Summary:    

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) seeks an emotionally intelligent individual who is concerned with environmental justice to lead a crew of five high-school students on river restoration work, facilitate project-based environmental education and assist with career education, and co-organize outreach events during the 2024 summer. The Crew Leader will be responsible for three programmatic goals: (1) Implementation of the Still River Watershed Management Plan; (2) Environmental education and professional development for the young Crew Members; and (3) Public outreach about management of the Still River watershed.

Position description:

The Crew Leader will be responsible for teaching watershed science and supervising a crew of five high-school students as they work on and learn from river restoration projects in the Danbury, CT area. As a capstone to this summer program, the Crew Leader will help each Crew Member design and execute a presentation to the community about their educational and/or restorative accomplishment(s) during the season. Specific watershed restoration projects may include, but are not limited to:

• raingarden plantings/maintenance
• invasive plant management
• riparian buffer plantings
• water quality sampling and stream health data collection
• trail maintenance.

The Crew Leader will also assist the HVA program team with the installation and maintenance of 3-4 raingardens as well as with outreach on stormwater pollution mitigation that highlights raingardens.

About the Still River Watershed Connections (“Connections”) program:

Connections is a program for workforce development through restoration of the Still River watershed in the Danbury, CT area. The program emerged from an ongoing watershed planning effort to restore water quality in the Still River and its tributaries. It provides urban high-school students with opportunities to personally connect with (1) their home Still River as a tributary to the Housatonic River; (2) professional aspirations and networks; and (3) conservation practitioners by working on projects that improve water quality and habitat in the watershed. In the process, participants gain exposure to emerging job skills and environmental careers that will ultimately mobilize them as water protectors in their communities.

Duties:

• Ensure the personal safety of Crew Members both psychologically and physically
• Model and reinforce positive work etiquette and approve Crew Members’ timesheets
• Nurture team cohesion as well as model and promote teamwork
• Resolve any conflicts equitably and proactively
• Plan and execute daily activities through various tasks such as transportation of fieldwork supplies and guidance for Crew Members to complete restoration goals
• Design and deliver environmental education lesson plans both in-field and remotely if needed
• Communicate field work and crew progress with program partners
• Track program effectiveness through data collection and management
• Provide guidance to students as they interact with the public through their daily tasks and their seasonal capstone presentations
• Represent Connections program in contacts with participant guardians and public in the field
• Create and submit public outreach materials to HVA supervisor and Communications team

Required experience/qualifications:

• Experience leading groups of teenagers: outdoor leadership programs, trail maintenance crew, restorative juvenile justice, science education, camp experience etc.
• Scientific background in environmental studies, biology, aquatic science, hydrology, ecology, natural resource management or similar field
• Experience working outdoors on environmental restoration, trail maintenance, community gardening, urban farming or related field experience
• Enthusiasm and motivation for teaching and learning as well as for ethnic and/or racial equity
• Excellent interpersonal, conflict resolution, communication and organizational skills
• Applicant must have access to a reliable vehicle and valid driver’s license

Desired qualifications:

• Experience facilitating environmental education activities on a daily and/or weekly basis
• Familiarity with using Facebook and Instagram as well as developing outreach materials
• Spanish and/or Portuguese fluency is a plus
• Wilderness First Aid/CPR training (HVA can help qualified applicants obtain this training)

Position structure:

This is a full-time 8-week position (40 hours/week) from mid-June to mid-August. Position start and end dates can be flexible for the right candidate! Approximately 70% of the work will involve leading and prepping for the Connections program. The remaining 30% will include outreach, project-based education, and community events focused on green infrastructure, native landscaping or stormwater runoff. The Crew Leader will be directly supervised by HVA’s Connecticut Watershed Manager. This job is based in urban Danbury, CT with the bulk of fieldwork supplies located at the HVA office in rural Cornwall Bridge, CT.

Compensation:

• $20/hour for 8 weeks
• Work-related travel using personal vehicles will be compensated based on mileage
• Housing is not provided, but if necessary HVA will assist a successful applicant with finding lodging in the Danbury area or near the HVA CT office