EwA Invasive Species Field & GIS Volunteer

About Earthwise Aware (EwA)

Earthwise Aware is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization dedicated to ecological literacy, cocreated participatory science, and conservation ethics. EwA connects communities to nature through science and stewardship, helping people become informed guardians of the ecosystems they share.

Overview

EwA is seeking a GIS volunteer with ecology knowledge to support our GIS lead in mapping and analyzing invasive species and habitat data across local conservation areas. The volunteer will contribute to EwA's participatory science program by creating and maintaining GIS datasets, producing visualizations of habitat fragmentation and invasive species distribution, and ensuring the quality and integrity of ecological data to support evidence based conservation.

This is a hybrid field and GIS role. Regular participation in field surveys is an essential component of the position, as effective ecological mapping requires firsthand understanding of the species, habitats, survey methods, and environmental conditions represented in the data. Volunteers will work alongside field teams to document invasive species and habitat conditions, helping ensure that maps and analyses remain grounded in direct observation. Because field participation is required, applicants must be locally based and able to attend surveys within our study area.

What You’ll Do

• Participate regularly in invasive flora patrol sessions to better understand the context of the data.
• Curate, clean, and validate field-collected spatial data.
• Conduct spatial and temporal analyses using QGIS or similar GIS software.
• Develop base maps, presentation maps, and story maps that communicate results to partners and the public.
• Help maintain EwA’s GIS database integrity.
• Collaborate with EwA’s GIS data analyst and field teams.

What You Bring

• Curiosity, reliability, and a collaborative spirit.
• The desire to learn in the field as well.
• Familiarity with QGIS, ArcGIS, or comparable GIS tools.
• Strong data management skills and attention to detail.
• Insight into ecology and conservation data narratives, or environmental science.
• Experience with Excel or Google Sheets.
• Knowledge of R, Python, SQL, or statistics is a plus.

Time Commitment

A few hours per week on a flexible schedule. Consistency is encouraged to support ongoing projects.

Project Context

You will contribute directly to the EwA Invasive Flora Patrol (IFP) project both in the field and with data analysis. The IFP documents and analyzes invasive plant distributions across sites such as the Middlesex Fells Reservation. These visualizations help identify invasive species hotspots, guide mitigation priorities, and strengthen collaborations with partners, including the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

Impact

Your contributions will directly support data-driven conservation and ecological restoration. You will help produce maps and analyses that empower local communities and agencies to act effectively against invasive species threats. Volunteers who demonstrate strong commitment and make meaningful contributions to our work are acknowledged as co-authors in EwA publications and reports.

How to Get Involved

To learn more about our work, explore our Biodiversity and Climate Participatory Science Story Map. If you feel that EwA’s mission aligns with your ecological goals, we invite you to apply to this listing. Learn more about EwA, visit www.earthwiseaware.org