Scheuer Land Management Internship

About Mohonk Preserve:

Located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, Mohonk Preserve is New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve. Our mission is to protect the northern Shawangunk ridge and inspire people to care for, enjoy, and explore the natural world. We manage over 8,000 acres of mountain cliffs, forests, fields, and streams and welcome over 300,000 members and visitors each year who come to hike, run, rock climb, boulder, bike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and enjoy and experience nature.

Based in a vibrant university community, Mohonk Preserve offers a great working environment in one of New York’s greenest counties, with all-season recreation, access to Preserve lands, a dynamic, committed team of conservation professionals and long legacy of conducting ecological research and environmental education. The Preserve is also the home of one of America’s premier rock-climbing destinations.

About the 2024 Scheuer Land Management Internship (Full-time; Summer)

Thom Scheuer, the beloved Head Ranger of Mohonk Preserve from 1972 until his death in 1999, dedicated his work and life to protecting and maintaining the Preserve as a place for world-class outdoor enjoyment within a high-quality ecosystem. Thom’s timeless legacy is that of land stewardship that involves people in a common land ethic. Dr. Ed Reppert established this internship “to teach young land stewards to consider all parts of nature as a part of the total ecosystem, how all are related to and dependent on one another and how each relates to humankind.”

The Scheuer Land Management Internship will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to work within our Land Stewardship Department. The intern will work as part of a high-performing professional trail & carriage road crew in the performance of conservation work to include trails assessment, construction, and maintenance. The intern will be exposed to numerous Mohonk Preserve land management and natural resource staff, learn principles of leadership, volunteer management, and conservation. The position is under the direct supervision of the Director of Stewardship and the department’s Program Coordinators. Must be willing and able to work flexible schedules including evenings and weekends, and to accommodate weather and logistical delays common in the backcountry.

This internship is within the Trails & Carriage Roads Division of our Land Stewardship Department and is 10 weeks (~June-August, flexible start date).

Essential Functions:

The 2024 Scheuer Intern will have an opportunity to work with the Preserve’s Trails & Carriage Roads program staff gaining experience in:

• Planning, managing, and executing stewardship and maintenance projects related to the Preserve trails and carriage road infrastructure.
• Implementing projects including but not limited to rehabilitation, re-routes, closure & restoration, improvements to signage and wayfinding.
• Provide organized digital data (GPS tracks, points), geo-located photographs, and accurate written descriptions of project work.
• Assist with maintaining trails and carriage road database and planning tool, updating information for collaboration between departments.
• Process and compile data collected with a focus on interpreting how visitors utilize the land and the resulting impacts.
• Other ongoing land management projects.
• The position consists primarily of field work with limited office work.

Note: The selected intern will complete a final written deliverable (e.g., assessment report, maps, design plan, survey, etc.), and, at the end of the summer, present their project in an oral presentation summarizing their internship experience and specific project.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Students currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior years of college (or equivalent credit hours) who are majoring in Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Science, Land and Natural Resource Management, Geography, Forestry, or other related fields of study.
• Trail maintenance, design, and construction techniques for a variety of non-motorized trails preferred.
• Knowledge, experience, and skills in facility maintenance, landscaping, and grounds maintenance.
• Experience in the operation of landscaping equipment such as hand tools, tractor, chainsaw, chipper, backhoe/front-end loader, grader, and other related equipment.
• Ability to utilize various GPS data collection methods; additional training will be provided in GPS data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Familiarity with Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.
• Proficient computer skills required; experience with Microsoft Office 365 applications and remote work platforms (Zoom; Teams, etc.) required.
• Must be able to provide personal gear for the day (rain gear, appropriate clothing, hiking boots).
• CPR and First Aid experience is a plus.
• Have a valid driver’s license and pass background check.
• Have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice to ensure that all people are respected and welcomed at the Mohonk Preserve. This includes participating in ongoing education and other work the organization undertakes to develop and incorporate these principles.

Compensation:

• $15.00/hour for a maximum of 400 hours; on-site housing provided.

Benefits:

• Direct Payroll Deposit
• Mohonk Preserve membership for duration of internship
• Access to lands and some activities of Mohonk Mountain House resort

Eligibility for certain benefits is dependent upon a variety of factors including employment status.

Location:

Mohonk Preserve’s main offices are located at our Visitor Center in Gardiner, NY. The intern will be based at the Preserve’s Ranger Station (aka: Undercliff House). Mohonk Preserve offers hybrid work schedules at this time – coordinated with their supervisor and depending on the job, staff may be able to split time working remotely, as well as in the office and in-person on the land. Standard working hours, with some flexibility, to be coordinated with their supervisor.

Mohonk Preserve is a smoke-free campus.

Physical Demands:

• Frequently uses a computer keyboard, reads, writes
• Frequently works outdoors in all weather conditions
• Ability to work long days in the field with ability to hike a minimum of five miles while carrying up to 50lbs. of gear.
• Standing, walking, hiking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, carrying equipment for extended periods of time.

How to Apply:

Applications accepted via e-mail only. Email the following as a single PDF to Land Stewardship at creid@mohonkpreserve.org by Friday, March 29, 2024.

1. A cover letter that clearly states your reasons for pursuing this internship and what you hope to gain toward achieving your career goals
2. Your current resume
3. Your current transcript (unofficial is OK)

• Please include “Scheuer Land Management Internship” in the subject line of your email.
• In addition, please arrange to have two letters of recommendation emailed to creid@mohonkpreserve.org by the application deadline.
• Only on-time, complete applications, which include reference letters, will be considered.

The anticipated start date of this position is early June 2024.

No phone calls please

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Mohonk Preserve is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to creating an inclusive culture where employees from diverse backgrounds can thrive and support our mission. Successful candidates will be equity-minded and committed to furthering our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice (DEIJ) goals. Mohonk Preserve encourages applications from women, minorities and/or other underrepresented groups.

This job announcement is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties assigned.