Preserve Steward, Whitehall Woods, Hopkinton

The Preserve Steward will perform general monitoring and basic trail maintenance at SVT's Whitehall Woods property in Hopkinton.

Responsibilities:

• Walk trails and look for and note problems with trail passage, vandalism, illegal uses, etc. (For properties without trails, walk roadside and property perimeter.)
• Remove trash and debris from parking area, trails, and roadside.
• Notify SVT of urgent problems and situations.
• Maintain trail signage. (Staff assistance provided as needed.)
• Perform basic trail maintenance such as cutting back brush and tree limbs.
• Monitor the condition of the postings in the kiosk and refresh when needed. (Staff assistance provided as needed.)
• Keep map brochures stocked in the kiosk map box.
• Monitor property boundaries near residences two times per year, during spring and fall. Check for encroachments.
• Submit visitation reports on the SVT website’s stewardship volunteer log.

Optional Responsibilities:

• Assist staff with field work, which may include property surveys, boundary signage, trail maintenance, inventories, etc.
• Observe wildlife and changes in plant communities.
• Document plant and animal sightings.

Volunteer Qualifications:

• Willing to “adopt” the property and gain a thorough knowledge and appreciation of it.
• Able to visit property at least monthly throughout the year.
• Physically able to walk extensively and perform some manual labor.
• Enjoyment of the outdoors and commitment to conservation.

Training/Orientation Provided:

An individual orientation and training session will be provided to introduce the volunteer to the property and its associated responsibilities.

Time commitment (hours, dates, duration):

Variable (2 – 8 hours/month). Can be flexible to your schedule.