Kawartha Land Trust Call for Volunteers
We are currently looking for new volunteers to help us fill these exciting roles:
- Trails and Public Relations Volunteer: Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island, Pigeon Lake
- Trail Maintenance and Monitoring: John Earle Chase Memorial Park, Gannon’s Narrows, Trent Lakes
Trails & Public Relations Volunteer, Big (Boyd/ Chiminis) Island
Description
Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island is a crowning achievement of land protection in the Kawarthas. Well-loved and used by cottagers, houseboating visitors and wildlife alike, this island is Kawartha Land Trust’s largest property and showcases all that we love about protecting land.
We’re seeking volunteers to help us keep an eye on the island, its trails, and wildlife through weekly monitoring and public engagement visits. The role will primarily focus on visiting the island on weekends, hiking the trails, and interacting with trail/island visitors to ensure our few, but necessary rules are being followed.
Primary Responsibilities
- Monitoring the trail system on the island for fallen/hazard trees, evidence of felling or improper use.
- Inspecting trails after damaging weather events to ensure safe conditions for trail users.
- Interacting with trail/island users such as boaters, hikers, and other visitors.
- Boating around the island to known sites where people may camp (camping is not permitted on Big (Boyd/Chiminis) Island) and assessing if they are in use/responding to use.
- Update KLT staff with any emerging threats or issues regarding the trails or island overall.
Qualifications and Experience
- Access to a watercraft for travel to and from the island.
- G2 license and access to a vehicle required.
- Experience or willingness to work outdoors for extended periods of time in potentially inclement conditions (heat, cold, biting insects, etc.).
- Experience working with the public and willingness to intervene when witnessing unpermitted activities (i.e., asking island visitors to dismantle/douse campfires as fires are not permitted on the island).
- Knowledge of local flora and fauna considered an asset.
- Chainsaw certification or equivalent experience considered an asset.
Attitude and Work Ethic
- Strong work ethic and determination to complete tasks.
- Ability to stay flexible as plans, routes and timelines change in response to conditions.
- Conservation-minded with a desire to see lands protected.
- Interested in nature connection and being out on the land for recreation.
- Desire to guide the actions of the public to promote safe and environmentally responsible use of the island.
Time Commitment
- 4-8 hours per month. Additional hours if desired.
Location
Orientation and/or Training
- Volunteers will receive training on how to assess ideal trail conditions and island management challenges and learn KLT’s overall management goals for the property.
Work Environment
- Site conditions will be variable and can include all, or a combination of the following.
- Differing terrain:
- Groomed trails and beautiful vistas.
- Hills and steep slopes.
- Wet or muddy areas.
- Uneven surfaces (forest floor, rocky terrain).
- Biotic factors:
- Biting insects (ticks, mosquitoes, blackflies, deer/horse flies).
- Irritating plants (poison ivy).
Opportunities and Perks of the Position
- Spending time outdoors in protected areas with access to beautiful views, high biodiversity areas and community of conservation-minded people.
- Opportunity to access parts of the island not usually traveled to.
- Opportunities to make a difference in your community and support a local charity.
- Volunteer recognition events such as BBQs, guided hikes, newsletter shout-outs, and more.
Supervision:
- Lead Property Steward.
- Senior KLT Volunteer.
- KLT Staff.
If interested, please email Hayden Wilson, Land Stewardship Coordinator, at hwilson@kawarthalandtrust.org.
Trail Maintenance and Property Monitoring: John Earle Chase Memorial Park, Gannon’s Narrows, Trent Lakes
Description
John Earle Chase Memorial Park is one of our most visited properties. Boasting beautiful views of Pigeon Lake and Buckhorn Lake, expansive meadows and deep forests, as well as wetlands and kilometers of shoreline, it’s no wonder that we see thousands of visitors flock to the trails every year. With all those people enjoying the trail system, it takes some maintenance to stay on top of possible emerging issues and Kawartha Land Trust is looking for a volunteer to help us do just that.
If you’re interested in connecting people with natural spaces, stewarding the land and enjoy keeping trails in top shape this is the role for you! The role will primarily focus on maintenance of the trail system at John Earle Chase Memorial Park using pull behind mowers, line trimmers, chainsaws and other manual tools.Primary Responsibilities
- Managing the trail system through mowing, cutting fallen trees, and garbage removal (the trails wind through forest and meadows).
- Inspecting trails after damaging weather events to ensure safe conditions for trail users.
- Update KLT staff with any emerging threats or possible issues surrounding the trails, or the park overall.
Qualifications and Experience
- Owns or has access to a ATV/UTV with a hitch for towing our pull-behind mower.
- G2 license and access to a vehicle necessary.
- Experience or willingness to work outdoors for extended periods of time in potentially inclement conditions (heat, cold, biting insects, etc.).
- Experience in landscaping and labor tasks such as raking, digging, pruning, moving brush, removing waste removing and installing fencing, hanging signage, clearing trails, and other manual labor tasks.
- Experience with power tools, gas-powered or electric landscaping equipment (chainsaws, brush hogs, mowers, line trimmers, etc.).
- Chainsaw certification or equivalent experience considered an asset.
Attitude and Work Ethic
- Strong work ethic and determination to complete tasks.
- Ability to stay flexible as plans, routes and timelines change in response to field conditions.
- A sense of humor and ability to appreciate the challenges of working outdoors.
- Conservation minded with a desire to see lands protected.
- Interested in nature connection and being out on the land for recreation.
Time Commitment
- 3-6 hours per month. More if desired.
Location
- John Earle Chase Memorial Park, Gannon’s Narrows, Trent Lakes
Orientation and/or Training
- Volunteer(s) will be trained on how to use the trail management equipment including:
- Pull-behind mower.
- Push mower.
- Chainsaws.
- Line trimmers.
- Monitoring forms.
- Volunteers will receive training on ideal trail conditions and property management challenges and learn about the overall management goals for the property.
Work Environment
- Site conditions will be variable and can include all, or a combination of the following:
- Differing terrain:
- Groomed trails and beautiful vistas.
- Hills and steep slopes.
- Wet or muddy areas.
- Uneven surfaces (forest floor, rocky terrain).
- Variable conditions:
- Extreme temperatures.
- Biotic factors:
- Biting insects (ticks, mosquitoes, blackflies, deer/horse flies, etc.).
- Irritating plants (poison ivy).
Opportunities and Perks of the Position
- Spending time outdoors in protected areas with access to beautiful views, high biodiversity areas and community of conservation-minded people.
- Opportunity to operate a motorized vehicle in typically restricted space.
- Opportunities to make a difference in your community and support a charity
- Volunteer recognition events such as BBQs, guided hikes, newsletter shout-outs, and more.
Supervision:
- Lead Oroperty Steward.
- Senior KLT Volunteer.
- KLT Staff.
If you’re interested in this role, please message Hayden Wilson, Land Stewardship Coordinator, at hwilson@kawarthalandtrust.org.
- Differing terrain:
- Differing terrain: