On Thursday, May 1st, Keeping Track will present a Wildlife Event at the Mount Mansfield Union High School gymnasium in Jericho. A Keeping Track Wildlife Event gives people, especially families, an opportunity to enjoy an educational and inspiring evening. People of all ages and from all walks of life are encouraged to attend, including loggers, skiers, hunters, hikers, farmers, local businesspeople, teachers, nature enthusiasts – anyone with an interest in wildlife and the desire to learn more.

The Wildlife Event serves as an introduction to wildlife conservation and habitat monitoring for local citizens. At the Wildlife Event, the public can browse extensive hands-on exhibits consisting of track molds, examples of wildlife sign, pelts, skulls, and feet of North American mammals from the least weasel to the polar bear. Participants will be able to ask questions of Keeping Track’s expert staff. Keeping Track founder and Program and Research Director Susan Morse presents a spectacular show of her slides that introduces participants to the wildlife of Vermont and the importance of landscape-level planning for wildlife conservation, and incorporates an interactive and moving segment on carnivore biology and ecology. Susan is a nationally recognized naturalist and habitat specialist with thirty years of experience tracking and interpreting wildlife uses of habitat.

You can also learn more about the Wildlife Event and Keeping Track at their website: www.keepingtrack.org. This event is sponsored by the Bolton Conservation Commission, the Duxbury Land Trust, the Jericho Conservation Commission, the Richmond Land Trust and the VYCC. For more information contact Bradley Meterick at bmaterick@vycc.org or 802.434.3969 ext. 149.

Download the event flyer.

The VYCC is introducing Green Mountain Internships (GMI) this month.  GMI specializes in making custom-made matches between students and employers throughout the state. These internships offer individuals the unique opportunity to learn, earn credit and become involved in organizations, technology and traditional trades where green initiatives are applied.

For more information visit the Green Mountain Internships webpage or see what positions are available this summer and fall. If you have questions, would like to be in the program, or would like to host an intern, contact GMI Director Brian Cotterill at brian@vycc.org or 434-3969 ext. 132.

On January 30th, the VYCC hosted an information session for schools interested in learning about the Youth in Agriculture and Natural Resources program and how to bring the program to their schools. The program is a partnership between the VYCC, the Smokey House Center in Danby and the University of Vermont Extension.

The response was overwhelmingly positive, and representatives from Winooski, Cabot, South Burlington, St. Albans, Randolph, Middlebury, Richmond, and Pine Ridge attended. The director for the Center for Technology-Essex partnership, Kathy Finck, and the principal of MMU, Jen Botzojorns, along with VYCC staff made up the panel which discussed curriculum, funding, and the impact of the program.

Since the meeting, several follow-up meetings with schools have been very promising. With the help of a Next Generation grant from the Vermont Department of Labor and the support of private foundations and donors, the VYCC hopes to launch at least two additional schools in fall 2008.

To learn more about the VYCC’s school programs, visit our webpage or contact Harry Frank at 434-3969 ext. 146 or hfrank@vycc.org.

The Administrative Coordinator is a part-time position that assists the Administrative Department with regular tasks, including fiscal bookkeeping, office supply inventory and purchasing, equipment management, technology user support, and the day-to-day operations of the VYCC office. The Administrative Coordinator administers accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, and other accounting tasks as needed. Additionally, this person will play an integral part in managing administrative tasks for the field program, including employee hiring paperwork, Corps Member payroll and timesheets, field accounting, and administrative tracking sheets. This is an ideal position for a highly motivated team player with good computer skills who is interested in executing fiscal and day-to day operations independently. Additionally, there is potential for more hours or full-time status in 2009.

Administrative Coordinator Job Description