AmeriCorps Position: Education & Outreach Assistant on Squam Lake!

The Squam Lakes Association is recruiting for an Education & Outreach Assistant to serve as a Lakes Region Conservation Corps Full-Term AmeriCorps member from January – November 2024. Full-Term members serving with the Squam Lakes Association experience the seasonality of conservation work in the beautiful Squam watershed, located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and a short drive to the White Mountain National Forest. The quiet winter is spent deep diving into projects, followed by a booming summer full of boots on the ground conservation, and closing with a picturesque autumn with time to run reports and close out the season.

About the LRCC: The Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) is an AmeriCorps state service program that develops skills and experiences for conservation professionals. The program provides hands-on conservation experience and certifications over a broad range of areas, which ensure that Lakes Region Conservation Corps members are capable of independently approaching a variety of tasks in the environmental conservation field.

About the SLA Host Site: The Squam Lakes Association (SLA) is a non-profit conservation organization that works to conserve the natural beauty, peaceful character, and resources of the Squam watershed. Through conservation, education, and low-impact recreation, the SLA promotes the protection, careful use, and shared enjoyment of the Squam Lakes Region. Click here to see all host sites information.

About the Education & Outreach Assistant Position

Education and Outreach Assistants (EOA) will work closely with the Director of Education, Communications & Outreach Coordinator, and each other to oversee the SLA’s education programming, communications and outreach. These positions will expand our programming to reach more students and community members and will bolster the SLA’s current programming to make them more streamlined and easily implemented by fellow LRCC members and SLA volunteers.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct public and school programs, including but not limited to: Lake Ecology; Guided Hikes, Paddles, Snowshoes; Adventure Ecology; StoryWalks, Caterpillars Count; Terrestrial Invasive Species Removal, etc.)
• Use best management practices to develop clear and detailed curriculum/program plans
• Contribute to outreach communications, including quarterly newsletter, brochures, and press releases
• Update and distribute event/news flyers -Create, edit and post content to social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)
• Recruit and train volunteers
• Manage and organize volunteer liability/handbook forms and volunteer tracking database
• Ensure that education program materials and supplies remain clean, organized, updated, and in stock
• Expand the educational and outreach programs hosted at SLA headquarters and in schools within the watershed
• Conduct data analysis for education and research programs and projects
• Develop, implement, and maintain interpretive trail systems on SLA properties. Examples include signage for pollinator/rain garden, SLA trails, and the SLA campus
• Lead our community science projects, Caterpillars Count and Terrestrial Invasive Species Removal, which involves surveying plots, scheduling collection dates, training volunteers and LRCC members, and submitting data
• Assist with any other education and outreach projects and tasks as needed
• Additional projects and assignments may develop based on interests and strengths of individual candidates and the needs of the organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Humanities-based studies preferably with a focus on environmental sciences
• Strong people skills and an interest in sharing science-based information with a variety of audiences
• Desire to gain experience leading small to medium groups in a classroom or field setting
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong computer and word processing skills, data entry, and analysis, including: Word, Publisher, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, and Google Suite. Experience with video editing is preferred
• Experience with CRM (constituent relationship management) databases or willingness to learn
• Experience and ease in presenting information to small and large groups of all ages both indoors and outdoors

All LRCC members serving with the Squam Lakes Association will have some level of participation in the following responsibilities, regardless of Assistant position:

• Act as a caretaker on SLA’s low impact campsites, which includes: camping alone for 3-7 nights at a time, checking in campers, addressing maintenance needs, cleaning composting toilet facilities, restocking firewood, and other caretaker tasks as needed
• Split and bundle firewood for low-impact camping on SLA campsites
• SCUBA dive to remove the aquatic invasive species variable milfoil
• Facilitate winter access to SLA owned and maintained properties by conducting snow removal by hand, snow blower, and truck with plow attachment
• Educate the public on conservation initiatives within the region and across the state, and act as an ambassador of the LRCC and SLA. A non-exhaustive list of examples includes leading education programs, tabling events, lake hosting, trail hosting, etc.
• Volunteer management, including back-end administrative organization and leading volunteers in the field
• Collaborate with SLA staff, Education & Outreach Assistants, Watershed Resources Assistants, and Trails & Access Assistants to support SLA operations, which may include but is not limited to: office work assistance, facilities maintenance, boat maintenance, special events, etc.

*Please note that the SLA’s building is undergoing renovations starting Fall 2023. The renovations may impact the ability to conduct some of these responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:

We select Lakes Region Conservation Corps members who display a great attitude and commitment to conservation, enjoy hard work, and aren't afraid to get dirty. Lakes Region Conservation Corps members must meet the following minimum qualifications to serve:

• Must be 18 years of age by January 10th, 2024
• Must be a competent swimmer, able to lift 50 pounds, able to carry and use heavy tools while hiking, able to hike at least 8 miles in a day, and able to work independently and in a group
• Available for the full duration of program (January 10th – November 22nd, 2024) -Must meet the Corporation for National Community Service's minimum requirements:
  • Must clear all required National Service Criminal History Checks;
  • Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or must be working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service;
  • Must be a US citizen, US national, or legal permanent resident of the US

Physical requirements and serving conditions:

Standard 5 days on/2 days off with occasional exceptions. Normal office tasks, driving company vehicles (day/night; may require occasional use of personal vehicle if bringing one to the program), weekends, early mornings and late evenings, hiking on uneven terrain, lifting in relation to fieldwork. Must be able to swim and be comfortable on the water in motorized and non-motorized boats, willingness to SCUBA dive in cold and dark environments. Willingness to travel throughout the Squam Watershed.

Duration:

January 10th – November 22nd, 2024 and a minimum of 1700 hours.

To apply:

Apply online at https://www.lakesregionconservationcorps.org/apply-now. Indicate in your cover letter that you are applying for the Education and Outreach Assistant position. Submission deadline: December 12, 2023