Hillsborough Conservation Commission is looking for a part-time intern to map and document town conservation lands. Our goal for this project is to have an intern work with Commission members to hike and map the trails and to help us create an interactive map, to provide information to members of the public, so that they have better access to the areas, while building public support for protection of Hillsborough’s natural areas.
Interns selected for this program will be part of NHACC’s The Community Conservation Intern program. This program was created by NHACC to provide commissions with the ability to identify a project, how to scope it with realistic expectations, and how to then complete the project with an intern’s assistance. Interns will gain knowledge and practical experience though real life projects. The program will develop a cohort of interns, and create orientation materials to ensure both the town and the interns have a positive experience. Through the program, NHACC will create a framework for a cohort of interns and town volunteers to learn from each other and provide feedback on training materials. Interns will attend check in sessions with their cohort group every month.
Project Summary:
Hillsborough would like to create both an online, interactive map, as well as a downloadable, printable map, which show the locations of conservation areas, trailheads, parking areas, and trails of publicly-accessible conservation areas in Hillsborough. Both the interactive map and the printable map would be accompanied by short, informative descriptions of each area, as well as comments on trail features, such as length, level of difficulty, elevation gain, unique biologic, geologic and aquatic features, etc.
We would like to work with an intern who is passionate about natural resource protection; who likes to spend time outdoors; who has an interest in trail mapping; and who has good communication and computer skills. The intern will work with Commission members to visit Hillsborough’s conservation areas and capture trail mapping data. The trail mapping data will be compiled to create both an online, interactive, as well as a downloadable, printable map, to help the public access Hillsborough’s conservation areas and trails. We would also like the intern to record information, possibly including photos, about the natural features of the areas, including biotic and aquatic resources, geology, topography, and other features of interest, that could be added to the descriptions that we have already compiled. Depending on the interests and skills of the intern, the descriptions of the area’s natural features could be used by the Commission to write short “nature note” articles and/or interpretive signs for public dissemination thru social media, email newsletters, and newspaper articles.
Responsibilities:
The intern would be responsible for:
- Examining the maps of Hillsborough conservation areas currently posted online at GRANITView and the Town of Hillsborough’s website.
- Becoming familiar with the conservation areas that have been identified by the Commission by reading the descriptions that we have developed.
- Working with Commissioners and faculty advisor, determine what mapping app or software is best suited to capture data that can be used for an online, interactive map.
- Accompanying Commission members on hikes of the trails, during which trail map data is captured, along with photos and notes about the unique natural features of each area.
- Enter the trail mapping data and conservation area descriptions onto a publicly-accessible map of Hillsborough, under the direction of the faculty advisor and Commission members.
Project Outcomes:
The desired outcomes of this project are both an online, interactive map, as well as a downloadable, printable map of Hillsborough’s conservation areas and hiking trails, with brief, informative descriptions of each of the areas. The priority areas have already been identified by the Commission, and short descriptions of the areas have been written. By hiking and mapping the trails, the intern will help us connect our existing descriptions to a map of Hillsborough that can be readily accessed by members of the public thru the Commission’s existing page on the Town website. As residents access the area’s trails and conservation areas, we hope to build support for the protection of Hillsborough’s natural areas, as well as support for the work of the Conservation Commission.
Requirements:
- Proficient with Office, specifically with Word and Excel.
- Strong GIS mapping skills.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities.
- Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance.
- Mature, polite, competent, and possess team-playing abilities.
- Effective listening skills and strong overall social and communication skills.
Hours, Pay and Duration:
This is a part-time (15 hours per week for 3 months) non-benefited position that reports to the Conservation Commission. The pay rate is $16 per hour to be paid in 2 installments, half midway through the project and half at the end of the project. The amount of hours per day and days worked are flexible as long as the total hours add up to 225.
The successful candidate will begin in Spring 2025.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume and references to Jim Riddle, Hillsborough Conservation Commission at jimriddle56@gmail.com.
Close Date: January 31, 2025