Position Title: Summer Conservationist (Position Description PDF)

Position Service Site: The Ridges Sanctuary (Baileys Harbor, WI)

Service Time: May 19 – August 14, 2026 (450 hours total, 40 Hours/week)

Benefits: Living stipend total for the whole term = $6,500 ($500 per week). An AmeriCorps Education Award of approximately $1,900 will be awarded upon successful completion of service.

Housing that is within walking distance of the service site is provided for $50/wk.

OVERVIEW: The Ridges Sanctuary mission is to promote positive environmental behaviors through impactful educational experiences, land protection and management, and ecological research. The Ridges was established in 1937 after Albert Fuller, then Curator of Botany at the Milwaukee Public Museum, began spending a significant amount of time surveying the landscape. Fuller spearheaded a grassroots movement to protect this incredibly diverse property and establish Wisconsin’s first land trust. The Ridges now protects over 1,700 acres comprising fifteen discrete plant communities, 475 inventoried vascular plants, a Boreal Forest glacial relict and twenty-six of Wisconsin’s forty-nine native orchids. The Ridges has also established popular early childhood education programs, a nationally recognized Orchid Restoration Project, and welcomes over 35,000 visitors to our Nature Center each year.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: The Ridges Sanctuary seeks a motivated individual to join our team of conservationists. The primary responsibilities will be to assist with the management of the Sanctuary under the direct supervision of the Land Manager. Additional responsibilities include conducting an independent project and assisting with research projects, programming events, and visitor engagement as needed. This candidate will preferably have experience in plant identification, possess knowledge of best management practices, and have strong interpersonal skills to interact with our staff, volunteers, visitors, and partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Land Management (70%)

• Collaborate with the Land Manager and other staff to implement conservation projects at the Sanctuary.
• Assist with various land management activities, including invasive species mapping and control efforts.
• Assist with trail maintenance and improvement projects to maintain and increase visitor accessibility.
• Help monitor all parts of the property regularly for potential illegal activity and misuse.
• Help monitor trail systems for disruptions or hazards that could disrupt visitor access.
• Assist in checking The Ridges trail cameras as part of the WI-DNR’s Snapshot Wisconsin program.

Other Duties (30%)

• Support staff and volunteers at the front desk and assist in visitor engagement. (5%)
• Lead guided hikes occasionally, employing knowledge of the cultural and natural history of The Ridges, including local flora and fauna, history and founding of The Ridges, geologic history of The Ridges, etc. (5%)
• Conduct an independent conservation project focused on research or management. (10%)
• Assist with research efforts for the Orchid Restoration Project, Dwarf Lake Iris Restoration Project, and other research activities as needed. (10%)

HOUSING:

• Members should be prepared to live in communal housing with other program/organization/agency members.
• Members should expect to have roommates and must inform staff of any housing preferences or required accommodations. Pets are not allowed.
• Occupants are assigned individual rooms in units with a shared living room, kitchen (with some pots, pans, plates, and utensils), and one or more bathrooms.
• An offsite laundry facility and a grocery store are available within a 5-minute drive of the provided housing.
• Occupants will be required to sign a lease for a rate of $50/week, which will outline any other stipulations.
• The housing area is located about 25 miles from Sturgeon Bay, WI, which offers several services and amenities.

TRAININGS OFFERED:

• NOLS Wilderness First Aid & Chainsaw Safety trainings provided by WisCorps
• First Aid & CPR, and Ridges’ Emergency Protocol Training
• Knowledge of local natural and cultural history, including plant identification and best management practices.
• Ongoing learning opportunities throughout the summer to expand the service member’s knowledge in preservation, research, education, outreach, and more.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 18 years of age
• Some education and/or work experience related to ecology, land management, or related field is preferred
• Energetic and enthusiastic personality to interact and collaborate with co-workers, volunteers, and visitors
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to withstand the physical demands of work which sometime involves lifting, carrying, bending and hiking across uneven terrain in potentially inclement weather conditions and in the presence of biting insects
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions
• Upon hire, a criminal background check will be conducted. Service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed