Internship with Mason County Health Department

Environmental studies students are invited to consider interning with the Mason County Health Department in Havana, Illinois this summer. This is a temporary, paid internship with primary duties related to vector control measures. Please see attachment for more information. Interested applicants should contact Teschlyn Woods with any questions and may submit resumes via email to twoods@mchd.onmicrosoft.com or by mail. Resumes will be considered until May 7, 2014.

Teschlyn Woods, BHS

Director of Environmental Health

Mason County Health Department

1002 E. Laurel Ave.

Havana, IL 62644

(309) 543-2201 ext. 240

_____________________

Mason County Health Department 

Environmental Health Intern

Basic Function/Position Objective:  Protect the Public’s Health.  Intern will gain practical experience in the field of public health vector surveillance and control by providing a variety of office and field work to support the vector control program, and will prepare reports related to activities. 

Nature of Work:

• 75% of work is completed in the field, often outdoors and often in inclement weather (wind, rain, sun, extreme heat).  Work requires bending, pushing, pulling, twisting and lifting up to 50 pounds.  
• 15% of work is report preparations in the office—computer skills are essential. 
• 10% of work is responding to complaints and potentially upset public. 
• Weekend, evening and on call work is required.  A considerable amount of time is spent driving to location in employee’s personal vehicle.

Pay Status:  Temporary Intern Hourly, Non-Exempt

Organizational Relationship:

A.        Immediate Supervisor-Responsible to the EH Director

B.        Staff- Does not supervise but works proactively with all Health Department personnel to assure successful performance of assigned job duties and responsibilities.

Essential Functions:

1. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with the public, contractors, local government officials, IDPH program personnel and others as needed to complete work and maintain the highest level of communication
2. Compliance with Health Department, county and program policies, procedures, laws, codes, ordinances and expectations
3. Conducts inspections of mosquito production sites and other vector complaints
4. Participates in West Nile Virus surveillance and risk reduction activities
5. Collects, evaluates and packages dead birds for WNV testing
6. Attends training to apply mosquito control products
7. Works with EPA to organize a used tire collection drop-off
8. Educates and informs public about personal protection against WNV
9. Accurately interprets maps
10. Maintains detailed accurate records on inspections, investigations and correspondence
11. Actively participates in Emergency Preparedness efforts and responds during non-office hours as needed
12. All other duties as assigned by Supervisors

Qualifications:

1. Education Training, and Experience
1. 2 years of college level education
2. Major or Minor in Environmental Health related degree 

2. Knowledge skills and abilities:

1. Verbal communication skills are required to effectively build relationships and communicate instructions/respond to question from the public and all partners.
2. Strong interpersonal skills to listen and respond to concerns, inquiries and complaints from clients, regulatory agencies and/or members of the community
3. General Office Skills to write letters, file, collate, etc.
4. Microsoft Office proficiency

Internship with Investours

"The Greatest Adventure: A Survivor's Guide to a Melting Century", by Doug Peacock

Severson Dells Nature Center presents

"The Greatest Adventure: A Survivor's Guide to a Melting Century", by Doug Peacock

Sunday, April 27, 2:00 p.m.

At University of Illinois College of Medicine

$5.00 adults, students free

Sponsored in part by Headwaters of Hall Creek and Pheasants Forever

Winnebago County Chapter

In Doug Peacock's presentation he will discuss his thrilling new narrative,

In the Shadow of the Sabertooth. The book is a deeply personal odyssey that

follows Peacock from archeological digs in Michigan and Montana, to the

tiger haunted forests of Siberia, along the wild coast of the Pacific

Northwest, into the rugged arroyos of Mexico and the American Southwest. He

will also talk about his relationship with Edward Abbey and his experiences

studying grizzly bears. It promises to be one of those nights you will long

remember. Call to register: 1-815-335-2915.

DeKalb Forest Preserve District Internship

2014 Intern Opportunity in Natural Resources Management

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

DeKalb County Illinois

The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District carries out a broad range of ecological restoration and maintenance activities intended to address our core mission: acquire lands to “preserve, protect and restore the flora, fauna and natural beauties, as near as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens”. The Forest Preserve District manages 15 preserves with woodlands, prairies, wetlands and waterways.

The Intern can expect to gain experience in areas such as ecological assessment, field botany, invasive species control and others. This position will be part-time, 24 hours per week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (with occasional weekends) from mid-May to mid-August. The wage rate is $10.00 per hour.

Primary duties and activities:
1. Invasive species control, including spraying (back-pack or vehicle mounted) or wicking herbicides, weed-eater operation, mowing, and hand-pulling. Invasive species control is a frequent activity during much of the summer. Cutting, hauling and burning brush may occur depending on seasonal conditions.
2. Native plant community restoration and reconstruction, including planting, watering, weeding, barrier construction and predation control.
3. Seed collection, and supervising groups of volunteers during seed collection activities.
4. Assist staff with inventory and assessment activities including plant and animal identification, data collection, mapping and report preparation.
5. Assist with monitoring and inventory of rare or endangered species. This may include the use of telemetry and GIS equipment, and frequent wading in steams, marshes or ponds.
6. Maintain a daily log, including activities and, as directed by the supervisor, plant lists. The log will be reviewed periodically by the Natural Resources Manager.
7. Other tasks. Occasionally, interns may be assigned to assist staff with tasks such as mowing, fence removal or construction, grounds maintenance or various other maintenance tasks.

Requirements:
1. College student or recent graduate with education or background in biological sciences, forestry, ecology, botany, horticulture, environmental sciences or similar disciplines.
2. Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks on a routine basis, while tolerating exposure to heat, humidity, insects, poison plants, and allergens. In other words, working outdoors in native plant communities in Northern Illinois during the summer, all day long.
3. Obtain an Illinois Pesticide Operator’s License through the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture. This must be obtained within two weeks of hire, preferably before.
4. Valid Driver’s license.
5. Ability to work well with a team, as well as independently without direct supervision.

Preferred skills:
1. A working knowledge of flora and fauna of northern Illinois or a strong interest in learning them.
2. Basic digital-age skills as applicable to natural resource management, including GPS & GIS mapping techniques, Microsoft Office Suite.
3. Experience with mechanized equipment: riding mowers, brush cutters, weed eaters, chain saws, Bobcat, tractor.

Applicants should submit a resume and two letters of reference by April 19, 2014 to:
Terry Hannan, Superintendent
DeKalb County Forest Preserve District
200 N. Main Street
Sycamore IL 60178
Or thannan@dekalbcounty.org
(815) 895-7191

Franklin Creek Preservation Committee

HI everyone. I work with the Franklin Creek Preservation Committee & we're seeking volunteers. The group works with the IDNR at Franklin Creek State Natural Area. It is a beautiful park with much to offer. The Committee has acquired 120 acres adjacent to the park to save it from development, and we are looking to improve those lands for public enjoyment. We need help with invasives, trail clean up, and much more. Please contact me if you're interested.

Sincerely,

Kristina Hallam

K.Hallam1226@gmail.com
630-202-4797"

NIU Undergraduate: Environmental Geosciences/Biology

URAP 2014

Here is your chance to gain experience in cutting edge research!

Proposals for the 2014-2015 Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) are now listed online at

http://www.niu.edu/engagedlearning/research/urap.shtml

Applications are due to the Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning by April 25.  All registered juniors and seniors with a GPA of at least 3.0 are encouraged to apply for URAPs in their field of interest.

Elmhurst Garden Club Scholarship

Elmhurst Garden Club
College Scholarship Application Information

The Mildred Hartney Scholarship is open to students enrolled in Horticulture and/or Environmental Studies or a related science area such as biology or botany.

Our Goal:
To encourage the advancement and stimulate an interest in horticulture through education; to provide an outlet for creative expression; to further education in horticulture, environmental studies, conservation and landscape design through scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a junior or senior
• Must have a declared major in horticulture, biology/botany, and/or environmental studies.
• Must submit a complete official academic transcript
• Must have a minimum grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
• Must submit a photo suitable for publication (if awarded scholarship).
• Must present a short program on your major at a meeting of the Elmhurst Garden Club (if awarded scholarship).

Application Procedures:

• The deadline for the application and all required documentation is due on May 1 to Jean Baldikoski, Scholarship Chair, Elmhurst Garden Club, 440 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126.
•  Must submit two letters of recommendation: one from the majoring department and one from a non-related individual.
•  Must submit a cover letter discussing commitment to chosen career, extra-curricular activities, community service and work-related experiences.
•  Must submit a letter of acceptance (if awarded scholarship).

 Eligibility Requirements

• You must meet all eligibility criteria.
• All parts of the application must be typed or legible in order to be considered.
•  All attachments must contain your full name.
•  Scholarship funding awarded is granted only for tuition at the college/university designated on application during year applied for.

Application Checklist:
_____ Cover Letter describing your interest in horticulture, Environmental Studies and/or a related science area and providing specific information/evidence of your involvement in these areas.

 _____ Transcript from the University/College
_____  Scholarship Application
_____  Letters of Recommendation

_____  Materials sent to Jean Baldikoski, Scholarship Chair, Elmhurst Garden Club, 440 S. Prospect

             Avenue, Elmhurst IL 60126             

_____  Postmarked by May 1   

   

Elmhurst Garden Club
College Scholarship Application 2012-2013

Deadline May 1, 2014 -  Use additional sheets if needed.

Name_____________________________________________ Date_______________________

Home Address_________________________________________________________________

City and Zip_____________________________Phone Number__________________________

E-mail address___________________________Alternate Phone Number_________________

Date of Birth_______________________

University/College______________________________________________________________

Grade Pt. Avg. to-date:_______ Email_______________________________________________

Social Security Number__________________________________________________________

School Address________________________________________________________________

Names of Parents/Guardians and Occupations:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

List all the classes you have taken in Environmental Studies and/or other science related subjects ____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

List organized activities or clubs in which you have participated:_________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Describe your work or volunteer-related activities during the past three years:__________

______________________________________________________________________________

How do you plan to apply your education after you graduate?

Eating Earth: An Earth Day Lecture

DeKalb--On Sunday, April 13, at 5:00 p.m., Dr. Lisa Kemmerer will present an Earth Day lecture entitled: “Eating Earth.” The lecture will take place in Wirtz Auditorium on NIU’s main campus in DeKalb. In her lecture, Professor Kemmerer will discuss how everyday decisions and actions can have a dramatic positive impact on the environment and on the animals with whom we share the planet.

Dr. Kemmerer is a philosophy professor at Montana State University Billings. She is a philosopher-activist who has been working on behalf of the environment, nonhuman animals, and disempowered humans for more than thirty years. A graduate of Reed College, Harvard University, and Glasgow University (Scotland), she is the author of half a dozen books, including Animals and World Religions and Sister Species: Women, Animals, and Social Justice. Her new book titled Eating Earth will be out within a year (Oxford University Press). You can learn more about her work at lisakemmerer.com .

"Professor Kemmerer is a wonderful speaker and an excellent ethicist. Her lectures are thoughtful, provocative, and insightful and are readily accessible in terms of their content,” said Mylan Engel Jr., Professor of Philosophy at NIU. “Her lectures are also extremely timely in light of our increasing awareness of anthropogenic climate change and other human impacts on animals and the environment. The NIU community is fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and esteemed lecturer come to NIU," Engel said.

Dr. Kemmerer’s lecture is sponsored by NIU's Vegetarian Education Group, a non-profit student organization dedicated to educating the NIU community and surrounding area about the multi-dimensional benefits (human health, environmental preservation, animal welfare, and personal enrichment) of plant-based nutrition.

Professor Kemmerer’s lecture is FREE and open to the public. For more information, send email to:  mylan-engel@niu.edu.

Ideas Lab: A new NSF model for facilitating collaborative dialog

Summer Courses in Geography

There are a number of online summer course opportunities in the Department of Geography.  The following courses are either required or electives in ENVS, depending on degree path:

GEOG 253 - Environment and Society (Gen-ed; 3) http://catalog.niu.edu/preview_course.php?catoid=16&coid=43235&print
GEOG 303 - Water Resources and the Environment (3) http://catalog.niu.edu/preview_course.php?catoid=16&coid=43239&print
GEOG 306 - Severe and Hazardous Weather (3) http://catalog.niu.edu/preview_course.php?catoid=16&coid=43241&print

PPT-ready images advertising 303 and 306 are available here:
http://chubasco.niu.edu/filebox/temp/GEOG303.PNG
http://chubasco.niu.edu/filebox/temp/GEOG306.PNG

These three courses will also be available either online or on-campus this fall.

There are also online offerings in GIS, including: GEOG 256 (Maps and Mapping), GEOG 359 (Intro to GIS), and GEOG 459 (GIS).  In addition, Gen-ed GEOG 101 (Physical Geography) is offered online.

Finally, for a truly unique opportunity ... Walker Ashley leads a "storm chasing" field experiential learning course through COD every May.  He still has a few seats available on my 10-day trip (Trip 2) to the Great Plains if anyone is interested. This course can transfer to NIU as MET 291 - Field Experience in Meteorology.  However, anyone can participate -- they often have a very diverse set of folks, from 18-yr old freshmen to faculty retirees. Details (including a FAQ) regarding this opportunity are available at COD: http://weather.cod.edu/chasing/trips.html

USDA Summer Internship

Last Lecture

On April 22, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society will be hosting their second Last Lecture Series event for the year and Dr. John McKearn will be coming to campus to speak. His talk will be held in the Duke Ellington Ballroom at 7:00pm on the night of April 22, 2014. It would be fabulous if you could market this to students, faculty, staff, or others whom you contact within the area in whatever way possible. The event is open to the public and is meant to inspire us all!

Intern Opportunity in Natural Resources Management

2014 Intern Opportunity in Natural Resources Management

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

DeKalb County Illinois

The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District carries out a broad range of ecological restoration and maintenance activities intended to address our core mission: acquire lands to “preserve, protect and restore the flora, fauna and natural beauties, as near as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens”.  The Forest Preserve District manages 15 preserves with woodlands, prairies, wetlands and waterways.

The Intern can expect to gain experience in areas such as ecological assessment, field botany, invasive species control and others.  This position will be part-time, 24 hours per week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (with occasional weekends) from mid-May to mid-August.  The wage rate is $10.00 per hour.

Primary duties and activities:

1.       Invasive species control, including spraying (back-pack or vehicle mounted) or wicking herbicides, weed-eater operation, mowing, and hand-pulling.  Invasive species control is a frequent activity during much of the summer.  Cutting, hauling and burning brush may occur depending on seasonal conditions.

2.       Native plant community restoration and reconstruction, including planting, watering, weeding, barrier construction and predation control.

3.       Seed collection, and supervising groups of volunteers during seed collection activities.

4.       Assist staff with inventory and assessment activities including plant and animal identification, data collection, mapping and report preparation.

5.       Assist with monitoring and inventory of rare or endangered species.  This may include the use of telemetry and GIS equipment, and frequent wading in steams, marshes or ponds.

6.       Maintain a daily log, including activities and, as directed by the supervisor, plant lists.  The log will be reviewed periodically by the Natural Resources Manager.

7.       Other tasks.  Occasionally, interns may be assigned to assist staff with tasks such as mowing, fence removal or construction, grounds maintenance or various other maintenance tasks. 

Requirements:

1.        College student or recent graduate with education or background in biological sciences, forestry, ecology, botany, horticulture, environmental sciences or similar disciplines.

2.       Ability to carry out physically demanding tasks on a routine basis, while tolerating exposure to heat, humidity, insects, poison plants, and allergens.  In other words, working outdoors in native plant communities in Northern Illinois during the summer, all day long.

3.       Obtain an Illinois Pesticide Operator’s License through the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture.  This must be obtained within two weeks of hire, preferably before.

4.       Valid Driver’s license.

5.       Ability to work well with a team, as well as independently without direct supervision.

Preferred skills:

1.       A working knowledge of flora and fauna of northern Illinois or a strong interest in learning them.

2.       Basic digital-age skills as applicable to natural resource management, including GPS & GIS mapping techniques, Microsoft Office Suite.

3.        Experience with mechanized equipment: riding mowers, brush cutters, weed eaters, chain saws, Bobcat, tractor.

Applicants should submit a resume and two letters of reference by April 19, 2014 to:

                Terry Hannan, Superintendent

       DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

                200 N. Main Street

                Sycamore IL 60178

                Or thannan@dekalbcounty.org

                (815) 895-7191

Live Healthy DeKalb Internship