2021 Delaware River Watershed Fellowship At Heritage Conservancy at Bristol Marsh
Start date: June 7-16, 2021
End date: August 20-27, 2021
The Delaware River Watershed Fellowship is a 12 week, paid summer job opportunity designed to introduce young people from local communities to careers in environmental education. Fellows are hired at one of 23 environmental education centers across the Delaware River Watershed. Fellows participate in training sessions to help prepare them for a summer of helping people connect with nature and informing their local communities about issues affecting the Delaware River, the source of drinking water for 13 million people living in the region.
Heritage Conservancy, a member of the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE), is seeking to hire a Fellow from the Bristol/Croydon area to help connect with local community members around protecting the Delaware River and its waterways.
Position Location: Heritage Conservancy offices are located at Aldie Mansion, 85 Old Dublin Pike,
Doylestown, PA 18901, where the fellow will spend much of the time. The Fellow will spend part of the
time in the Bristol/Croydon area at Bristol Marsh (approximately 350 Basin Park, Bristol, PA 19007),
Croydon Woods, and other preserves throughout Bucks County.
Compensation: Fellows are paid $15/hr, 37.5 hours a week over the summer.
Duties:
- Fellows will participate in a 3 day watershed education training, at the Pocono Environmental
Education Center (overnight, June 16-18.) http://www.peec.org/ (Depending on Covid
limitations some or all of this training may take place virtually.) - Fellows will help their host Center lead programs and activities, whether in-person or virtually,
for community members and visitors to their site. - Fellows will attend virtual webinars as well as in-person meetings with Fellows from other AWE
Centers. - Fellows will be paired with mentors from AWE Centers as well as past Fellowship alumni.
Fellows will check in with their mentors twice a month. - With guidance from their supervisor and mentors, Fellows will focus their efforts on a specific
Capstone Project and present their work at the end-of-program Summit event (August 20). - Fellows will document their progress by completing a short log report every week.
The Heritage Conservancy Fellow will specifically:
- Assist staff in work with the Lower Bucks Environmental Stewardship Team (LBEST), a group of
community members working to advance environmentalism and Heritage Conservancy’s work in
the Bristol/Croydon area. - Plan, recruit for, develop, and lead a group session for LBEST volunteers to activate the
members to become environmental stewards and ambassadors for the watershed and trails. - Assist with development, planning and execution of environmental education and community
outreach programs and events, including a hike or presentation to a new community group (as
safety restrictions allow). - Assist with trail and property maintenance, including invasive plant removal and trash clean up,
as needed, at Bristol Marsh, Croydon Woods and other preserves in Bucks County. - Connect with new community groups and businesses in Lower Bucks County, plus foster existing
community relationships. - Assist with daily office tasks and other events as needed.
- Represent yourself in a professional and respectful manner throughout the internship as you are
representing Heritage Conservancy and AWE. - Must agree to comply with all Heritage Conservancy workplace safety rules and regulations that
are in effect during the fellowship.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Age 18+ by June 7, 2021 start date.
- Applicant from Bristol, Croydon, or Lower Bucks County, PA preferred
- Enthusiasm for the natural environment a must; Knowledge in environmental science a plus;
- Must be able to work well with others both in the office and in the community;
- Strong communication skills;
- Attention to detail, ability to take direction and complete tasks;
- Must be eager to work and learn;
- Strong time and project management skills needed;
- Must be self-motivated, have a positive attitude and willing to work in a flexible, non-structured environment;
- Ability to endure potentially variable factors associated with outdoor work;
- Able to walk/hike through varied terrain;
- Experience presenting to community groups, leading trainings, or conducting education
programs is beneficial; - Occasional evening and weekend hours required (approximately 5 hours per month).
- Valid state driver’s license and own transportation required.
Essential dates:
- June 7-16, 2021: Fellow start date at Heritage Conservancy (Fellows may arrange with their Supervisor
to begin any time within the first week of the program.) - June 16-18: Required Watershed Stewardship Training (overnight) at Pocono Environmental Education Center. (Meals, transportation and accommodations provided.)
- August 20: Watershed Fellowship Summit (location to be announced).
- August 27: Last day of Fellowship (Fellows may finish their term of service any time after the August 20 Summit as needed.)
How to apply:
Complete our online application HERE and email a resume to:
Shannon L. Fredebaugh-Siller
Community Engagement Programs Manager
sfredebaugh@heritageconservancy.org
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 14, 2021
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More about Heritage Conservancy
With over 350 species inventoried, Heritage Conservancy’s Bristol Marsh provides unique outdoor classroom and recreational opportunities in a highly urbanized area. Through community outreach and education, partnerships, trash cleanups and other stewardship activities, Heritage Conservancy works to improve Bristol Marsh, nearby Croydon Woods, and the surrounding watershed to protect these unique resources. The work at Bristol Marsh aligns with Heritage Conservancy’s mission to preserve and protect our natural and historic heritage. By engaging communities throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties, we work to help everyone become empowered stewards of our land.
More about the Alliance for Watershed Education
Organized in 2016, the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River is a regional initiative of twenty-three partnering environmental education centers, funded and supported by the William PennmFoundation. Each of these centers is located along the Circuit Trail or a major connecting trail, and on waterways throughout the Delaware River Watershed in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
This position is made possible through the support of the William Penn Foundation.