Sarah Ogletree Hired as the Next Director of the Creation Care Alliance

The Creation Care Alliance is pleased to announce that Sarah Ogletree will be our next director.

Sarah comes to us from our close partner, NC Interfaith Power and Light, where she has been working for the last three years, serving most recently as a program coordinator gaining experience in the kind of work that she will be doing to expand the work and reach of the Creation Care Alliance – building relationships with faith communities, organizing webinars and events, conducting fundraising, managing communications, recruiting volunteers, and involving youth.

Sarah holds a Masters of Divinity from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, where she focused her studies on faith and ecology. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University. Since then, Sarah has worked at the intersection of faith, ecology, and Creation Care at United Methodist Churches in Cullowhee and Winston-Salem, Parkway United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, First Baptist Church in Sylva, and here with the Creation Care Alliance back in 2017. Her dedication to seeking justice for both people and planet shines through in all aspects of her life, and she has consistently been recognized with awards for her leadership, dedication and excellence. Notably, she was the recipient of the national 2018 Emerging Earth Care Leader Award from Presbyterians for Earth Care and was named a 2019 Re:Generate Fellow.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys planting flowers, singing, and playing the fiddle with her husband, William. She is a fan of snuggling up on the couch to read southern Appalachian novels and also loves exploring with her small but mighty dog, Bo. Sarah added “I am so thrilled to be joining the Creation Care Alliance team. The opportunity to do the work of faith-based ecological justice in the region that has made me who I am is an immense blessing. I look forward to getting to know each of the wonderful community members who, through the prayers of their hearts and hands, have made CCA what it is today.”

MountainTrue Co-Director Bob Wagner shared that “Sarah brings wisdom of growing up in Western North Carolina, training and experience that includes a divinity degree and work with partner agencies, a passion for creation care, and charisma that draws people into caring about our environment. This work is her life’s calling and we are thrilled to welcome her to our staff.”

MountainTrue Engagement Competition: Are you the MountainTruEST?

We are excited to announce a friendly summertime competition to encourage you, our supporters, to consider new ways of connecting with our work. Are you a regular Swim Guide volunteer? Get into the advocacy game by sending a message to the forest service! Or do you follow our Raleigh Report and all things policy? Take a trip outside with us and discover a new species of wildlife on either a river snorkel or a guided hike! Whatever your go-to activity is with MountainTrue, we invite you to explore a new aspect of our work and try out something different this summer.

We’ll keep track of your event attendance, your action alert responses, and any other way you support our efforts. Then, each month in our e-newsletters from July through September we will recognize the most engaged supporters in each region. To get started today, visit our No Man’s Land Action Center, where you can take action to push for policy-based solutions to environmental degradation. You can also check out our E vents Calendar to see what’s coming up in either your area – or a new part of our mountains that you haven’t explored before!

If you have questions about specific opportunities for your region, contact your local staff for details:

High Country: Andy Hill, andy@mountaintrue.org

Southern Region: Gray Jernigan, gray@mountaintrue.org

Western Region: Callie Moore, callie@mountaintrue.org

Central Region: Susan Bean, susan@mountaintrue.org

What we’re up to: Fixing bad timber sales, bioblitzing, and competing to be the MountainTruest

June E-Vistas Newsletter

Who is the MountainTruest? Summer 2021 Engagement Competition

We’re kicking off a friendly competition this summer to recognize environmental champions across our region. You can participate by doing things like volunteering, responding to calls to action, and attending events — all ways you can help MountainTrue fulfill our mission! Click here to learn more.

Celebrate Black Emancipation this Juneteenth

This Saturday is Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery. To help celebrate the end of American slavery, MountainTrue staff offer up some of our favorite movies, books and podcasts that tackle the issues of race, empowerment and equity. Read our picks.

Protect Our Forests. Fix the Crossover Project

The US Forest Service is proposing a new timber sale called the Crossover Project, which would log 1,500 acres in the Snowbird Mountains in Nantahala National Forest. The proposal includes logging of backcountry and old-growth forests and would impact drinking water supply watersheds and rare species.

Act now to tell the Forest Service to protect 100 acres of ancient forests from logging, keep the Ash Cove Backcountry Area wild, and scale back road building in the steep slopes of the Snowbird Mountains. Read more and take action.

Central Regional News

For Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties

Michael Franti Returns to Play the French Broad Riverkeeper Concert

Michael Franti, the globally recognized musician, humanitarian, activist and award-winning filmmaker, returns to the Salvage Station on August 29 for a high-energy night of inspiring music in support of the work of MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper. Tickets are on pre-sale Thursday, June 17 at 10 a.m. with the purchase code FRANTILOVE. General ticket sales go live on Friday at 10 a.m..

Help Make Solar Available to More of Your Neighbors through Solarize!

As a core member of the Solarize Asheville-Buncombe coalition, MountainTrue is fundraising to make solar energy accessible to more people in our community. That’s why, in addition to the bulk purchasing discount that all Solarize participants receive, we’re crowdfunding to make solar grant funds go even further and help moderate and lower-income neighbors afford solar through our Neighbor-To-Neighbor program. In the process, we’re building community and moving Buncombe County closer to reaching our 100% renewable energy goal. Learn more about Solarize’s Neighbor-To-Neighbor solar funding program and donate here!

Become an Energy-Efficiency Volunteer and Help Weatherize 1000 Homes for Asheville Housing Authority!

Looking for a fun, hands-on volunteer opportunity to lower the energy cost burden of limited-income families AND fight climate change at the same time? Join Energy Savers Network as a volunteer for their Asheville Housing Authority Project. The goal is to retrofit 1,000 homes over the next year through simple tasks like changing light bulbs, caulking air leaks, and installing low-flow water fixtures. Read more at energysaversnetwork.org/1000-homes or sign up for a three-hour shift. Recurring volunteers and volunteer groups are welcome!

Stop The Bluffs. Come Out to the Hearing on June 24!

Volunteers have worked hard for six months to hold off The Bluffs. Now we need your help! Help fight a planned mega-development that would be built on 80 acres of intact forest directly next to Richmond Hill Park, increase traffic, and pollute the French Broad River.

Here’s How You Can Take Action:

UPDATE: The Woodfin Town Board of Adjustments hearing of the Bluffs Issue that was scheduled for Thursday, June 24 meeting has been POSTPONED for 60 days. Once a new hearing is scheduled, we will send an email to let you know.
~~Attend the Woodfin Town Board of Adjustments meeting on Thursday, June 24 and wear green! It’s crucial that we have a large turnout of people that oppose the Bluffs at this meeting.~~
What: Woodfin Town Board of Adjustments In-Person Meeting
When: Thursday, June 24 at 6:30 pm
Where: Woodfin Community Center
~~20 Community Center~~
~~Woodfin, NC 28804~~
Donate to the Richmond Hill & River Rescue GoFundMe page. All financial contributions will help with the costs of hiring a stormwater engineer to analyze the full extent of the development’s potential impact to the French Broad River. To donate directly through MountainTrue, list your donation as restricted for Richmond Hill & River Rescue.

Learn more about The Bluffs proposal.

High Country Regional News

For Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes counties

Litter Report From Boone’s First Trash Trout

This month, we installed Boone’s first Trash Trout on Winklers Creek! The trash trout is a device that collects litter while floating on the river, and in just six days after installing it, the device stopped 278 pieces of junk from flowing downstream into the New River. Our staff removed the litter from the trout and tallied the amount, types and brands of the trash collected. In this first sweep, our team found most items were styrofoam packaging from fast food restaurants, cigarette butts, plastic bags and bottles. Unfortunately, styrofoam and plastic can break down and persist in the environment for hundreds of years — well beyond our human lifespan. We appreciate the collaboration with The Town of Boone and Asheville Greenworks to make this project possible. We are excited for the role the trash trout will continue to play in cleaning up our rivers.

Beech Mountain Concert Series

The Wood Brothers playing at Beech Mountain Resort. Photo by Micah Davidson

MountainTrue is proud to partner with Beech Mountain Ski Resort and to be a part of the resort’s Summer Concert Series. Get your tickets to enjoy some great music and support the critical work of MountainTrue. You can also swing by our tent, where we will have cool MountainTrue merchandise and cold water to beat the heat. We would love to meet and talk with our supporters in the High Country. Read more and get tickets.

Show dates and times:
Umphrey’s McGee August 6th 5:00PM GATES / 7:00PM SHOW
Umphrey’s McGee August 7th 5:00PM GATES / 7:00PM SHOW
Tedeschi/Trucks August 14th 5:00PM GATES / 7:00PM SHOW
Greensky Bluegrass August 21st 5:00PM GATES / 7:00PM SHOW

July 15 – Paddle with the Watauga Riverkeeper on Price Lake

Want to meet fellow environmental enthusiasts? Come paddle on Price Lake with the Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue’s Water Team staff. This event will be BYOB (bring your own boat!), but kayak and canoe rentals are available onsite at Price Lake. This is one of our most pristine Swim Guide sites, with gorgeous mountain views located on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Learn more.

July 10 – Snorkel the Watauga and See the Teeming Life Just Below the Surface

Just below the surface or our rivers, an entire freshwater community is teeming with life. Get up close to rainbow and brown trout, darters and other aquatic life on this snorkel. We will provide gear, and we’ll walk you through river snorkeling safety on this guided adventure. River swimming is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Join us.

Southern Regional News

For Cleveland, Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties

Asphalt Plant Developer Recognizes Defeat, Withdraws Rezoning Application Again

Once again, the community of East Flat Rock came together to defeat an asphalt plant proposal that would harm community health, clean water and local public lands. Just hours before the June 1 Board of Commissioners meeting where the rezoning application was to be decided, the developer withdrew his application because he knew he didn’t have the votes. This marks the second time we’ve defeated this dangerous proposal. A huge thanks to the neighbors who came together to stand up, speak out and tell Henderson County leaders that an industrial plan has no place in East Flat Rock. Read the full blogpost about the victory.

2021 BioBlitz Tri-County Smackdown: Can Transylvania Come Back from Behind?

Our 2021 BioBlitz is in full swing. Every year, MountainTrue hosts a bioblitz to get experts, naturalists, and nature lovers outdoors to document every living organism we can find. This year, we are hosting a regional competition – a tri-county smackdown! – to determine the 2021 champion of biodiversity. Right now, Transylvania County is trailing Jackson and Watauga counties, but I believe in underdogs. The competition doesn’t end until Sunday, June 20, so show your county pride and let’s win this WNC regional bio-battle! Find out more here and register to participate and win.

Join us for the Broad River Headwaters Fun Float on Sunday, July 18

Our Broad Riverkeeper, David Caldwell, is leading a fun paddle on the cool, shady waters of the First Broad River on Sunday, July 18! This beautiful section of river is located in the foothills of the South Mountains just a few miles west of Casar, NC. We will cover approximately five miles of river in four hours. Space is limited, so sign up.

Western Regional News

For Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties in NC, and Towns and Union counties in GA

Let’s Win the BioBlitz for the Western Region

Our Tri-County BioBlitz competition is in full swing, and you can still participate through Sunday, June 20th! Every year, MountainTrue hosts a bioblitz to get folks outdoors with a mission to document every living organism we can find. This year, we’ve made it a regional competition between Jackson, Transylvania and Watauga counties to determine the 2021 champion of biodiversity.

Show off your county pride and natural curiosity in this regional bio-battle! Register to participate and win prizes. You’ll receive instructions after you register, but be sure to “Join” MountainTrue’s Jackson County Project on iNaturalist – the biodiversity website (and app!) we’re using for the bioblitz – and your observations will automatically be included in the fun.

Jackson County is in the lead, and YOU can help ensure that we win!

Help Us Improve the Forest Service’s Crossover Project

The US Forest Service is currently soliciting input on a 1,500-acre timber sale proposal in the Snowbird Mountains of Cherokee and Graham counties. We need you to tell the Forest Service to improve the proposal by protecting 100 acres of ancient forests from logging, preventing impacts to designated Natural Heritage Areas, and keeping the Ash Cove Backcountry Area wild. The Forest Service can have a successful timber project while also protecting Natural Heritage Natural Areas and existing old-growth forests. Act now to help us improve the Crossover Project!

Walking Tour of Bryson City Set for August 20th

Please join me and MountainTrue’s Healthy Communities Director, Chris Joyell, on a walking tour of downtown Bryson City. Along the way, we’ll reflect on past plans for revitalizing Main and Everett Streets, see where progress has been made, and explore how future efforts can contribute to the vitality of this historic town. We’ll also visit some ongoing projects that are making Bryson City more livable and enjoyable for residents and visitors. Register today!

Events & Volunteer Opportunities

June 5-19: 2021 BioBlitz: Tri-County Smackdown
Get out into the woods to document the natural environment in Jackson, Transylvania and Watauga counties and help crown the regional champion of biodiversity. Read more.

June 15, 9-11 a.m.: Restore Native Habitats in Hendersonville
Help combat non-native invasive plants and restore native habitats along the Oklawaha Greenway. Read more.

June 23, 12-1 p.m.: MountainTrue University: Fighting Climate Change Through Community-Powered Solar
Join MountainTrue’s Organizer & Communications Manager, Eliza Stokes, to learn about how solar energy purchasing programs in Buncombe County are helping us meet our renewable energy goals. Read more.

July 10, 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Snorkel the Watauga River
Join MountainTrue’s High Country Water Quality Administrator, Hannah Woodburn, and explore the unique ecosystems of the Watauga River. Read more.

July 11, 4-5:30 pm: Summer Fun Float on Lake Junaluska
Join Western Regional Director Callie Moore for a leisurely, family-friendly float on Lake Junaluska. Organized in partnership with Haywood Waterways Association. Read more.

July 14, 12-1:00 p.m.: MountainTrue University: Climate Change and the Built Environment
Join Chris Joyell, Director of the Asheville Design Center and MountainTrue’s Healthy Communities Program, as we explore how climate change will impact our decisions around affordable housing, transportation and racial equity. Read more.

July 18, 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: First Broad River Headwaters Fun Float
Join MountainTrue as we head up to the South Mountains for a fun paddle on the cool, shady waters of the First Broad River! Read more.

August 20, 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Bryson City Downtown Walking Tour
Join Western Regional Director Callie Moore and Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell for a walking tour and discussion on past, present and future plans for revitalizing downtown and making Bryson City more livable. Read more.

August 21, 10:00 a.m.- 2 p.m.: Fontana Lake Historic Paddle
Explore the Hazel Creek arm of Fontana Lake and the remnants of Proctor, NC – a town that was evacuated and flooded when the lake was created in 1944. Read more.

August 28 – September 6: Second Annual Broad River Fishing Tournament
No cash, no prizes. What’s on the line is the title of “Broad River’s Best Angler.” Read our tournament rules and sign up.

September 18, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Asheville Urban Bike Tour
Learn about Asheville’s urban core, how redlining has shaped our city and what the future could hold for Asheville with Chris Joyell. Read more.

September 18, 7-11:30 p.m.: Broad River Moonlight Float
Come paddle the Broad River by the light of the moon. Read more.

Celebrate Juneteenth with Black Media and Stories About the Struggle for Freedom

Image credit: The late Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther. Disney

This Saturday is Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The story of Juneteenth goes back to when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom on June 19, 1895 — two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued two and a half years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln.

Since Juneteenth falls on a Saturday this year, MountainTrue will be observing the day on Friday, and our offices will be closed for a long weekend. To help celebrate the end of American slavery, MountainTrue staff offer up some of our favorite movies, books and podcasts that tackle the issues of race, empowerment and equity.

Susan Bean, our Director of Engagement, recommends the 2016 documentary film “I Am Not Your Negro” by Raoul Peck. The film is based on James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House and explores the history of racism in the United States.

For a fist-pumping blockbuster that still offers a lot to think about, Susan also recommends “Black Panther.” The Marvel superhero flick features an almost entirely Black cast, grapples with challenging issues facing people of African descent, both in America and in Africa, and is highly entertaining. Western Regional Director Callie Moore chimed into our email thread to second this recommendation.

Susan also suggests “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, a 2014 article in The Atlantic magazine that lays out a thoughtful and compelling case for why America needs to reckon with the question of what we owe to the descendants of enslaved people in this country.

AmeriCorps Water Quality Administrator Grace Fuchs recommends the book Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage by William Loren Katz. This accessible nonfiction work dives into the often-overlooked history of mixed Blacks and Natives and brings to light the challenges of blood quantum laws, marriage laws and slavery. Parts of the book focus on South Eastern Tribes, so it’s locally relevant too.

Forest Keeper Coordinator Tamia Dame recommends the Netflix film 13th, a thought-provoking documentary that analyzes the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S prison boom; Judas and the Black Messiah, the Oscar-winning biopic of Black Panther Fred Hampton; and the podcasts Code Switch and Louder Than A Riot on NPR and Resistance by Gimlet media. Tamia extolls, “The three podcasts are phenomenal, but Louder Than a Riot might be my favorite. For both Resistance and Louder, I’d recommend listening to them in their entireties.”

Communications Director Karim Olaechea recommends the four-part HBO series “Exterminate All the Brutes,” in which filmmaker and activist Raoul Peck mixes documentary, personal stories, and historical reenactment to tell the history of white supremacy, slavery, and colonialism. Karim also recommends “King In The Wilderness,” a documentary by Peter W. Kunhardt that explores how Martin Luther King Jr. followed his heart and put his life on the line to expand the fight for civil rights into a Poor People’s Campaign against racism, war, and poverty.

Finally, Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell chimes in with a simple but very appropriate recommendation: “I realized that I have never read the actual text of the Emancipation Proclamation. I find it really interesting that Lincoln framed it as a wartime measure necessary to suppress the rebellion. I’m embarrassed to say that I thought the proclamation was the catalyst for the Civil War, and the attack on Ft. Sumter was a response to that proclamation. Instead, Lincoln delivers this almost two years into the war.”

We hope this list offers plenty of inspiration for your Juneteenth weekend. Have yourself a happy Emancipation Day!

Protect Old-Growth, Wildlife & Our Natural Heritage in Nantahala National Forest

The US Forest Service is proposing a 1,500-acre timber sale in the Snowbird Mountains in Nantahala National Forest that would log documented old-growth stands, steep headwaters of pristine streams, and areas recognized by the state of North Carolina for their outstanding biodiversity and healthy forests.

Act now and tell the forest service to fix their proposal and protect our natural heritage.

This is the latest in a series of bad faith projects on the Nantahala National Forest that propose road building and timber harvest in some of the wildest and healthiest forests in our region. The Crossover Project would prejudice the new Forest Plan against the protection of old-growth forests, rare species, and backcountry areas and put water supply watersheds at risk. This is not what we consider a “collaborative” project that furthers ecological restoration for Nantahala National Forest.

Josh Kelly, MountainTrue’s field biologist explains: “The Forest Service worked with a broad group of stakeholders, throughout the forest management plan process. With one hand, they assure us that they take collaboration and our input seriously, then with the other hand they draw up these plans that plainly contradict the recommendations of hunters, hikers, anglers, equestrians, timber companies and other forest users. This is an old-school timber sale that targets the most sensitive and controversial areas for logging. If this project represents Nantahala National Forest’s priorities for the next 20 years, everyone should be very concerned, not just because of the damage it would do to the land, but because of the lack of relevancy, it would ensure for the agency. ”

The Crossover Timber Project would log 158 acres of the Ash Cove Backcountry Area which was proposed for Backcountry Management in Alternative C in the new forest plan and endorsed by the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Partnership. Commercial logging and building logging roads are incompatible with the Backcountry Management Area. The proposal for Crossover, following on the heels of a similar decision in the Buck Project, shows that Nantahala National Forest is biased against Backcountry Management.

The Crossover Timber Project would log 51 acres of Natural Heritage Areas. Within the project area, the slopes of Teyahalee Bald have been identified by the State of North Carolina as Natural Heritage Natural Areas for their outstanding biodiversity. These areas are home to some of the healthiest forests in North Carolina that include rare species like Mountain Catch Fly that would be harmed by commercial logging.

The Crossover Timber Project would log at least 98 acres of existing old-growth forests. The Forest Service’s own records show that all of these forests are over 130 years old, and fieldwork conducted by MountainTrue has documented trees over 200 years of age in these areas. MountainTrue alerted the Forest Service to the location and presence of these rare old-growth sites and they are still being targeted by this timber sale.

The Crossover Timber Project proposal would log more than 400 acres at the source of Robbinsville’s drinking water supply. Seventeen stands slated for analysis of commercial and non-commercial timber harvest treatments lie in the Long and Rock Creek watersheds. These streams flowing off the ridge of the Snowbird Mountains are all classified as High-Quality Waters and feed public drinking water supplies for the Town of Robbinsville.

The Crossover Timber Project would permanently decommission the western half of the Snowbird Mountain Trail. Recreation groups within the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Partnership had asked that the trail be improved, not decommissioned within their recommendations for the forthcoming forest management plan.

If the Forest Service truly believes in collaboration, the solution is easy: Follow the recommendation of the partners you’ve been working with for the past 8+ years. The Forest Service can have a successful timber project while protecting Natural Heritage Natural Areas and existing old growth, and keeping Snowbird trail open.

Action Expired

1. Email the Forest Service

The Forest Service is now soliciting input on the design of its Crossover Timber Project!

Take Action!

2. Send a Letter to the Editor

Send a letter to the editor of the Smoky Mountain News to raise public awareness.

Take Action!

3. Support Our Timber Monitoring Program

MountainTrue monitors and analyzes every project in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests to support vulnerable species, safeguard old-growth forests, and make sure you have wonderful outdoor spaces for biking, hiking, hunting, fishing and foraging.

Donate!

AmeriCorps Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator(Asheville)

AmeriCorps Outings, Education, and Forest Stewardship Coordinator (Asheville)

MountainTrue, through AmeriCorps Project Conserve, is seeking a dedicated individual to fill a full-time position serving critical conservation needs in Western North Carolina. The member will serve 1700 hours from September 1, 2022 through July 31, 2023.

Position Summary:
The Outings, Education and Forest Stewardship Coordinator works closely with topic area experts on the MountainTrue staff to engage the public in environmental protection in Western North Carolina through guided hikes, outreach programs, on-the-ground stewardship on public lands, volunteer coordination, and environmental education. The coordinator will serve as the project lead for the OLLI Ecology of the Southern Appalachians course, our annual BioBlitz volunteer event, and our Guided Adventures series. This service position will require frequent travel and work outdoors to provide an opportunity to become more familiar with the Blue Ridge Mountains. The coordinator will support MountainTrue’s racial equity work by helping to create programming specifically designed to engage communities of color in environmental conservation. The activities undertaken by this position will inform, inspire, and connect a broad public to the natural world and its delicate and often threatened ecosystems, thereby increasing general support for conservation efforts in our region.

Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Excellent planning and organizational skills. Attention to detail is key in this position.
Education or experience in natural resources management, biology, or environmental science/studies/education/policy.
Experience working with diverse people (youth, retirees, rural, urban, people of color).
Strong time management skills.
Ability to work outdoors and maintain a positive attitude in challenging conditions and inclement weather.
Ability to manage multiple projects at once and maintain attention to detail.
Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.
Be a quick learner, unafraid to ask questions, and also have the patience to tackle complex problems
Familiarity with web-based programs and applications and the use of social media.
Training and/or teaching experience a plus.
Excellent oral (including public speaking) and written communication skills.
Spanish language proficiency a plus.
Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years of age, be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States, and consent to a criminal history check.

Preferred Service Hours / Weekly Schedule:
9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours as needed

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

Conservation Education: 65%

Organize numerous hikes, tours, and other activities featuring MountainTrue programs and priorities such as old-growth forests, ecology, water quality, land use planning and development, and others. Coordinate with topic experts on staff who will be primarily responsible for content delivery.
Educate volunteers and members of the public through organized events and workdays provided throughout our service region of counties across Western North Carolina.
Manage event page content for website, make regular posts to social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram, build volunteer and ticketed event sign up forms for web, compose email communications to promote events and programs, and communicate with the general public looking to engage with our programs
Represent MountainTrue in the Everybody’s Environment Coalition and bring valuable learnings back to the organization to improve our diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Serve as the project lead and primary point of contact between participants in our OLLI Ecology of the Southern Appalachians class and the MountainTrue staff instructors.
Participate in the community as a MountainTrue team member contributing to the success of the organization.

At-Risk Ecosystem Impacts and Trails: 15%

Field inventory/data collection of non-native invasive plant species;
Manual and chemical treatment of non-native invasive plants, both along trails (National Forest, AT, state, municipal) and in conservation easements;
Chemical treatment to save ash trees from emerald ash borer
Leading volunteers to address maintenance needs on public trails.
Training volunteers to collect data on sedimentation from forest roads and trails

Volunteer Engagement: 20%

Assist in the recruitment and management of volunteers, teaching them restoration techniques including manual and chemical treatment of non-native invasive plants, informing them of the risks associated, and supervising them during workdays.
Coordinate our annual BioBlitz, which includes a 2 week virtual species hunt utilizing the iNaturalist app for identification and coordinating in-person identification events in different parts of WNC to recruit new participants and volunteers.

PLEASE NOTE: In addition to fulfilling host site service responsibilities, all Project Conserve members are required to fully participate in team trainings, service projects, and statewide AmeriCorps events. Project Conserve team events will occur approximately twice per month in locations throughout the service area and may require up to three overnight stays.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:

Be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
Be at least 18 years of age at the commencement of service
Be available and commit to full-time service for the entire service term: members will serve a minimum of 1700 hours over the 11-month term, which is roughly full-time (40 hours per week).
Consent to a criminal history check and be cleared for service
Meet minimum education requirements (see individual service descriptions)
Meet additional qualifications as listed in the service descriptions
Meet essential functions for each position as listed in the individual service descriptions

Compensation & Benefits
For full-time (1700 hour) positions in the 2022-2023 program year, members will receive:

$19,880.00 living stipend (paid in equal installments via direct deposit, twice per month, minus taxes)
Health insurance reimbursement if eligible. Members are eligible for reimbursement for the full cost of a Health Insurance Marketplace bronze or catastrophic plan, OR up to $100 for a higher-level Marketplace plan. Members who maintain health insurance through a parent or spouse’s employer are not eligible for reimbursement.
Childcare assistance if eligible. See eligibility requirements for full-time members enrolled in AmeriCorps State & National programs on the AmeriCorps Childcare Fact Sheet
Education award of $6,495.00 upon successful completion of the program. This award can be used to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. Learn more about the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award on AmeriCorps.gov/americorps-education-award
Mentorship, training, and professional development opportunities. Training may include Wilderness First Aid, CPR/AED, Conflict Resolution, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and more

Project Conserve strives to foster a culture that celebrates and supports equity, diversity, and inclusion, learning and continuous improvement, and high-quality community service. AmeriCorps positions provide unique opportunities for members to develop leadership and professional skills to support their future career goals. Members participate in training and service days up to three days per month with the full Project Conserve team and on an ongoing basis as part of their host site service. Training may cover a broad range of topics including conflict resolution, wilderness first aid, and CPR/AED, project planning, non-native invasive species identification, trail construction, volunteer management, and education program development.

HOW TO APPLY

To Apply
Please go to conservingcarolina.org/americorps/projectconserve/ for more information and to apply. Contact Susan Bean with any questions at (828) 258-8737 x218 or susan@mountaintrue.org. MountainTrue is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to individuals with known physical/mental disabilities.

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