Term:  6/10/2024-11/22/2024

Housing: Not provided, member is responsible for finding and paying for their own housing

Days and Hours of Service:  40 hours per week: may include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Additional Training Provided: Chainsaw Safety Training, Mental Health First Aid, Wilderness First Responder

Host Site and Position Overview:

Oxford County SWCD provides technical assistance, outreach and education about many natural resource conservation areas and topics. We are an independent agency of the State of Maine, funded in part by the State and Oxford County. The mission of the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District is to provide leadership, education and technical assistance in the management and conservation of agricultural and natural resources by integrating and disseminating local, state and federal resources.

The CTS will be an integral member of the Oxford County SWCD team in implementing and promoting all of the District’s Forestry Conservation activities, with special emphasis on the Agroforestry and Climate Change Resiliency Demonstration Project. The goal of the project is to help the forestland owners, students and the general public understand the role healthy and diverse forests play in battling Climate Change. The objective is to promote forest health through by helping demonstrate new forest conservation practices related to agroforestry, timber stand improvement, soil health and Invasive Forest Pest Management. The CTS’s activities will help us achieve the goals and objectives of this project by engaging the community and students, promoting the objectives of the project and providing outreach and education opportunities throughout the Oxford County Community.

Overall Goal: The CTS will assist the Oxford County SWCD in implementation, educational programming, outreach, and promotion of its Forestry Conservation programming including project work at Tenmile River Demonstration Forest, the Native Plant Sale, and Invasive Forest Pest technical assistance. Below are some of the required duties.

• Assist the District to implement and promote the Agroforestry and Climate Resiliency Demonstration project, involving site prep and plantings, and timber stand improvement. Objective: Complete at least 6 demonstration plot areas.
• Engage the community schools in some activities related to the project, particularly promoting school field trips to the site to help with plantings, tree ID and native plant community exploration, and alternative forest product educational activities. Objective: Complete 2 student activities or tours.
• Provide Invasive Forest Pest technical assistance. Objective: 4 Technical Assistance visits to landowners in disadvantaged towns in Oxford.
• Assist with the Native Conservation Plant Sale. Objectives: 1) Help pick up plant stock, sort orders, and provide assistance on pick-up day. 2) Answer questions and providing planting advice if needed. 3) Develop a handout on the importance and benefits of Native Plants.
• Education & Outreach on the Agroforestry and Climate Resiliency Project. Objective: Conduct 4 Education and Outreach activities for landowners related to the Agroforestry project, Climate Change Resiliency, IFP, or Native Plants.

See our website for more general details about the Community Tree Steward positions.