videos & pictures http://facebook.com/tatooshschool

Or Call us at 503.347.2599

Posted in Beyond UVM, Study Abroad, Western US | Leave a comment

JOB: Parks in Focus Program looking for California (Yosemite) Summer Trip Leader

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

California (Yosemite) Summer Trip Leader

2013 Summer Position Announcement

Parks in Focus is a program of the Udall Foundation that provides opportunities for middle school youth from underserved communities to explore and learn about nature through photography, outdoor education and creative expression.

Position Overview

The Udall Foundation is looking for an enthusiastic, organized and highly-motivated individual to lead summer Parks in Focus activities with groups of underserved youth from the Bay Area (particularly East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City). S/he will spend 8 weeks (June 3 – August 2, 2013) organizing and leading local field trips and two five-day camping trips to Yosemite National Park. S/he will train with other Parks in Focus staff in Tucson (May 24 – 27, 2013); be provided with program curriculum and resources; and work closely with staff from the Udall Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and the National Park Service. Hours will vary from 30 during preparatory weeks to 70 during trip weeks (300 hours). Position will be supervised by program manager in Tucson.

Detailed duties include:

Training & Program Preparation

Become familiar with Parks in Focus mission, goals, lessons and resources.
·         Attend Parks in Focus summer staff training in Tucson, Arizona (May 24-27, 2013).
·         Visit Yosemite (prior to program activities) for scouting, risk management planning and training with NPS staff.
·         Finalize activity itineraries, risk management plan and logistics (e.g., food and supply purchasing).
·         Host information meetings for parents, participants, BGC staff and volunteers to discuss roles/expectations.

Program Implementation

·         Facilitate all Parks in Focus activities (e.g., info meetings, local outings, Yosemite trips and post-trip activities).
·         Make decisions (often quickly) to the best of your ability and clearly communicate expectations to youth and staff.
·         Ensure activities run smoothly and safely (i.e., oversee everything but delegate tasks to adult staff as appropriate).
·         Lead team effectively, efficiently and positively.
·         Ensure that the trip is well documented (e.g., take lots of photos/videos of the kids and collect anecdotes/quotes).
·         Ensure all important information (e.g., participant/staff release forms, evaluation data) is gathered.

Program Reporting & Wrap-Up

·         Submit weekly progress reports to, and participate in weekly calls with, program manager in Tucson.

·         Organize all photographs, video footage, evaluation data and other deliverables to return to the Udall Foundation.

·         Plan and implement post-trip celebration at BGC for kids and their families to share trip highlights.

·         Prepare photo highlights DVDs for all participants, staff and partners.

Desired Qualifications

·         Demonstrated success of working independently and completing projects on time

·    Experience camping and working with youth in outdoor and overnight settings

·         Ability to assess and manage risks associated with outdoor activities

Knowledge of the Bay Area and/or Yosemite National Park highly desired
Skilled and efficient organizer with the ability to juggle multiple tasks with limited stress
Love of the outdoors and ability to spark that love in others
Strong writing, communication, teaching, leadership and teamwork skills
Experience and/or interest in photography
Summer home base in/near Bay Area (housing is not provided)

·         A valid driver’s license, clean-driving record and access to reliable transportation for visits to Boys & Girls Clubs
·         Access to a reliable computer, internet connection and manageable workspace (home is fine)
·         First-Aid, CPR training and/or Wilderness First Aid certification highly desired
·         Must be willing to have a background check

Bonus: Interest in resuming position in summer 2014 (if funding is available and performance is satisfactory)

Pay + Perks
You mean spending nearly three weeks in Yosemite National Park—one of the most beautiful places in the world—isn’t enough? Additional perks of the internship include:
·         $10/hour (up to 300 hours)
·         Mileage reimbursement up to $500 for personal vehicle use
·         Week of July 1 – 5, 2013 off (unpaid)
·         Food, lodging (campsites), rental car and gear provided during Yosemite trips
·         Food, lodging (hostel) and flight provided for summer staff training in Tucson
·         America the Beautiful: Annual National Park Pass
·         DSLR digital camera to use for duration of internship
·         Point-and-shoot digital camera to use and keep
·         College credit (if you are interested in working with your school to make it happen)
·         Opportunity to work closely with fun and enthusiastic staff from the Udall Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and the National Park Service

Interested?

Please submit a cover letter (describing your interest in the position and relevant qualifications), current resume, and two professional references via e-mail to:

Bret A. Muter, Program Manager

Udall Foundation • 130 S. Scott Ave. • Tucson, AZ 85711

520.901.8569 • muter@udall.gov

Deadline for receipt of materials is 5 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, February 28, 2013.

For more information, visit http://pif.udall.gov.

Posted in Jobs, Western US | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM: Wilderness First Responder course in Montpelier

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

REGISTER NOW FOR WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER!
Hosted by the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism in Montpelier, VT
http://www.vtherbcenter.org/community-classes/short-courses-for-self-care/wilderness-first-responder/

76 hours over 9 day intensive, 9am-5pm April 6-14th; Peter Muckerman, WEMT, of First Lead, Norwood, CO. $865, $250 deposit, class limit: 21 students

Tuition for short courses varies and is listed with each course. Non-degree grants from Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) may be available.

Registration is required for all classes. Please call or email to reserve your space. 802-224-7100, info@vtherbcenter.org

This course offers a nationally recognized Wilderness First Responder certificate and can be used as a foundation to continue on to Wilderness-EMT training.

The “flagship” training of wilderness medicine, WFR is the “Gold Standard” for the outdoor industry, while also serving as a cornerstone to our community offerings.

Assuming that the “wilderness” includes anywhere that medical care is inadequate or inaccessible, even for a short time, this training is becoming increasingly valuable to individuals living in both rural and urban environments who want to be prepared to take care of themselves and their neighbors when emergencies arise.

This course will train participants to think like a medic, then acquire a practical, principle-driven order of skills for assessment and treatment in emergencies, including developing a working command of the Patient Assessment System, life-saving interventions, wound care, spine assessment, the acute abdomen, kit-building, and much more, using realistic scenarios. The knowledge gained will help participants understand when situations are urgent and outside of the scope of self or peer care and how to intervene to prevent further injury or sustain life.

The course instructor, Peter, notes that while not everyone is likely to need these skills as a responder in the wild, a “wilderness” can manifest in moments from a social disorder, or a political conflict, or an environmental event–just witness New Orleans, a major urban area, after Katrina. That was a wilderness. We need to know how to take care of ourselves and others in need, when the order of society fails. Peter teaches with emphasis on the pairing of the Medic Mind and Medic Heart–coupled with the applied science of emergency medicine, empowering individuals to think and function as a medic does. His mission is to train “everyday people” to be medics when the need arises, to engage emergencies with competence, courage, and confidence anywhere–home, work, or the wilderness.

Posted in Beyond UVM, Eastern US | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM: Oxfam looking for CHANGE-makers

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

Oxfam is looking for CHANGE-makers

Oxfam America is accepting applications for its 14th annual CHANGE Initiative, its national student organizing and advocacy program.  CHANGE offers rising sophomores and juniors at US-based colleges the opportunity to become effective agents for social change.

CHANGE Leaders:

  • Have access to expert skills based training, resources, materials and year-round support from Oxfam staff;
  • Establish connections and share knowledge with college students from the US and beyond;
  • Develop confidence and lifelong skills to create positive, lasting social change, and
  • Are part of an active and growing, global network of peers and alumni working on justice issues.

Applications are due on April 1, 2013.  Accepted students participate in a week-long training in Boston from July 20-26, 2013, which is organized and paid for by Oxfam.  Students must agree to join or form an Oxfam Club and implement an Oxfam campaign on campus during the 2013-14 academic year, as well as communicate regularly with Oxfam staff about their work.

Please share this information in departmental newsletters or listservs, and encourage students you know to apply.  Watch our CHANGE video at: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/change. If you have any questions please call 1-800-77-OXFAM ext. 9415 or email CHANGE@oxfamamerica.org

Posted in Beyond UVM, Eastern US, Volunteering | Leave a comment

SCHOLARSHIPS: Jeffrey Brace and Linda Backus Memorial Awards

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs
Do you know any students who are making the grade and working for social justice? Tell them about two financial awards presented by UA to honor students who excel in both areas:
–Up to 5 JEFFREY BRACE AWARDS provide $500 each to any UVM student with a demonstrated commitment to community service, particularly in the area of social or economic justice.
–The LINDA BACKUS MEMORIAL AWARD provides $1,000 for an undergraduate with a commitment to community service who has completed at least two years at any college (not necessarily in Vermont) and who has an immediate family member who is a union member in Vermont. NOTE TO UA MEMBERS: This includes any junior or senior in YOUR family!
Deadline for both applications is April 1. Application details are on the United Academics website at www.unitedacademics.org/scholarships.html.
For more information, contact Denise Youngblood, chair of the UA Scholarship Committee: denise.youngblood@uvm.edu.
Please help us spread the word by making an announcement in your classes, sharing the information with students electronically, and encouraging particular students to apply.
Posted in Scholarships | Leave a comment

INTERNSHIP: UVM Horticulture Research Center summer Internship

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

The UVM Horticulture Research Center and The Friends of the Horticulture Farm are seeking two individuals for summer Internship positions offered during the 2013 season; one full-time and one part-time. Applicants will be responsible for care of the plant collections at the UVM Horticulture Research Center (Hort Farm). This will include weeding, pruning, mowing, watering, labeling, updating maps, and removing invasive plants.

Applicants should also be available to give guided tours of the various collections of the Hort Farm and work with volunteers from the Friends of the Hort Farm and the Vermont Master Gardener Program. Applicants must be willing to work a non-traditional work week (Tuesday – Saturday) as to allow contact with the Friends’ Plant Collection Curators and other volunteers.  Work conditions are not always dry and sunny. Appropriate rain gear, work boots, gloves, and clothing are required. Applicants will also be asked to assist with various workshops and other scheduled events that are sponsored by the Friends (see our 2013 Calendar of events on the FHF website). Reliable transportation to UVM Horticulture Research Center is required (5 miles south of UVM main campus). Starting wage is $10.00/hour. Applicants are expected to be prompt, professional, and accountable for all work related efforts.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Mills at 802.310.3152. To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Jennifer Mills at jamvt70@gmail.com by March 9, 2013.

Posted in Eastern US, Internships | Leave a comment

BEYOND UVM: Conference at Colby College – Changing Oceans and the Future of the Gulf of Maine: Solutions, Successes, and Sustainability

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

Changing Oceans and the Future of the Gulf of Maine: Solutions, Successes, and Sustainability 

Friday, March 8, 2013
1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Ostrove Auditorium, Diamond Building, Colby College

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carl Safina

Colby, Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Fellow in Environmental Studies

Author and Director of the Blue Ocean Institute

Also Featuring:

Matthew Mackenzie, University of Connecticut
Philip Conkling, Island Institute
Peter Shelley, Conservation Law Foundation
Linda Mercer, Department of Marine Resources
Barney Balch, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences

A reception will be held after the conference.

The conference is free, but registration is requested. to register, please email:

gulfofmeconf@colby.edu

For more information please visit

www.colby.edu/gulfofmaine

Presented by the Colby Environmental Studies PROGRAM THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION

Posted in Beyond UVM, Eastern US, Events | Leave a comment

EVENT: 4th Annual Winter Hops Conference

Posted on February 20, 2013 by envs

I wanted to let everyone know about our 4th Annual Winter Hops Conference!
To be held Friday, February 22, 2013, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex, Vt.

Join us to learn about hop fertility and irrigation management as well as important handling principles from proper harvest timing and drying to quality preservation techniques.  Guest speakers include Graham Ollard, a hops consultant from the Yakima Valley in Washington; Rich Andrews, a Colorado organic hop farmer; Krista Delahunty and Jason Johnston of Aroostook Hops in Westfield, Maine; and our own Chris Callahan, the Northwest Crops & Soils team and UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences students.

If you are interested or know someone that might be, visit our registration page at www.uvm.edu/extension/hopsconference. Register soon as we might hit maximum capacity for registrations!!

Thanks,
Susan Brouillette

—
Susan Brouillette

Program Manager
UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program
278 South Main Street, Suite 2
St. Albans, VT 05478-1866
(802) 524-6501
1-800-639-2130 (in VT only)
Fax: (802) 524-6062
susan.brouillette@uvm.edu

Posted in Eastern US, Events | Leave a comment