Volunteer Opportunities

Conservation Day Leaders

Supervise groups of volunteers on management or maintenance projects in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The Conservation Day Leader is responsible for describing the purpose of the workday and demonstrating the physical and/or technical skills needed to accomplish the project; and for directing volunteers to accomplish the project in an ecologically sensitive way. An equally important responsibility is to maintain the enthusiasm, safety and efficiency of the Conservation Day Volunteers. Because the Leader may be the only representative of the Albany Pine Bush that other volunteers ever meet, the Leader must represent the Pine Bush in a positive way. Please call Wendy Borden at (518) 456-0655 x1211 or e-mail wcraney@albanypinebush.org if you are interested in joining us.

Snowpack Monitor
The Snowpack Monitor helps to measure the duration and depth of snow cover in Karner blue butterfly habitat restoration sites in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Work is conducted independently, making weekly surveys of snow depth gauges on foot, snowshoes, or cross-country skiis, depending on conditions. The data collected will be used to evaluate spatial and temporal variation in snowpack, which may be critical to the overwinter survival of the eggs of this endangered butterfly, and which may be decreasing due to climate change.

DUTIES:
Under the direction of the Preserve Ecologist, conduct weekly surveys to record snow depth using installed gauges across a 7.5 acre habitat patch in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to work independently without supervision.
Ability to read snow gauges and record snow depth data accurately.
Must provide own transportation to survey location.
Must be comfortable with using maps to locate snow gauges in the field.
Must be in good physical condition and be comfortable walking/snow-shoeing/cross-country skiing through snow under all weather conditions.
Must be able to tolerate prolonged exposure to winter temperatures and to provide appropriate outerwear.
Requires commitment to conduct surveys on a fixed weekly schedule for 4-5 months.
Work schedule is somewhat flexible – work can be performed on weekdays or weekends, but must be a consistent day and time week to week.

TRAINING AND SUPPORT PROVIDED:
Training in locating and reading the snow gauges and filling out the datasheets will be provided. Snowshoes and other needed equipment are available on loan.

CONTACT:
Jason Bried
jbried@albanypinebush.org
518-456-0655 ext. 1221

Albany Pine Bush Volunteer Naturalist Program

Spend a weekend morning or afternoon walking the trails of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve as a roving Volunteer Naturalist.  Volunteer Naturalists interact with the public in informal small group settings along the trails of the Preserve providing information to visitors on the ecology, management and history of the Pine Bush.  The Volunteer Naturalist Program runs from early June through late October.

Please contact Erin Kinal, Education and Outreach Director at (518) 456-0655 ext. 1212 or ekinal@albanypinebush.org for more information.

Albany Pine Bush Volunteer Environmental Educators

The APB Preserve Commission welcomes all who are interested in volunteering as environmental educators in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.  Volunteer educators work primarily with school groups through in-school programs and field trips to the Preserve.  Our emphasis is on interactive and hands on learning.  Most field trips are during the morning on weekdays.

Please contact Erin Kinal, Education Program Director at (518) 456-0655 ext. 1212 or ekinal@albanypinebush.org for more information or to schedule an interview.

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195 New Karner Road • Albany • New York • 12205 • (518) 456-0655
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