Department of Civil Service

Description:

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) in the Central Region is
seeking Conservation Stewards to assist agency staff in the preservation of the endangered Chittenango
Ovate Amber Snail (COAS) at Chittenango Falls State Park. Stewardship for the parks in this capacity means
that stewards will ensure that the preservation and management efforts undertaken by environmental partners
to protect COAS and the surrounding habitat are implemented.
Work duties may include providing public education, COAS husbandry, preserving habitat, native species
propagation, maintaining trails, engaging partners and volunteers, mapping and removing invasive species.
Stewards will be asked to fill out project pertinent data sheets and document their internships through work
logs and a final reflection. If appropriate, they will also create a binder to record the methods, timelines, goals,
etc. of ongoing or replicable projects. These duties and tasks will support and enhance visitor experience in the
parks, strengthen the academic programs of students, and allow students to develop life-long connections to
NYS parks.
In addition, Stewards will gain valuable field experience and learn organizational, leadership and
communication skills that they will be able to apply in their personal and professional lives. The Stewards will
also have the opportunity to network within NYS Parks and other state agencies, and learn the logistics of
working at the state level.
Candidates must be self-motivated, able to initiate projects and tasks, have good time management
and organizational skills, and effectively work with students and the public.
* Experience with plant/tree/gastropod identification helpful but not necessary.
* Candidates must be sensitive to the ecology of threatened and endangered species.
* Candidates must be able to provide their own transportation to and from work sites.
* Experience with hand tools and spending time outdoors helpful but not necessary.

Skills:

Time Management Skills

Effectively work with students/ public

Communication Skills

Hands on field work

Internship Areas: Environmental Conservation, Scientific Research