Restoration and Outreach Internship

Restoration and Outreach Internship

Lands End and Ocean Beach Programs

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

12 month full-time internship with housing and out-of-pocket expenses reimbursement provided

The Lands End/Ocean Beach Restoration and Outreach intern works primarily with the Lands End Stewardship program, and also several times a month with the Ocean Beach Volunteer program.  Both of these are  programs of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a non-profit partner of the National Parks Service and the Presidio Trust.

Lands End is located along the rugged cliffs of western San Francisco; this wild and dramatically beautiful park draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.  Over the last three years, our program has worked to establish a successful community-based volunteer program to improve the Coastal Trail corridor at Lands End.  The project aims to improve wildlife habitat, increase the health and biological diversity of the cultural forest, and to improve the visitor experience by maintaining a safe and clean park.  To this end, staff and volunteers work to remove invasive plant infestations, plant native plant species in coastal bluffs, dunes and wetlands habitats, and monitor trail and signage conditions for park visitor safety.

Ocean Beach is located south of Lands End, along the western side of San Francisco.  The beach stretches for almost seven miles; from the Cliff House to Mussel Rock.  The area is a popular recreation destination for residents and visitors.  Additionally, the beach and dunes are habitat for shorebirds, including the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover.  The promenade provides a coastal trail connection between Lands End and Fort Funston.  The Ocean Beach Volunteer program organizes individuals and groups to do beach cleanups, including working around the fire rings.

This internship will introduce the intern to all aspects of habitat restoration and park management, with a focus on volunteer program management, an integral component of most restoration projects in the Golden Gate National Parks, and other natural resource management agencies.  The intern will gain valuable experience in developing and running volunteer programs that provide opportunities for youth, school groups, corporate groups and adults, and will be involved in outreach to and education of Lands End visitors and neighbors.  The intern will also gain field experience managing invasive plants, out planting natives, and monitoring.

Interns are compensated with $125 a week for out-of-pocket expenses and are provided housing in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.  We also offer transportation to work sites, a variety of training opportunities, and marketable work experience.

Description of Duties:

• Participate in all aspects of field activities including removal of invasive plants, planting of native plants, irrigation, propagule collection, erosion control, and trail and sign maintenance.
• Assist with all aspects of managing a volunteer program. This includes:
  
  • Plan and prepare volunteer workdays at Lands End and Ocean Beach
  • Recruit, coordinate, train and retain volunteers for both programs
  • Manage Volunteer Participation Data and generate quarterly and annual reports
  • Develop and distribute flyers and outreach materials to promote participation in Lands End Stewardship and Ocean Beach Volunteer program activities.
  • Create and distribute education and informational flyers and posters for Lands End visitors and neighbors
  • Create educational materials to engage volunteer groups
  • Assist in development of new programs and partnerships with local organizations

Knowledge/Skills Desired:

• Interest in ecological restoration and the National Park Service
• Enthusiasm about working with volunteers of all cultural and economic backgrounds
• Ability to work well within a team and take a leadership role as needed
• Desire to work both outdoors and indoors
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Basic understanding of ecology
• Computer experience in word processing and database operations, Microsoft Office programs
• Bi-cultural / bi-lingual skills are a plus

Terms
Apply by: we are accepting applications on an ongoing basis until March 15, 2009.
Desired Start Date: April 15, 2009
Length of Position: 1 year
Schedule: Wednesday-Sunday
Reliable transportation required: No
Driver’s license required: Yes
Does position provide out-of-pocket expenses? Yes, 125$/ week.
Does position provide housing? Yes

Please send cover letter and resume to cchristman@parksconservancy.org