Clean Water Fellow

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE

The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America, founded in 1922, is to protect and conserve our shared heritage of wildlife, clean air and water, forest and soils. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Clean Water Fellowship is a temporary position of up to two years and is designed to provide applied experience in environmental education to a candidate with an undergraduate degree who is planning to pursue graduate studies in environmental education, natural resources conservation or a similar field. The Clean Water Fellow will work with the Clean Water Program Director to deliver and manage the Creek Freaks program. Creek Freaks is a national program that engages children ages 10-14 in hands-on stream studies including water quality monitoring. The Clean Water Fellow will conduct Creek Freaks environmental education programming for children and train and support adult Creek Freaks program leaders. In addition, the Clean Water Fellow will create videos, fact sheets, and website content and will promote the program using social media. The Clean Water Fellow also will recruit, train, and coordinate networks of adult volunteer water quality monitors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver environmental education programming to students in grades 4 through 8 using the League’s Creek Freaks curriculum (www.creekfreaks.net). Includes indoor hands-on activities on watersheds, soils, streamside plants, and water quality and field activities such as biological, chemical and physical monitoring of streams. This will include coordination of one-time only programs as well as longer-term afterschool clubs and/or summer camp programs.
• Recruit, train and support Izaak Walton League members, partner organization after-school program and summer camp staff, and community volunteers to serve as Creek Freaks program leaders.
• Coordinate logistics of program leader workshops and associated program delivery to children.
• Create and develop materials and content as needed to enhance Creek Freaks program delivery to children and adult program leader trainings. This may include preparing science experiment materials, stream monitoring equipment and craft supplies for hands-on activities prior to program delivery. In addition, there will be opportunities to develop extension activities for students or additional training materials for adults, including developing written materials, videos and website content.
• Promote the program through enhancements of the Creek Freaks website, local media, partner organization email lists, and social media including Facebook and Twitter.
• Assist Clean Water Program Director in drafting reports on program accomplishments.
• Assist Clean Water Program Director in fundraising efforts.
• Recruit, train, and coordinate adult stream monitoring volunteers.
• Travel in connection with and support of the above.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, natural resources management, environmental sciences, or related field with plans to pursue graduate studies in such field(s).
• Interest and demonstrated experience in environmental education, community outreach, water quality assessment, and stream monitoring.
• Public speaking and teaching skills and experience.Willingness to travel throughout the United States.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and own a car that can be used for local travel.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of staff, volunteers, and colleague organizations.
• Experience with social media (Facebook, Twitter), curriculum development and/or video editing are a plus.

COMPENSATION

The Clean Water Fellow will receive a monthly stipend of $2,650.00 and the League will cover costs for equipment, phone, travel and other direct expenses. The Fellowship does not include health, retirement or other employee benefits.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

The Fellowship will provide intensive and applied experience delivering environmental education. The Fellow will also gain applied experience in the fields of biology and chemistry through water quality monitoring. The Fellow will also gain experience in communications and fundraising. This combined experience will prepare the Fellow for graduate school and a subsequent career. The Fellowship will also provide additional educational opportunities, including participation in conferences focused on environmental education, water quality, stream restoration, and clean water policy.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email cover letter and resume to lmiller@iwla.org. In the cover letter, please address future plans for graduate school and how this fellowship aligns with those plans.

Please submit materials no later than February 8, 2016.

The Izaak Walton League of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer