AmeriCorps Swimming Hole Steward

Vermont River Conservancy, Montpelier VT

Spend your summer at popular swimming holes in Central Vermont! Welcome visitors with a friendly and open attitude and simple survey questions; encourage safe and respectful behavior and leave-no-trace practices; improve site conditions with litter cleanup, and invasive species control; collect data to improve overall site management and water quality; engage volunteers and the public with media and outreach tools. Enjoy Central Vermont’s most beautiful rivers spots where hundreds of people come to enjoy the cool waters and time in nature.

Vermont River Conservancy’s mission is protecting special lands along the rivers and waters of Vermont. The Swimming Hole Steward will welcome visitors and help steward and manage the natural resources and outdoor recreation at several regional swimming holes.

Essential Functions:

- Visit each assigned swimming hole on a regular basis, including weekends and early

evenings

- Collect site data and survey visitors

- Refer visitors to existing safety signage to encourage safe swimming practices and educate swimmers about safety issues

- Educate users about the natural history, geology, and river ecology of swimming holes, helping to develop place-based relationships

- Promote a Leave-No-Trace culture of responsible stewardship at swimming holes

- Perform stewardship tasks such as sign and trail maintenance and litter control

- Participate in VHCB AmeriCorps Trainings, Service Days, Events, and Program Initiatives.

- Engage in professional and personal development activities and networking opportunities

Desired Qualifications:

- Friendly, outgoing, able to approach and talk with strangers for several hours a day

- Able to serve outside for up to 8 hours a day

- Able to serve independently, problem solve on the fly, and contact supervisor immediately if or when questions arise.

Service is to be performed primarily outdoors in the summer, including weekends and some early evenings required. Weekly service in the office to enter data and create report summaries. Position begins May 25, 2021 and ends August 31, 2021. This position is Quarter Time: Requires 455 hours of service for an average of 40 hours per week for 13 weeks. Member will receive a living allowance of $5,400 (pre-tax), and an education award of $1,638.89 (pre-tax) upon successful completion of service. Other benefits include health insurance, federal school loan forbearance, and various training and networking opportunities.

This position does have recurring access to vulnerable populations (youth, persons over 60, individuals

with disabilities).

To apply visit: https://www.vhcb.org/our-programs/vhcb-americorps/positions