TerraCorps Land Stewardship (LSC) / Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) with Wareham Land Trust and Mass Audubon 

About TerraCorps:

TerraCorps is an AmeriCorps affiliated environmental nonprofit growing a more equitable ecosystem of people and organizations to protect and steward land for broader good. Working at the intersection of land conservation, sustainable agriculture and food justice, we seek to bridge the gap between the urban, rural and suburban land movements historically segregated by socio-economic divides. Through our generative service, training and partnership model, we cultivate future conservation leaders and offer immediate capacity support to the local organizations they serve.

About The Wareham Land Trust:

The Wareham Land Trust is the premier conservation organization in the Town of Wareham. The Wareham Land Trust is an all-volunteer land trust accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The town covers 36 square miles with 54 miles of coastline which gives us very diverse landscape. From sandy beaches, to freshwater ponds and rivers, cranberry bogs to forests, Wareham has it all!  Our various boards and committees are made up of our dedicated members. We promote land protection, natural resource education, and smart growth. Through a variety of well-established methods we safeguard valuable land and water resources. Our mission is to permanently protect and conserve special open spaces and natural resources to benefit water quality, wildlife habitat, the citizens of Wareham, and for the economic enhancement of the Town. 

COVID-19 Information– Wareham Land Trust strongly recommends that staff and TerraCorps Service Members be fully vaccinated before the start of the TerraCorps service year. The reason we are strongly recommending vaccination is because the Member will spend a significant amount of time serving in-person with volunteers, staff, or community members.  Therefore we are strongly encouraging that all staff and AmeriCorps members are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

About Mass Audubon: 

Mass Audubon protects 38,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts, saving birds and other wildlife, and making nature accessible to all. As Massachusetts’ largest nature conservation nonprofit, we welcome more than a half million visitors a year to our wildlife sanctuaries and 20 nature centers. From inspiring hilltop views to breathtaking coastal landscapes, serene woods, and working farms, we believe in protecting our state’s natural treasures for wildlife and for all people–a vision shared in 1896 by our founders, two extraordinary Boston women. Today, Mass Audubon is a nationally recognized environmental education leader, offering thousands of camp, school, and adult programs that reach over 225,000 kids and adults outdoors every year. With more than 135,000 members and supporters, we advocate on Beacon Hill and beyond, and conduct conservation research to preserve the natural heritage of our beautiful state for today’s and future generations.

Mass Audubon’s South East region encompasses a large geographic area (covering the South Shore, South Coast, and from Fall River to Attleboro). This area is incredibly rich in biodiversity and includes wildlife sanctuaries such as Great Neck (in Wareham) and Tidmarsh (in Plymouth). Much of the work in the southeast is currently focused on Climate Resilience and Coastal Restoration. Much of the time for Mass Audubon will be focused on Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Wareham which was recently expanded with the connection of the 112-acre former Sacred Hearts Retreat Center property. The 200-plus acre Great Neck property is part of the largest remaining contiguous forest stands along Buzzards Bay and home to several ecological zones including: barrier beach, salt marsh, freshwater pond, Red Maple swamp, and mature mixed transitional forest. The service member will have physical space available through Wareham Land Trust at their office space. The member will work with WLT’s volunteers and will have an opportunity to engage with the Mass Audubon South East staff team on a daily basis. 

Wareham Land Trust and Mass Audubon have proposed the following potential project(s) for their Land Stewardship (LSC) / Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC):

1. Enhance and expand the Volunteer Steward Program by coordinating trainings, outings, and service days. Work to develop a formal volunteer program based on land stewardship and property monitoring. The member might consider developing web forms for spatially tracking information from visitors or volunteers on trail conditions and property needs that would feed into a regular volunteer program with crew leaders and work days.
2. The member might expand and grow on the 2020 TerraCorps project “Wild for Wareham” into an annual occurrence – the member would grow public outreach and programming on an annual basis and/or turn this kind of programming into a monthly series highlighting conservation properties in Wareham.
3. Develop and implement community science projects for the unique species in southeastern Massachusetts and Wareham (such as River Herring monitoring, Nest box watch, diamondback terrapin monitoring, etc.)

Required AmeriCorps Qualifications

•     A US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the U.S.
•     At least 18 years old
•     A minimum of a high school diploma or GED
•     No more than three previous terms as an AmeriCorps member
•     Pass a criminal history background check, including an FBI check

Desired Qualifications:

• Strong writing and verbal communication skills
• Able to serve both independently and as a member of a team
• Comfort navigating computer software programs (Comfort navigating computer software programs including office and remote meeting software such as Zoom or Teams)
• Training and experience pertinent to the Land Stewardship (LSC) / Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) with Wareham Land Trust and Mass Audubon position and projects listed above
• Experience training and educating community members and volunteers
• Strong interest in serving with diverse community groups, landowners, and municipalities
• Experience with basic stewardship and/or a willingness to be active outside in a range of weather conditions
• Experience training and educating community members and volunteers

AmeriCorps Member Eligibility Requirements

This year’s TerraCorps members will serve from August 30th, 2021-July 29, 2022. All Members are expected to serve full-time, commit to serve for the entire 11-month term, and complete at least 1,700 hours of service, including time spent in trainings and service with the full TerraCorps team. Weekly service averages 38 hours and commonly includes some night and/or weekend activities. Training hours will not exceed 20% of the member’s total term of service. Members are required to serve and participate in a TerraCorps service day on MLK National Day of Service.

AmeriCorps programs provide equal opportunities. TerraCorps will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.

Member Compensation and Benefits

• TerraCorps Members will receive a living allowance of up to $15,600 (pre-tax) over the 11-month term of service, which is $624 (pre-tax) per 25 biweekly pay periods.
• TerraCorps assists Members in obtaining health insurance coverage. Reimbursement of costs may be available.
• Childcare assistance may be provided in cases of financial need.
• Upon successful completion of a term of service, AmeriCorps Members receive a taxable $6,345 education award that can be used for future education or to pay off existing school loans. See nationalservice.gov/resources/edaward for info and restrictions.
• TerraCorps Members are eligible for forbearance of most federally-guaranteed student loans, as well as payment of interest accrued during service.
• TerraCorps Members will receive mentorship, training, and career development opportunities while serving directly with community-based nonprofits.
• TerraCorps Members experience the personal rewards of national service and community engagement.

Note: TerraCorps members are responsible for their own housing and must have access to reliable transportation.

How to Apply:

Member applications will be collected by TerraCorps and shared with Service Sites. Do not send applications directly to a Service Site.

A complete member application includes a resume, two references, and an application form. Member application and detailed instructions can be found here. 

We strongly encourage interested individuals to apply as soon as possible once applications are posted. Position offers and acceptances will be made on a rolling basis. The program aims to fill all positions by late June, but Service Sites will continue interviews as needed until all positions are filled.

For questions about TerraCorps, contact Lianna Lee, who manages TerraCorps’ recruitment process. Email MA@terracorps.org or call 978-364-9770.