Stewardship Intern

About Winnakee Land Trust

Winnakee Land Trust is an accredited non-profit in Rhinebeck, NY, dedicated to conserving the Hudson Valley’s forests, farms, wetlands, watersheds, and wildlife habitats. Our Conservation Programs Team focuses on land acquisition, easement stewardship, and active land management to preserve the region’s natural beauty for future generations. We are seeking Stewardship Interns to assist in wildlife monitoring, trail stewardship, conservation easement monitoring, and other projects. This is an excellent opportunity for students or early-career professionals interested in conservation, land management, and field research.

Responsibilities

• Assist with turtle trapping and telemetry: Handle turtles and track them in and around wetlands.
• Perform on-the-ground inspection and documentation: Monitor properties protected by conservation easements to ensure compliance.
• Work on land management: Assist with trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and kiosk construction.
• Basic mapping, documentation, and file organization: Support stewardship projects with data collection and organization.
• Assist with wildlife and plant surveys as needed.
• Assist with occasional organizational events as needed.

Note: Wildlife monitoring in late spring may require occasional weekend and frequent evening work in early June.

Qualifications

Required:

• Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation for travel to project sites.
• Ability to work outdoors independently in variable weather conditions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Attention to detail and ability to work with sensitive information.

Preferred:

• Experience working in an outdoor setting.
• Familiarity with using a compass, GPS, and maps.
• Knowledge of native and invasive plants.

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk up to 3 miles over rugged terrain.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. over a half mile.
• Comfort working in sun, rain, heat, humidity, and other challenging weather conditions.
• Frequent walking, hiking, standing, bending, and kneeling.

Location & Reporting

Winnakee Land Trust Main Office: 7 Livingston Street, Rhinebeck, NY

Winnakee Land Trust Parks and Preserves, throughout Dutchess County, NY

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Winnakee Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local laws.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the conservation field.

Compensation & Schedule

Hourly Pay: $16.00 per hour

Work Hours: 32 hours/week for approximately 12 weeks (May–August).

Additional Information: This position requires local travel. Mileage reimbursement is provided for approved work-related travel when a personal vehicle is used, at the current IRS standard rate. Please note that housing is not provided.