AmeriCorps Habitat Restoration and Environmental Education with Ogden Nature Center

ORGANIZATION  OVERVIEW

Mission & History:

Our mission is to unite people with nature and nurture appreciation and stewardship of the environment. Since it was founded in 1975 as Utah's first nature center, the Ogden Nature Center has provided a place where people can go to enjoy and learn about the natural world.

Education:

The 152-acre preserve is our foundation, but education is our focus. Each year the Ogden Nature Center brings more than 50,000 children, teachers, and adults together with nature through hands-on field-based classes. Participants in our education programs, including school groups and community members observe and learn about plants and animals up-close, discovering the pleasure of being in nature and realizing their own connection to the environment.

Open to All:

The center is open to the public for discovery and exploration. Visitors enjoy meeting birds of prey, snakes, tortoises, salamanders, and other native animal species. Outside are picnic areas, treehouses, bird blinds, a spotting tower, and 1.5 miles of walking trails. The Nature Center boasts two of Utah's greenest buildings, with hands-on nature exhibits and a unique gift store.

Healthy Habitats:

The Ogden Nature Center is committed to protecting and restoring critical native habitats that benefit wildlife and the community. Our habitat restoration program ensures that invasive species are actively managed and countered with revegetation and reseeding efforts using native species that bolster habitat value and provide green spaces. Ogden Nature Center is also dedicated to the health of the watershed and actively works to improve water quality, quantity and the landscape by restoring streams and wetlands on the property.

POSITION OVERVIEW

In collaboration withUtah Conservation Corps (UCC), we are recruiting two AmeriCorps Individual Placement members for 11 months of service to begin January 2024 through December 2024.

These positions offer a unique opportunity to gain experience and practice a wide range of skills including habitat restoration, noxious weed management, environmental education, curriculum development, volunteer supervision, and community event management.

The Individual Placements will spend approximately 50% of the placement period working with the ONC Conservation Ecologist to assist with habitat restoration duties including invasive weed control, native habitat restoration, and volunteer mobilization. The other 50% of the period will be used to support the educationand outreach team at ONC. The Individual Placements will lead outreach events, develop materials for programming, and lead different educational programs including on/offsite programs, community programs and field trips. The positions are supervised by the Conservation Director.

PRIMARY DUTIES

• Develop, plan and support events related to environmental stewardship or environmental education.
• Develop a data tracking plan and collect and report AmeriCorps impact data timely and accurately.
• Work closely with the conservation ecologist and volunteer coordinator in habitat restoration and noxious weed management.
• Plan and lead volunteers in planting and seeding project areas, release of biocontrol agents, mechanical/chemical removal of weeds through digging, mowing, and pruning, water quality monitoring, and conducting pollinator surveys.
• Map native and invasive species using ArcGIS and EddMapS.
• Record keeping, monitoring, and report writing.
• Assist with summer camps, homeschool, preschool, community programs, outreach, and school field trips.
• Onsite School Programs - Conduct environmental education programs for school children; assist in the development of curriculum, activities, and exhibits.
• Offsite School Programs - Work with the outreach team to lead science programming to first-grade students throughout the state of Utah.
• Summer Camps – Assist in camp planning and implementation.
• Community Education - assist with community program development and implementation and strengthen community awareness.
• Assist with the planning and organizing of special events.
• Provide programs for groups with special needs, such as underserved populations, the elderly and developmentally disabled.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

*(20% maximum time servedcan be member development and training)

• Data collection, validation, and report training
• Volunteer Management Training
• Training on Native and Invasive species on the property
• Non-Commercial Pesticide Spray license
• Experience/Training in various land management techniques and standard practices
• Beaver Dam Analog construction
• Training on classroom management and environmental education
• First Aid/CPR
• Wildlife and pollinator species survey techniques

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

AmeriCorps Requirements (all below required):

• Be a United States citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Eligible to serve in an AmeriCorps State/National term. Please note that AmeriCorps rules limit members to a maximum of four AmeriCorps terms in a program such as UCC. AmeriCorps also limits the number of education awards an individual may earn. This rule states that "although an individual can serve more than two terms, a person cannot earn more than the aggregate value of two, full-time education awards."
• It is a requirement to obtain a high school diploma or GED before one is eligible to use the Education Award.
• Must submit to and pass a background check: Must be clear of any record on the National Sex Offender Public Registry. Must have a criminal record clear of any conviction(s) for murder.
• Schedules that include a 30-minute lunch break does NOT count toward term of service hours.

Position Specific Requirements:

• College graduate preferred. Science or teaching degrees preferred.
• Interested in conservation and environmental education.
• Love working and being outdoors.
• Articulate and an excellent writer.
• Computer proficiency (Word, Excel, email).
• Interested in pursuing a career in conservation, land management, or environmental education.
• A valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Ability to perform strenuous outdoor work.
• A positive and professional manner with diverse populations.