Land Steward and Outreach Member

Position Title: Land Steward and Outreach Member (Position Announcement PDF)

Position Service Site: Mississippi Valley Conservancy and Friends of the Blufflands (La Crosse, WI)

Service Time: May 27 – August 15, 2025 (450 hours total, 40 Hours/Week) – 30 Hours/Week with Mississippi Valley Conservancy and 10 Hours/Week with Friends of the Blufflands for a total of 40 Hours/Week)

Benefits: Living stipend total for the whole term = $6,000 ($500 per week) Education Award of approximately $1,900 upon successful completion of service. To find out more about the Award, https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/segal-americorps-education-award/find-out-more

OVERVIEW: Mississippi Valley Conservancy (the Conservancy) and Friends of the Blufflands (FBL) collaboratively work to protect and restore the unique habitats of the Driftless Area of SW Wisconsin.

• Mississippi Valley Conservancy is an accredited nonprofit land trust that works with conservation-minded landowners who choose to permanently protect land through conservation easements and land acquisition efforts.
• Friends of the Blufflands is a nonprofit in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Their mission is to promote sound conservation practices in the Coulee Region blufflands and to be a voice for a wide variety of blufflands users who value the area blufflands for their increased quality of life.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: The Land Steward and Outreach position will provide opportunities to gain practical conservation stewardship and outreach skills while exploring career options. The goal is to promote community service and environmental awareness through community engagement and outdoor volunteerism.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Land Stewardship

• Assist with habitat management and restoration of native prairie, forest, oak savanna, and wetland habitat on Conservancy-protected land throughout southwest Wisconsin
• Gain skills and expertise in several aspects of wildlife habitat management, including species identification, timber stand improvement, oak savanna and prairie restoration, invasive species control, and trail maintenance
• Operate and maintain chainsaws, brush cutters, herbicide applicators, mowers, and UTVs to accomplish habitat management tasks as assigned
• Assist with installing, improving, and updating kiosks, signs, and trails
• Help supervise school and volunteer groups during land restoration workdays

Outreach

• Help broaden the base of habitat restoration volunteers to expand land management activities on nature preserves
• Help promote, coordinate, and lead volunteer workdays and engage members of the public on habitat management projects throughout SW Wisconsin
• Keep detailed records of volunteer hours, program activity, and event attendance for continual program improvement and grant reporting

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

• Chain saws, brush cutters, weed whippers, mowers, herbicide sprayers, shovels, wheelbarrows, and other hand tools
• UTV operation as needed
• Driving trucks, hauling and parking loaded ball hitch trailers

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Willingness and ability to use herbicides, chainsaws, and any other tools required to complete assigned tasks
• Possess a valid driver’s license and working vehicle
• Physical demands and service environment regularly require the service members to be outdoors in wooded areas and on steep, uneven natural terrain
• Physically able to work long days outside in inclement weather, hike on and off trail
• Willingness and availability to lead occasional evening and weekend volunteer workdays
• Able to carry up to 50 pounds of equipment
• Work in a variety of weather conditions, such as temperatures ranging from below-freezing to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, high winds, intense sunshine, rain, and snow
• Ability to multitask and shift schedule and priorities to meet changing conditions
• Ability to work independently to complete assigned tasks
• Knowledge of habitat restoration principles and practices preferred
• Forestry, ornithology, or other natural resources specialty preferred
• First aid, CPR certification preferred
• Herbicide/pesticide applicator certification preferred
• Advanced SAW, FISTA, or other chainsaw certification preferred
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with reasonable accommodation
• 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

WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability, and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us at 608-782-2494, by email at [email protected] or Wisconsin Relay 711.