Clear Creeks Project Intern

Project Description:

A two year education, behavior change campaign involving the communities in the Middle River and Tidal Gunpowder (MRTG) Watersheds. Educational focus will be on the negative impacts of stormwater runoff on local streams and the Chesapeake Bay. Project goal is to motivate homeowners to change behaviors by implementing stormwater reduction measures or best management practices (BMPs) in partnership with the Baltimore County Master Gardner Bay-Wise Program. Project will focus on three Bay-Wise practices: replacing lawns with native plants through bayscape gardens and edible landscapes, and capturing stormwater runoff by installing rain barrels and rain gardens. Clear Creeks Project includes two watershed restoration actions, planting 4 acres of riparian tree buffer or open space forest, and 10 stream adoptions and clean ups on 10 ¼ mile stream reaches within the MRTG Watersheds.

Position Overview:

Intern will report directly to and assist Clear Creeks Project Manager and Assistant Manager in the education and motivation of community residents to make long lasting behavior changes, by implementing BMPs using Bay-Wise Program practices mentioned above. Intern will directly assist staff during tree planting events, rain barrel installations, stream clean ups, and garden installations, and will help supervise volunteers. Intern will also assist in other project or administrative tasks as needed.

Duties:

 Assist in the engagement and education of citizens in the Middle River and Tidal Gunpowder watersheds on the negative impacts of storm water run off on local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay (via email and phone communication, workshops, community educational events, community association meetings, etc.)
 Assist at community wide education events
 Assist in coordination of BMP installations on private property (such as rain barrels, rain gardens, bayscape gardens, edible landscapes, and Bay Wise actions)
 Assist at BMP workshops
 Assist in motivating and recruiting resident volunteers to adopt and clean local streams through the Stream Watch program, and to plant native trees in riparian areas
 Assist with administrative duties (project communication, educational literature, spreadsheets, etc.)
 Attend steering committee, staff, and event planning meetings

Preferred Qualifications:

 Minimum of AA degree, and working towards BS in environmental sciences or biology with 6 months of experience in environmental education, watershed science, natural history, ecology, or volunteer or youth supervision.
 Minimum of AA in social sciences, and working towards BS in social sciences accepted with 1 year of combined or singular experience in environmental education, watershed science, natural history, ecology, or volunteer or youth supervision.
 Some experience in the installation of BMPs (rain gardens and MD native plants, rain barrels, tree plantings, and stream clean ups).
 Some working knowledge of storm water runs off issues, point and non-point source water pollution, and stream hazards.

Minimum Qualifications:

 Working toward degree in environmental sciences or biology with 3 months of environmental education experience focusing on issues facing the Gunpowder Watershed and the Chesapeake Bay, or 3 months of experience in watershed sciences, natural history or ecology, or 3 months of experience in volunteer or youth supervision.
 Will accept working toward degree in social sciences with minimum of 6 months of environmental education experience, volunteer or youth supervision, or experience in watershed sciences, natural history or ecology.
 Strong verbal and written skills in order to communicate project goals effectively and convincingly to diverse audiences through direct community outreach.
 Ability to work independently.
 Ability to work efficiently from home and on project implementation in the field.
 Valid drivers license with good driving record and own transportation.
 Saturdays required, some week day and evening availability required.
 Punctual.

Please submit resume and cover letter to Peggy Perry, Clear Creeks Project Manager for Gunpowder Valley Conservancy at pperry@gunpowderfalls.org by April 22, 2013.

To view this message on the web, go to: www.gunpowderfalls.org