Hawk Mtn Sanctuary - Caretaker

Hawk Mountain is seeking a courteous, skilled, and highly motivated individual to join the Land & Facilities team.  Applicants for this position must meet the following requirements:  Minimum of a high school diploma, preferred a BA or BS in Parks and Recreation, Environmental Science, or related field.  A valid driver’s license; Minimum of two years experience in general maintenance and repair with basic skills in carpentry, electrical, masonry, and plumbing.  Must have the ability to operate hand and power tools, chainsaws, mowers, and string trimmers.  Experience in operating and providing basic maintenance to vehicles and equipment (includes 4X4 trucks and tractor).  Must be in good physical condition and be able to carry a 50 lb pack to remote work sites and have the willingness to work in all adverse weather conditions on a year round basis.  Willingness to work weekends and provide emergency coverage when necessary.  Good communication skills are required and the ability to provide supervision for seasonal staff and volunteers on sanctuary projects.  A Wilderness First Responder/Aid or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification preferred but must have the desire to obtain emergency medical training and provide medical care to visitors when needed.  Applicant must possess a positive attitude and the desire to work in nature with a strong interest in raptor and wildland conservation. 

The duties are assisting the Director of Land & Facilities in performing the daily and seasonal operation and maintenance program at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary facilities and land holdings.  This includes providing visitor services and enforcing sanctuary rules, maintaining inventory of work materials, ordering supplies, conducting land and infrastructure improvements to professional quality, coordinating outside contractors and vendors, and performing routine maintenance and custodial tasks on all sanctuary facilities. 

Salary range: $18,000 to $22,000 including individual health benefits.

To apply please mail a resume with cover letter and three references to:

                                    Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

                                    1700 Hawk Mountain Road

                                    Kempton, PA  19529

                                    ATTENTION: Todd Bauman, Director      

Mr. Justin Kooyman, who spent several years with SCA until last year when he jumped on a job with the PCTA in sunny California, just sent over a pretty sweet offer.  The Pacific Crest Trail Assoc. is looking for a new Trail Crew Technical Advisor (see the job description).  Here’s the low-down:

• Must work & play well with volunteers, AmeriCorps, federal & state agencies
• Need to be a solid teacher & really know your trail work
• Happy living and traveling outdoors in remote, backcountry locations
• February to mid-September, but durations may vary
• Salary is dependent upon qualifications

Call Mike Dawson at (206) 463-9087 for additional information. Send letter of interest, summary of qualifications, and experience to mdawson@pcta.org by January 16, 2009.

Check out Lew Shelley’s kind words appeal to YOU. It’s a lot to ask certainly, but Lew’s justification is quite simple. Besides his golden request, another former crew leader has generously offered to tack on $100 to ANY financial gift during this campaign. That’s pretty simple math: you give $5 and they top it off with an extra $100 - for each of us! And that’s going to add up pretty doggone fast.

Aerie Backcountry Medicine is coming to NH once again!

*Click on the photo above to enlarge.

Please contact Lew Shelley (lshelley@thesca.org) for more information.

Well, the Crew & Corps (merging…) departments didn’t win the Annual Halloween Costume Contest but we certainly gave it our best shot! After a splendid retreat in New England last week, regional staff from each program have been spotted galavanting around VT/NH this week for further training, cold river dips in honor of our nation’s recent election day, campfire feasts, & many cheers to the season and transitions big & small…

With just a few Fall Training Crews on the clock, the HS Program Staff is certainly enjoying this great big sigh at the end of the ‘08 field season… whew! While the falling leaves provide great comfort (literally) during midday breaks, we’re on the countdown for snow & winter outdoor pursuits!

This breather won’t last long, in fact - we’re up & running already in preparation for that ‘09 Field Season right around the corner. Take a peek at our most recent Fall Crew Leader Email Update and peruse our website here. We’re looking forward to securing successful project sites, bomber Alumni & new students alike, and of course you, our bonafide Veteran Crew Leader Pool. Cheers to Fall!

Aerie Backcountry Medicine is offering a wilderness skills semester this winter in Costa Rica & Montana’s Swan Valley. Participants will earn professional-level certifications in wilderness medicine (WEMT), swiftwater rescue (Swiftwater Rescue Technician), and avalanche rescue (Level 1 Avalanche) with add’l training in search & rescue, winter & tropical survival, & wilderness risk management.

Students will live on organic farm & sustainable living center, Rancho Mastatal, & the Pacuare River in Costa Rica during February, & at Northwest Connections’ education facility in Condon, MT during March, 2009. The course is offered for 15 optional U of MT credits. Contact Aerie for details, or Aerie Semester in Costa Rica (pdf) for a detailed course description & syllabus.