Seasonal Naturalist Positions at Starved Rock State Park - OPEN NOW FOR APPLICATIONS THROUGH APRIL 3

 

Do you thrive in a collaborative environment? Are you passionate about the great outdoors and eager to share your love for nature through educational programs, guided hikes, and engaging activities? If you hold a degree in park and recreation, education, ecology, or a similar field, we invite you to apply for our seasonal Conservation Education Representative positions by April 3! This is a unique opportunity to work at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks for a six-month period, from May to November. Be sure to review the position description and applicant requirements thoroughly.

 

Job Requisition ID: 53883 
Closing Date: 04/03/2026
​Agency: Department of Natural Resources
Class Title: CONSERVATION EDUCATION REP (09300) 
Skill Option: None 
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $4,586 monthly; Full Salary Range $4,586-$6,228 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: LaSalle
Number of Vacancies: 3
Bargaining Unit Code: RC062 Technical Employees, AFSCME
Merit Comp Code: N/A

 

NOTE: THIS POSITION IS A TEMPORARY SEASONAL POSITION THAT WILL NOT EXCEED SIX MONTHS

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

 

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Posting Identification Number  12-32-53883 

 

For any questions regarding the position or application process, please reach out to Lisa Sons, Natural Resources Coordinator at Starved Rock State Park, available Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM at lisa.sons@illinois.gov.

Scholarship Opportunity: Air & Waste Management Association Lake Michigan States Section

 

AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT

A   S    S    O    C    I    A    T    I O   N

u

Lake Michigan States Section

 

 

March 24, 2026

 

 

Dear Student:

 

Thank you for your interest in the Air & Waste Management Association-Lake Michigan States Section’s (A&WMA-LMSS) Rothblatt Scholarship Program.

 

To ensure adequate human resources and to improve knowledge and skills in the fields of air and waste management, the Association provides financial support to qualifying graduate students.

 

The Lake Michigan States Section will be awarding a scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year valued at $1,500.00 to a student attending an institution of higher learning within the A&WMA-LMSS region.

 

We look forward to receiving your application. If you have any questions about the program, contact the Air & Waste Management Association - Lake Michigan States Section’s Rothblatt Scholarship Committee Chair, Ms. Jennifer Bogs at 630-802-2571 or jennifer.white.bogs@gmail.com.

 

Very truly yours,

                                                       

Sarah Langeliers

Chair 2026

Air & Waste Management Association - Lake Michigan States Section Enclosures

 

 

 

 

Air & Waste Management Association Lake Michigan States Section

 

 

Stephen H. Rothblatt Scholarship

 

 

 

The Air & Waste Management Association- Lake Michigan States Section has established a scholarship for graduate students studying in the environmental field in memory of a long-time member and supporter, Stephen H. Rothblatt.

 

Mr. Rothblatt was the Director, Air and Radiation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. His credentials included:

 

·       Advisor to the Governments of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and India related to air quality management programs.

 

·       Advisor to the Republic of Korea, leading a team of air quality experts twice to Seoul where they developed a strategy to deal with the reduced visibility/fine particulate problem of the Seoul-Inchon metropolitan area.

 

·       Chairman of the Air & Waste Management Association - Lake Michigan States Section, 1987-1988.

 

·       In 1989, he was detailed to U.S. EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation in Washington, DC to work with the Headquarters’ team developing what became the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act.

 

·       Mr. Rothblatt earned his Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and the Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University’s College of Law.

 

 Application Information

 

Eligibility: Individuals must be full or part-time graduate student, attending an institution of higher learning located within the service region of the A&WMA-LMSS, pursuing a course of study and/or research at the start of the 2026/2027 academic year leading to careers in environment related studies and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The Scholarship is only a one-year award. To qualify for a second year, individuals must reapply.

 

Application: Application materials must be electronically submitted by April 15th, 2026 and sent to Ms. Jennifer Bogs, Air & Waste Management Association - Lake Michigan States at the email shown below. Only complete application packets received on or before the April 15th deadline, including all of the sections described below, will be considered. 

 

Section 1         Application Cover Sheet

 

Section 2         Letter of Recommendation from a professor, academic advisor or department chair.

 

Section 3          A paper reflecting academic and professional interests and objectives (500 – 600 words).

 

Section 4         Payment of $20 application fee. The fee covers the scholarship application fee and also includes a one-year membership to the LM-A&WMA as a local student associate member. This fee can be paid on our website at https://lmawma.org/Membership_Information; select the “Become a Section Only Associate Member” button at the bottom of the page.

 

Selection Process: Awards will be made on the basis of academic record, plan of study, career goals, recommendations, and extracurricular activities without consideration of sex, race, national origin, financial need, age or physical disability. The Scholarship Awards Committee reviews all applications received and its decision is final. (Any attempt to improperly influence members of the Scholarship Awards Committee will automatically result in disqualification.) Announcement of the scholarship awards will be made no later than May 4, 2026.

 

Submission Instructions:

Submit the application package electronically in a pdf or Microsoft Word file format to:

Ms. Jennifer Bogs

Air & Waste Management Association - Lake Michigan States Section

jennifer.white.bogs@gmail.com

 

Please include in subject line “Scholarship Program, A&WMA – LMSS”

 

Check the “return receipt” option on your email submission if you would like to receive confirmation that your application was received.

 

APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY April 15, 2026

 

Miles Kenney-Lazar

School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne.

“Socializing Land: Plantations, Dispossession and Resistance in Laos”

Friday, Mar. 27, noon.

Peters Campus Life Building 100 and online. Registration required for online attendance: https://niu-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/rvgXxIARR5ecQ84g8XJBuw

Help Us Launch the Nature Passport — Please Share This Opportunity

Independent Contractor: Nature Passport

Project Coordinator

Organization: Kish Kids Outside

Compensation: $1,000+ stipend (paid in installments tied to deliverables)

Location: Fully Remote

Reports To: Kish Kids Outside Board of Directors

Inquires and Applicants: Contact kishkidsoutside@gmail.com

Position Overview

Kish Kids Outside is seeking a self-motivated, creative, and organized independent contractor to help develop the first phase of our Nature Passport Program — an interactive, app-based experience designed to encourage families to explore parks and outdoor spaces throughout DeKalb County.

An independent contractor is self-employed and not employed by Kish Kids Outside and will not receive employee benefits. They have control over how the work is completed, using their own devices, setting their own hours, and paying their own taxes.

This position will build the program from concept to launch, working with community partners to design engaging, play-based activities at local parks and preserves. The majority of development work will take place between now and May 2026, with opportunities to stay on in a reduced operational and marketing role after launch. This is an ideal opportunity for a student, recent graduate, educator, or community member who loves local parks and wants to help families get outside more.

Here are examples of the type of programs we are wanting to model for DeKalb County.

McHenry County Forest Preserve Find Your Wild

Winnebago Forest Preserve Preserve Passport

Will County Forest Preserve Trailblazer

Key Responsibilities

Program Development

● Work with Kish Kids Outside partner organizations to develop engaging activities at multiple

sites (such as the park districts and forest preserves)

● Create short, scavenger-hunt style missions and seasonal nature prompts using the KKO Bill of

Rights for guidance

● Develop play-based learning activities that encourage exploration and connection

● Draft clear instructions and user guidance so the program runs smoothly and as independently

as possible

● Gather site information and ensure clarity to reduce confusion for users

● Pilot test activities and gather feedback

● Prepare and upload content into the Goosechase app platform working with the Goosechase

support team

Program Planning & Logistics

● Map out how the full program will operate

● Develop structure, flow, and completion process

● Ensure all materials are organized and ready for launch

Compensation

● Stipend of at least $1,000

● Paid in installments tied to defined deliverables (example: 25% at kickoff, 25% at midpoint, 25%

at content completion, 25% at launch readiness)

Qualifications

Required:

● Strong organizational and communication skills

● Ability to work independently and manage deadlines

● Passion for outdoor exploration and community engagement

Preferred (but not required):

● Background in environmental education or youth engagement

● Experience working with children or families

● Interest in curriculum design or play-based learning

● Marketing or nonprofit partnership experience

Ideal Candidate

Someone who:

● Loves local parks and outdoor spaces

● Is excited to explore them more deeply

● Wants to help make nature more accessible for families

● Enjoys creative thinking and building something from the ground up

Marine Biology Field Research Program – Enrollment Closes March 31 (Limited Spots Remaining)

 Unlike traditional classroom-based programs, students spend their days on the water working directly with marine animals, learning how to safely catch, measure, tag, and release sharks and rays while collecting real scientific data used in ongoing research.

This experience provides students with the kind of hands-on field skills and practical experience that graduate schools, research programs, and marine science employers value highly.

Program Highlights

• Work directly with sharks and rays in their natural habitat

• Learn professional marine field research techniques

• Gain hands-on experience collecting and recording scientific data

• Work alongside experienced marine researchers and instructors

• Ideal for students interested in marine biology, conservation, and wildlife research careers

Important Enrollment Update

Enrollment for Summer 2026 closes March 31, and several weeks are already nearing capacity.

Current availability is limited for the following weeks:

• Week 4 – limited spots remaining

• Week 5 – limited spots remaining

• Week 6 – limited spots remaining

• Week 8 – limited spots remaining

Students interested in participating are encouraged to apply soon before the remaining spots are filled.

Program Information

Students can learn more or request information here:

www.coastalmera.com