Department: Outreach/Communications
Reports to: Carrie Deegan, Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager
Salary Range: $12 per hour
This position is Nonexempt, Part-time, Temporary
Position Summary:
This seasonal internship provides visitor outreach and stewardship at Mount Major. It works to educate and inform hikers about responsible use of the property and trails, monitors and evaluates recreational traffic and maintains trails and infrastructure. Interns will have the opportunity to develop their own visitor use survey, plan and lead guided hikes, contribute to outreach media (website, social media) and participate in staff meetings and events. This position is open to current post-secondary students but also non-students. Adults of all ages with required qualifications and skills are encouraged to apply.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Engage visitors to Mount Major
- Inform visitors of SPNHF and partner organizations’ role on mountain, current protection status of mountain
- Promote Leave No Trace principles/CarryIN-CarryOUT
- Encourage compliance with visitor use guidelines
- Provide assistance with directions, suggested hiking routes, hiking time, safety, preparedness, etc.
- Promote NH Forest Explorer experiences on Mt Major
Monitoring and maintenance of parking area and infrastructure
- Pick up and remove trash/waste
- Ensure portable toilets are in good working order
- Replace/maintain signage
- Maintain/clean drainages
Monitoring and maintenance of trails on Mount Major
- Clear blowdowns/debris
- Maintain/create drainages
- Refresh trail markings and rebuild cairns where necessary
- Remove trash
- Work collaboratively with SPNHF staff, and volunteer trail groups on larger projects where applicable
Develop and implement visitor survey to better characterize hiker experience
Plan and lead guided hikes for public
Contribute to SPNHF website and social media content with images, videos, and stories
Other duties as assigned
Contributions/Outcomes:
This position educates and encourages the public to recreate responsibly at Mount Major, and assists in maintaining the parking area, trails and infrastructure in good condition. The internship also provides the intern with opportunities to learn about and contribute to the work of a non-profit land conservation organization and to participate in public recreation management on one of the most visited mountains in New Hampshire.
Qualifications and Skills Required:
- Background in recreation management, environmental education, natural resource management, law enforcement or other related field
- Self- motivated individual with an outgoing and friendly personality, strong public communication skills, and outdoor skills.
- Exhibits good judgment, self-confidence, cool headedness and common sense
- Previous experience with trail maintenance desireable
- Valid Driver’s License, reliable transportation, and a working cell phone
Opportunities for Educational Growth:
- Intern will receive training in visitor outreach, Leave No Trace principles, and trails maintenance techniques
- Will develop collaborative working and problem solving skills interacting with public, other staff, and volunteers
- Will have opportunities to see how one of the nation’s leading land trusts operates, through participation in staff meetings and events, and job shadowing.
Working Conditions:
- Candidate will spend most days working in the parking area and hiking the trails of Mount Major
- ~20 hours per week; days, evenings, and weekends May – September
- This position requires work in all weather conditions
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to hike Mount Major (roughly 4 miles round trip, 1200’ elevation gain) easily and potential several times per day
- Ability to work independently outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
- Ability to use hand tools to perform trail work tasks
- Ability to erect and dismantle small pop up tent and table on own
Direct Reports: none
If you are interested in becoming a valued member of the Forest Society staff please send your resume and cover letter to cdeegan@forestsociety.org before April 30, 2018.
The Forest Society is an equal opportunity employer