• Outdoor/environmental education 
• Wildlife and habitat conservation
• Field work and monitoring bird populations
• Science/nature writing and communications 
• Building naturalist skills (Wildlife and plant ID, animal tracking, etc.) 
• Teaching and mentoring younger kids 
• Building teamwork, resume, and leadership skills 
• Hiking (we will be moving around the center everytime we meet in all weather!) 

What You Will Learn and Work On: 

• Assessing forest and timber stands at the Green Mountain Audubon Center alongside our forester. 
• Naturalist skills in: bird and wildlife identification, tree and plant identification, wildlife tracking, and more! 
• Aid a wildlife biologist in banding birds at the Green Mountain Audubon Center and learn about recapture studies.
• Basic carpentry and powertool skills.
• Trail maintenance and enhancement. 
• Conduct field work in and around the Green Mountain Audubon Center that allows us to understand population changes in priority bird species such as Bobolinks, Common Terns, and Peregrine Falcons. 
• Identify and remove invasive plant species to enhance bird habitat at the Green Mountain Audubon Center.  
• Collect data that will help scientists understand how wildlife and plants are responding to climate change through community science initiatives. 
• Serve as an assistant educator for vacation/summer camp staff when applicable. 
• Be part of a team and learn transferrable professional skills like resume building, public speaking, and leadership. 
• Share knowledge of bird-friendly forestry and maple sugaring during Audubon Vermont’s sugaring events (Sugar on Snow and Maple Open House).

Junior Conservation Technician Expectations and Responsibilities: 

• Having a good attitude and interest in the topics the program will cover.
• Being a role model for students, campers and visitors at the center, exhibiting maturity and good judgment.
• Willingness to work in a team environment.
• Open and receptive to feedback.
• Ability to hike long distances around GMAC (snow, rain, or shine). 
• Ready to learn!

Junior Conservation Technician Testimonies:

"I loved how it felt to spend an entire day outside in the woods with friends. The last time we met, we learned how to identify maples and tapped them, hiked around the Audubon, and kept an eye out for birds. Learning through experience is the best way to learn, so being able to experience nature and actually engage with what we're learning about has been a great boon to my understanding of nature in general. Overall, it's been an incredibly great time of getting outside and learning about our natural world!" - 2022 Cohort Member

 

"We got to go out in two groups of three with no adults. We had to work in our groups to figure out the best way to solve problems like creeks running over the trails and large mud patches blocking the path. We used tools that dug new routes for the running water, cleared debris off the trail, and cut any branches hanging in the way of hikers. This was definitely one of my favorite activities so far!” - 2022 Cohort Member​

“Being able to meet with well renown foresters and conservationists is a really cool opportunity that I don't see in many other places.” – 2023 Cohort Member

How to Apply

audubon_jct_program_flyer_2024.pdf

audubon_jct_program_flyer_2024.pdf