If you are a student looking for an internship opportunity, consider Willistown Conservation Trust. The Trust can be a great learning experience – a chance to work with and learn from some of the best in the field of conservation. The Trust accepts a variety of interns throughout the year.
Please read the description below, explore our web site to learn more about us, and think about what interests you. To be considered for an internship, send your resume and a cover letter expressing your area of interest to land@wctrust.org.
Watershed Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate
Supervisor: Director of Watershed Protection Program
Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) is a non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and managing the open land, rural character, scenic, recreational, historic, agricultural, and natural resources of the Willistown area and nearby communities and to sharing these unique resources with people of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, educate and develop a lifelong commitment to the land and the natural world. WCT promotes, through our land protection, habitat restoration, bird conservation, and agroecology programs, practices that enhance biodiversity and are critical to a healthy watershed. Using the rich natural resources within our program area WCT has developed a robust field study program, collaborating with major research institutions to conduct research in the areas of ornithology, agroecology, land stewardship and biodiversity - in order to foster a deeper understanding of the natural world we are committed to protect.
A recent grant from the William Penn Foundation (WPF) enables WCT to formalize our program area as a Field Study Site for research and education and continues to grow the watershed program to increase our capacity to implement watershed protection projects and promote awareness of water quality issues throughout our program area and beyond.
Watershed Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate
Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) seeks a Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate who will be tasked with assisting the Director of the Watershed Protection Program in implementing the WPF grant by participating in research and education in our Field Study Site and working to further WCT’s watershed protection initiatives. Pursuant to the terms of the WPF grant, at least 50% of the activities of the Intern/Conservation Associate will be focused on watershed-related research, education, and/or outreach projects, allowing for cross-disciplinary work in our other program areas should such opportunities arise in the course of the work.
Responsibilities:
- Intern/Conservation Associate will assist the Director of the Watershed Protection Program in specific watershed related monitoring projects. Using methodology developed in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI), the Intern/Conservation Associate will assist in data collection, analysis, and field work related to watershed protection, as well as incorporating watershed protection work into WCT’s education and outreach programming.
- Intern/Conservation Associate will assist in monitoring and maintaining an ongoing riparian restoration effort taking place in Ashbridge Preserve. Maintenance will include invasive species removal, clearing tree cages, assisting in volunteer management and supporting the Stewardship team.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in environmental sciences or related field, or demonstrated coursework in pursuit of an equivalent degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
- Excellent communication (oral & written) and interpersonal skills, as well as ability to collaborate effectively with project partners;
- Personal passion and commitment to protecting the environment and furthering our understanding of the natural world and watersheds;
- Facility in working in a varied environment, with some work in an office and some work in the field, and/or experience in water quality monitoring and data collection.
- Computer competency including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
Salary: Salary will be in accordance with the terms of the two-year WPF grant and dependent on duration of internship.
Service Dates: Internship to commence in 2020.
Equal opportunity employer. Smoke-free and dog-friendly office.
Send resume and cover letter to:
Lauren McGrath
Director of Watershed Protection Program
Willistown Conservation Trust
925 Providence Road
Newtown Square, PA 19073
570-394-4345 (cell)
lbm@wctrust.org
