Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission: Volunteer Opportunities

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 x211 or e-mail wborden@tnc.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@tnc.org
518-456-0655 ext. 221

Prescribed Fire Communications Volunteer

The Prescribed Fire Communications Volunteer serves as receptionist and provides some clerical and administrative support for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission's Prescribed Fire program. The foremost responsibility of the Prescribed Fire Communications Volunteer will be pre-burn telephone communication to local residents, municipalities and businesses relaying details of prescribed fires schedule for that day. The position requires initiative, motivation, flexibility, excellent organizational and communication skills. The Prescribed Fire Communications Volunteer is supervised by the Fire Management Specialist.

Requirements:

Available to work weekdays or weekends from 9 - 11 AM.
Commitment of at least 6 hours per month during the burn season.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Some experience with word processing. Accurate typing skills.
Willingness to work as part of a team in a busy office, communicating with a broad variety of people by telephone.
Ability to interact with a variety of people in a professional and friendly manner.
Flexibility and patience desired.
Must be able to provide own transportation to our office.

Please call Wendy Borden at (518) 456-0655 x211 or e-mail wborden@tnc.org if you are interested in joining us.

Prescribed Fire Field Observation (Weather) Volunteer

The Prescribed Fire Field Observation Volunteer fills a critical role during prescribed fire events in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission's Fire Management Program. The major responsibility of the Prescribed Fire Field Observation Volunteer is to monitor, record, and report accurate weather conditions to the Fire Leader during prescribed fire operations in the Preserve.

The position requires initiative, mobility, flexibility, excellent organizational and communication skills, ability to read a map and compass, and the ability to work outdoors in potentially difficult terrain, a strong interest in weather, and an understanding of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission's Fire Management Program. The Prescribed Fire Field Observation Volunteer will not be expected to perform prescribed burn crew member duties such as fire fighting. The Fire Management Specialist supervises the Prescribed Fire Field Observation Volunteer.

Requirements:

Available to work weekdays and/or weekends from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Commitment of at least 8 hours per month during the burn season.
Excellent oral communication skills in English.
Some experience with map and compass reading.
Understanding of weather conditions and patterns in the local area.
Willingness to work as part of a structured team on the Preserve in potentially difficult terrain.
Must be able to provide own transportation.
Training/Apprenticeship
The Prescribed Fire Field Observation Volunteer will be apprenticed and trained by an experienced Field Observer.

Please call Wendy Borden at (518) 456-0655 x211 or e-mail wborden@tnc.org if you are interested in joining us.

Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer

The Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer fills an important safety role in for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission's Prescribe Fire Program. The primary responsibilities of the Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer will occur on-site during prescribed fire applications.

Duties include observing smoke lift and direction and communicating observations to the Fire Leader. The position requires initiative, mobility, flexibility, excellent communication skills, ability to read a map and compass, and the ability to work outdoors in potentially difficult terrain. The Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer will not be expected to perform prescribed burn crewmember duties such as fire fighting. The Fire Management Specialist supervises the Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer.

Requirements:

Available to work weekdays and weekends from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Commitment of at least 8 hours per month during the burn season.
Excellent oral communication skills in English.
Some experience with map and compass reading.
Willingness to work as part of a structured team on the Preserve in potentially difficult terrain.
Must be able to provide own transportation.
Training/Apprenticeship The Prescribed Fire Smoke Spotter Volunteer will be apprenticed and trained by an experienced smoke spotter.

Please call Wendy Borden at 518-456-0655 x211 or email wborden@tnc.org if you are interested in joining us.

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. 212 or ekinal@tnc.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. 212 or ekinal@tnc.org for more information or to schedule an interview.