Education Ambassador - City Nature Challenge (Fall River & New Bedford)

The City Nature Challenge began in 2016 as an 8-day citizen science competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco to document urban biodiversity. It grew into an international event by 2018 and received 3.3 million observations in 2025 identifying over 73,000 species. The CNC is now an annual event that occurs across a 4-day period at the end of April.

The Trustees is partnering with Mass Audubon, the Buttonwood Park Zoo, and other community organizations to host a variety of CNC events on Friday April 24th through Monday April 27th in some of the beautiful natural spaces of Fall River and New Bedford. This role will assist CNC participants with high quality data collection at the events alongside our staff members and partners.

Reports to:  Mobile Engagement staff and Outdoor Educators

Qualifications:

• Have reliable transportation to the location
• Have access to a smart phone with the Seek/iNaturalist app downloaded
• Dress in neat and appropriate clothes and footwear for varying weather conditions
• Ability to walk on a variety of surfaces: grass, pavement, uneven surfaces
• Have the desire to spread love, curiosity, and passion about nature and the outdoors!
• Minimum age: 16 years old

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Trustees team with guiding CNC participants using Seek/iNaturalist for the CNC
• Assist with light property clean-up, if needed
• Observance of Trustees code of conduct, safety protocols

Time Commitment:

• Training: Have 1 introductory phone call about the position, 1 on-boarding call with Trustees Volunteer Services, and attend 1 iNaturalist training session (offered in-person at Buttonwood Park Zoo, webinar, or recording)
• Event support: Sign up for at least 1 City Nature Challenge program slot (please note the different locations and various times before signing up for an event)

Safety considerations/hazards:

• Please wear sturdy footwear to mitigate falling hazards related to uneven or slippery surfaces
• Be aware of poison ivy, thorns, and bristles that may be present at the property, and always refer to a staff member on site for any questions or concerns.

Please contact lauren.keohan@thetrustees.org for inquiries regarding this position.

What's in our nature? Resiliency. Community. Discovery. Creativity.

Join The Trustees as a volunteer to help protect and take care of the Commonwealth’s greatest treasures and to make nature and the outdoors accessible for all, forever.

More about The Trustees

Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit, supported by members, friends and donors and our 116 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.

 Inclusive Spaces for All

We are committed to providing a welcoming environment for all. Together, alongside our partners and volunteers we are creating inclusive spaces of community for people of all backgrounds to enjoy and preserving these open spaces for everyone, forever. We are committed to inclusion across race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability, and experience.