Skip Maine state header navigation

Agencies | Online Services | Help

Skip First Level Navigation | Skip All Navigation

Department of Conservation Bureau of Parks & Lands

Home > About the Bureau > History

AmeriCorps Environmental Educator Positions

 

The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) is accepting applications for AmeriCorps Environmental Educator positions located throughout Maine for Spring 2012.  MCC is dedicated to environmental education, outdoor recreation and conservation projects, volunteer opportunities, and developing career and leadership skills. 

 

Qualifications include U.S. citizenship, or U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the U.S., a 4-year degree or equivalent experience, good organizational skills, initiative, good communication, writing and public speaking skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team, computer skills, a valid Driver’s license from place of residence with a good driving record, and a commitment to environmental issues and community service. 

 

900 hour (full time) positions receive a living allowance of $6,293 ($262.22/week for 24 weeks) and if eligible, an AmeriCorps education award of $2,675 upon successful completion of the program.

 

Other benefits include health insurance with COBRA benefits at the completion of service, Student loan forbearance & interest payment if eligible, experiential learning, a wide range of training and networking opportunities and a Maine State Park Pass.  

 

The Maine Conservation Corps application is available to download from our website (log on to www.maine.gov/doc/parks/mcc/ and download our MCC application) OR by contacting the MCC at 207-624-6085 (800-245-5627 in Maine only) or corps.conservation@maine.gov.  Send completed applications and reference forms to Brenda Webber, Recruitment Assistant, Maine Conservation Corps, 124 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333-0124.

 

The Maine Dept. of Conservation provides equal opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR – 1100 hours                                 Term:  Immediate thru November 3, 2012

Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal

This project will utilize one AmeriCorps Environmental Educator to provide key stewardship in planning and implementing recreational and educational opportunities at Bradbury Mountain State Park (BMSP) in Pownal, Maine.  BMSP is the Bureau of Parks and Lands premier mountain biking facility.  Generally, the AmeriCorps Environmental Educator will work with the extensive trail network at this park.  This will include organizing, recruiting and implementing volunteer trail work days to construct and maintain trails; providing education about this multi-use trail system; working with the Greater Portland- New England Mountain Bike Association, the local mountain biking community and other special interest groups (equestrians, hikers, snowmobile clubs, etc.); and leading trailside interpretive programs. Knowledge and enthusiasm for multi-use trails, including single-track mountain bike trails is a plus.  

 

 All duties and answers on this application will also be applied to and performed at Mackworth Island State Park (MISP) in Falmouth, ME.  Although the duties there will be similar, they will be performed much less regularly and to a lesser degree.  

 

Typical Tasks within the project include:

 

(1) Volunteer management.  This Environmental Educator will play a key role in recruiting volunteers, maintaining a list or database of volunteers; organizing volunteer trail work projects, and helping to provide volunteer recognition through written communications or special events.

(2) Develop/improve partnerships with user groups to address issues and needs.  Work with the Bureau to forge a greater connection to the user communities, by collaborating with user groups in events initiated by the Bureau or interest groups.  There are several biking events scheduled at BMSP each season.  The position will also foster relationships with other user groups including snowmobilers and equestrians.

(3) Trail maintenance.  Provide trail maintenance and improvement on an extensive multi-use trail system.  There are about 20 miles of existing trails at BMSP with several more about to be opened on a nearby parcel of Public Land.  Our site at MISP has a 1.25 mile trail around its perimeter.

(4) Education/interpretation. Work with the park staff to develop and lead interpretive programs about the trails, environmental and cultural resources at the park.

 

Essential Functions for ALL MCC Environmental Educators are:

  • Must have a 4-year college degree (environmental) or equivalent experience.
  • Interest in performing community service.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, track details essential to project completion, analyze information for its relevance and impact and meet deadlines.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform tasks independently as well as part of a cooperative team.
  • Non-judgmental attitude and sensitivity to others.
  • Computer skills including Internet and Microsoft Office package. 
  •   Personal transportation for travel within the state of Maine.
  •   Good Driving Record.

 

Desired Functions specific to this position at your site:

  • Good people skills – ability to interact with the public to address problems and provide education; work with partner organizations.  Interest in offering interpretive workshops for the public. 
  • Excellent work ethic – this project requires a person who loves outdoor recreation and doing the hard work that results in better recreation opportunities and experiences for the public.  The range of duties will be varied – from assisting the Park Manager and Ranger in site maintenance to organizing events with partners.
  • Self-motivated – this position will have minimal supervision; the candidate should work well when alone.
  • Strong experience in trail work, including construction and/or repair
  • Knowledge of multi-use trails and single-track mountain bike trails is a plus. 
  • Background in the natural resources or sciences would be helpful.

 

www.parksandlands.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR – 900 hours                                 Term:  May 21, 2012 thru November 3, 2012

Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands, Central Penobscot, Nahmakanta

The Central Penobscot Environmental Educator will help with several ongoing initiatives, such as development of a new, 10-year management plan; continued hiking trail and multiple use trail construction; cold water fishery and ecoreserve water quality monitoring; and deer herd habitat improvement. The Public Lands Division is currently undergoing a planning process which includes the 43,000 acre Nahmakanta and 14,000 ac. Seboeis units. At several stages in this process, public input is solicited. Comments so far: concerns about inadequate signage on roads and trails, insufficient warnings about logging truck traffic, and the prevalence of private boats kept on remote ponds. The planning process has also revealed that the Division is not in full compliance with the signage and monitoring requirements of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club Local plan for the Appalachian Trail corridor.  These Units contain fisheries of statewide significance, including wild/native brook trout (and, downriver, Atlantic salmon ), and are within the area of concern for recent deer population decline.

 

Typical tasks within the project include:

Assist permanent and seasonal staff with these areas of concern:

  • SAFETY: construct, install & maintain road & trail signs, assist with development of a GIS-based sign plan for both units, GPS helivac sites and coordinate with LifeFlight, conduct brush control on selected road corners to improve visibility, develop and distribute logging truck and grappler skidder handouts, maintain trails with an emphasis on proper blazing and hazard tree removal.
  • WATER QUALITY: inspect, maintain, GPS and mark erosion control structures (culverts, waterbars) on roads, ORV and hiking trails and closed skid trails, identify and harden intermittent water crossings on ATV trails, inspect bridges for safety and point source sedimentation, assist with water quality monitoring, inspect and maintain sanitary facilities per LURC and Bureau standards, inspect, maintain and install beaver exclusion devices on water crossings to prevent road washouts
  • DEER YARD EXPANSION: assist in layout of timber harvest in expanded deer habitat mgt. areas centered on the LURC designated Black Pond and Gulliver Brook deer wintering areas, such as flagging riparian zones, deer travel corridors, etc.
  • WILD/NATIVE BROOK TROUT: inspect roads for “hung” culverts, conduct angler education (special regulations, carry in/carry out policy), collect creel census data, monitor, identify, and mark all watercraft stored on Unit ponds and deadwaters, assist MDIFW and MNAP with pond and stream surveys.
  • Improve compliance with AT Corridor mgt. agreement: construct and install signs per MATC/NPS agreement, assist with monitoring and maintenance of approved campsite and day use facilities within the Appalachian Trail Corridor. 

 

Essential Functions for ALL MCC Environmental Educators are:

  • Must have a 4-year college degree (environmental) or equivalent experience.
  • Interest in performing community service.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, track details essential to project completion, analyze information for its relevance and impact and meet deadlines.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform tasks independently as well as part of a cooperative team.
  • Non-judgmental attitude and sensitivity to others.
  • Computer skills including Internet and Microsoft Office package. 
  • Personal transportation for travel within the state of Maine.

 

Desired Functions specific to this position:

  • Ability to work safely & efficiently in a diverse natural setting (weather, insects can be adverse)
  • Possess (or ability to acquire) a working knowledge of basic GIS/GPS technology
  • Possess (or ability to acquire) a working knowledge of Best Mgt. Practices and LURC water quality protection standards
  • Adequate physical capacity, such as capability to inspect the  interior of culverts, carry 50 pounds over rough trails, dig shallow trenches, etc.

 

www.parksandlands.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR – 1200 hours                                Term:  Immediate thru December 15, 2012

Waban Projects, Sanford      

Waban Projects, Inc. is a non-profit corporation founded in 1966, and was organized to develop and operate programs which promote the general welfare and education of children and adults with developmental disabilities.  Waban’s work is based on the guiding principles of respect for the individual, normalization, integration and self-empowerment.  Waban offers a comprehensive array of programs and services for children and adults with disabilities and provides support to over 1,900 individuals each year.  The Children’s Programs serve over 370 children/year and includes a special purpose pre-school, an early intervention program and community case management.  Adult Programs serve over 270 adults/year and provide 24-7 residential services, day habilitation, supported employment and community case management.  Camp Waban’s Therapeutic Recreation and Experiential Education (TREE) program serves over 1,250 people/year.  TREE is part of a three phase plan to develop into a four-season center.  The MCC Environmental Educator will work in the TREE program.  TREE is located on the waterfront of Bauneg Beg Lake and offers trails, environmental education programs, leadership development, adventure based activities and special functions.  People of all abilities, ages and populations (disabled, special needs, elderly, schools, community and business groups) come to recreate, educate, team build and enjoy special occasions.  The TREE programs offer the opportunity to swim, boat, kayak, fish, ice skate, ice fish, snowshoe, hike, discover and enjoy all that nature provides.  Specifically, TREE’s environmental education sessions allow groups to explore, investigate, problem solve, and encourage good stewardship within their natural environment.  The MCC EE will have the reward of helping enhance existing programs, create, develop and implement new components and recruit a volunteer base that allows TREE to grow into a destination and resource for all.

 

Typical Tasks under the supervision of the TREE Director include:

    • Develop and expand the environmental education curriculum for Waban’s TREE program consisting of water shed, water quality, weather monitoring, flora/fauna identification and ecosystem awareness
    • Teach, compile, track, record, sample, analyze, and report on all environmental education sessions
    • Maintain, build and map trails as well as develop trail guides
    • Organize, recruit and lead TREE volunteer efforts
    • Participate and/or manage Summer Camp activities
    • Introduce individuals to waterfront activities promoting watershed education and the lakes multiple values including recreation
    • Develop and improve partnerships with local organizations and community groups
    • Receive training on the TREE program and utilize resources to support program initiatives
    • Work with individuals of all ages and abilities including developmentally disabled and special needs populations

 

Essential Functions for ALL MCC Environmental Educators:

  • Must have a 4-year college degree (environmental) or equivalent experience.
  • Interest in performing community service.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, track details essential to project completion, analyze information for its relevance and impact and meet deadlines.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to perform tasks independently as well as part of a cooperative team.
  • Non-judgmental attitude and sensitivity to others.
  • Computer skills including Internet and Microsoft Office package.
  • Personal transportation for travel within the state of Maine.

 

Desired Functions specific to this position:

  • Comfortable working and engaging with individuals of all ages including developmentally disabled and special needs populations
  • Working outdoors in all weather conditions, requiring good physical condition
  • Previous field work in the environment, conservation, adventure based arena as well as experience in education/teaching
  • Experience using hand and power tools and practicing proper safety techniques
  • Personable, self-motivated, organized and excellent work ethic
  • Ability to operate watercraft and be a excellent swimmer

 

www.waban.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 MCC EE Application

Download MCC Reference Form (.doc)

Download MCC Reference Form (pdf)

Home