Attention all students! If you’re an outdoorsy adventurer with a heart for conservation, the Alliance for Watershed Education needs YOU for their Summer Fellowship program.
The D&R Greenway Land Trust and Tuplehaking Nature Center seek a Delaware River Watershed Fellow. As a fellow, you will have the opportunity to engage the community, emphasize the importance of watershed stewardship, and help to reach new audiences. No prior experience or knowledge in watershed issues is necessary – just a passion for keeping the Delaware River thriving!
In order to qualify, candidates must:
- Be 18 years of age by the June start date
- Have availability Monday – Friday and occasional weekends
- People-oriented and willing to greet and start a conversation with strangers
- Comfortability using computer software such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Spanish-speaking candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted from now until April 28th, 2023, or until the position has been filled. If you are interested in joining the program, please send a letter explaining why you are interested in this Fellowship position and how your skills will benefit the job to Nancy Faherty at nfaherty@drgreenway.org. The Fellowship will kick off on June 5th and will conclude on August 25th. Compensation is $15.50 per hour, and candidates will serve 35 hours per week.
As a Fellow, your time will be split between the Tulpehaking Nature Center and the D&R Greenway Land Trust. At the Tulpehaking Center, you will have the opportunity to assist with conservation work and community outreach. You will also have the chance to lead nature education programs such as guided walks and family activities. Meanwhile, at the D&R Greenway Land Trust, Fellows will work in the Discovery Center at Point Breeze, assist as a docent, conduct research for exhibits, and lend a hand in the Historic Garden. Fellows will also assist with an educational kayak program and outreach projects in Bordentown, NJ.
The Fellowship program will conclude with a Capstone Project, a collaborative effort with 30+ other Fellows across 23 environmental centers in the Delaware River Watershed. Each Fellow will have the opportunity to develop and conduct a Capstone project over the course of their 12 weeks with the program. Results from these projects will then be presented at the end-of-season Watershed Fellowship Summit.
Trenton Daily had the opportunity to speak with Nancy Faherty, Director of Donor & Community Engagement at the D&R Greenway Land Trust, regarding what makes this program so special. In discussing what sets this program apart, Faherty noted “What is so unique about this opportunity is the Fellow will become part of a regional initiative of 23 partnering environmental education centers like the Tulpehaking Nature Center on Westcott Avenue, not far from downtown Trenton. This work is funded and supported by the William Penn Foundation to enhance its success with projects like the Circuit Trail, also well-known in the Trenton area.”
Nancy went on to state, “Our goal is to find a passionate young person who lives along the Delaware River in a city like Trenton, Bordentown, or Lambertville, and to provide that person with a meaningful space to engage with others to understand better why the protection of our river’s water is vital to the region. Through joint programming like the annual River Days events, and coverage from publications like TrentonDaily, the Alliance for Watershed Education (AWE) increases its collective impact.”
Organized in 2016, the Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River is a regional initiative of twenty-three partnering environmental education centers, funded and supported by the William Penn Foundation. Each of these centers is located along the Circuit Trail or a major connecting trail, and on waterways throughout the Delaware River Watershed in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This position is made possible through the support of the William Penn Foundation.
This Fellowship is a wonderful opportunity to get outside this summer, engage in hands-on learning, and educate our community regarding the importance of our natural resources. Additional information regarding the Delaware River Watershed Fellowship can be accessed here: Del. Riv. Fellowship. Don’t miss the chance to spend your summer days along the Delaware, apply today! 
