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We were so thrilled to host our second annual Women in Conservation & Agriculture conference at April Hill, on September 21st. 68 young women from 6 local high schools came for a day of workshops (on topics such as seed saving, cheesemaking, wildlife research, arboriculture, becoming a shepherdess, and exploring the energy of waters and how it alchemizes with flowers) led by women professionals in the fields of conservation and agriculture (including one Greenagers alum!).

The day was beautiful – we were so lucky to have gorgeous blue skies and sunshine – and it felt very empowering to gather and learn together.

A special thank you to our sponsors!

BERKSHIRE FOOD CO-OP

Greenagers seeks enthusiastic, hard-working, personable Crew Leaders and Assistant Crew Leaders for the 2023 field season.

Wages: $19-$22/hr

Full season: May 29 – October 27

Summer: May 29 – August 11

Fall: August 7 – October 27

Location: Western Massachusetts

Responsibilities include overseeing teenage trail crews in the frontcountry as they build and/or rehabilitate trails in a variety of out- of-doors environments like the
Appalachian Trail, Land Trust properties, and municipally owned parks. Trail crews build rock staircases, retaining walls, timber staircases, conduct invasive species eradication (hand cutting/pulling), corridor clear, and bench cut.

Training provided. You are encouraged to apply even if you have limited or no experience; however individuals with trail building experience will be prioritized for hiring.

Requirements: Must possess a valid driver’s license. At least 21 years old. Ability to perform physical labor for the duration of the summer.

Preferences: Individuals with trail building and maintenance experience. Experience managing, leading, or supervising teenagers. First Aid and CPR certified, Wilderness First Aid Certified, Wilderness First Responder certified.

Details: 40 hours per week 4-5 days per week.

To Apply: email elia@greenagers.org with your resume

We’re growing the team!

The Development Manager will work closely with the Development Director on all fundraising efforts so that the organization can maintain fiscal health and mission delivery.

Responsibilities include:

• Processing gifts and ensuring that donors are thanked, acknowledged, and stewarded.
• Handling data entry and maintenance in Bloomerang database and generating accurate and thorough reports as needed.
• Maintaining a healthy Mailchimp database for email campaigns.
• Working with the Development Director and the Executive Director to re-engage lapsed donors and secure new donors.
• Assisting with researching, writing, editing, and submitting applications for grant funding.
• Assisting with managing the schedule of grant applications and reporting deadlines.
• Providing logistical support for development events.
• Collaborating on social and print media and marketing efforts – including annual reports, print and email newsletters, and social media postings.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Solid computer skills and willingness to learn new systems
• Professional and friendly interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and work under the pressure of deadlines
• Exceptional time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Strong writing skills
• Ability to balance personal initiative and independence with effective utilization of team members
• Solid belief in the Greenagers mission

Preferred:

• Experience with fundraising
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with external customers/donors
• Experience working with databases

This position is part-time:  approx. 20hrs/wk

Compensation: $25/hr

Benefits:

• 401k retirement plan
• Staff CSA
• A welcoming and collaborative workplace with creative and engaged coworkers.

Greenagers is an equal opportunity employer.

Greenagers does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, being a member of the Reserves or National Guard, status as disabled or Vietnam Era veteran or status in any group protected against
discrimination by federal, state, or local law.

We welcome applications from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, and veterans. Greenagers is actively engaged in ensuring its programs are welcoming to all, and in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work.

Though the job described above will begin entirely or almost entirely in English, Greenagers
welcomes interest from bilingual candidates who can support the organization in being more
inclusive in its work.

Email cover letter, writing sample, and resume to samantha@greenagers.org

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until a candidate is accepted.  Priority given to those submitted by Feb. 10, 2023

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Greenagers team! Pathways to the Trades introduces Berkshire County students to the variety of trades career opportunities here in the Berkshires and equips them with valuable skills, trades-specific and general. Now in its fourth year, Pathways to the Trades is in an exciting period of change and development .

THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED.

Over 100 people  joined us last Sunday, September 25th, to walk Bow Wow Woods with Tom Wessels, author of Reading the Forested Landscape. It was an amazing turnout from the community and an amazing day – we learned so much and are so grateful to Tom for sharing his wisdom and expertise with us.

Bow Wow Woods – a 50-acre parcel of land just off Rte 41 on Bow Wow Rd – was recently acquired by Greenagers and will soon be protected  by a conservation restriction to be held by the Sheffield and Egremont Land Trusts. This important Conservation Restriction should be granted by year-end 2023. This fall and into spring 2023, Greenagers is working on improving the trails. The plan is to make the main trail a loop with a short spur down to the wetlands on the property.  Down the road, we plan to create a small parking area, build a kiosk, and make even more trail improvements. The diverse ecology of Bow Wow Woods makes it the perfect place for Greenagers to expand its programs of conservation education and youth-led land stewardship.

Greenagers and the land trusts of Egremont and Sheffield are nearing the end of a 1 million dollar fundraising campaign to protect and steward this special land for all time and for the permanent enjoyment of the communities we serve. Only $200,000 left to go! 

Yes! I want to be a part of the Bow Wow Woods conservation project!

 

On Thursday, September 22nd, Greenagers welcomed students from 5 regional Berkshire County high schools to April Hill for our first Women in Conservation and Agriculture Conference. Students participated in a variety of workshops ranging from from tree climbing to turtle tracking. The weather didn’t keep us from an eventful day that featured – in addition to the workshops –  a panel discussion and keynote address from Jen Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm.

A big thank you to all the women professionals who led the day:

Angela Sirois-Pitel & Nicole Kauffman: The Nature Conservancy

Jess Toro: Native Habitat Restoration

Sarah Monteiro: April Hill Farm

Maeven Broderick: Hartney Greymont

Jen Salinetti: Woven Roots Farm

Greenagers also thanks our Conference sponsors: Berkshire Grown, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and Berkshire Natural Resources Council.

And finally, a big thank you to all the students who participated in the day, for stepping out of physical and mental comfort zones, for great enthusiasm, and great questions.

Bob was one of our 2021 April Hill Farm Apprentices and we are so happy that he is continuing on with Greenagers in his new role as  April Hill Livestock Farmer. Yay!

Thank you, Bob, for all the work you do and for sharing your thoughts with us.

“Greenagers has provided me with an opportunity to obtain a position in my preferred career path, first as a farm apprentice last season and now as the lead livestock farmer. Working here has given me the ability to wake up every day and look forward to working with great staff and great youth, all involved in the amazing programs provided by Greenagers. I get to go outside every morning and I am greeted by our 9 sheep as they run into the barn bleating and hungry for fresh hay. I’ve been able to watch the April Hill  landscape change with the seasons. Through the heat of summer and unsympathetic cold of winter, I am outside working in the elements with the backdrop of the Berkshires. It’s not always easy work but I love what I do and I am humbled to be able to do it with a company that does so much for the southern Berkshire community.”

It’s not always easy work but I love what I do

Our Front Lawn Food program is in its 11th year of operation – this means hundreds of Front Lawn Food gardens have been installed throughout the community. For every garden purchased, a garden is donated to a family in need.

For more information, check out our Front Lawn Food page.

 

Hello, my name is Jacob Kulyniak. I am originally from Greenport, NY, located outside of the city of Hudson. Growing up I spent as much time as I could outdoors hunting, fishing, and hiking. I found out at a very young age that I had a love for wildlife and the environment and quickly learned that I never wanted to have a job where I would be stuck inside for long periods of time. My first job was working for Greenagers during the summer as a crew member.

I did this from July 2014 to August 2017. Working for Greenagers, I learned how to create and maintain trails using hands-on conservation techniques. In the spring of 2017, I graduated from Columbia Greene Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Science. In July 2018 I became a crew leader for Greenagers and held this position for two summers. In 2018 I was accepted into SUNY Cobleskill for their Wildlife Management program. Cobleskill gave me lots of hands-on experiences in the field and only further increased my passion for wildlife. I was also given the opportunity to travel to Panama for two weeks in 2020 to study the land’s biodiversity. To complete my degree at Cobleskill I wanted to do an internship. However, with the outbreak of Covid-19 it was difficult to find an internship in my field. So, in June 2020 I worked at Kline Kill Fruit Farm, where I learned various agricultural skills and how to operate heavy machinery. In April 2021 I accepted an internship working as a research assistant for Cary Institute of Ecosystem studies. Here, I worked with a small team on The Tick Project. At Cary I learned how to identify and collect data that is important for a county wide project that has been ongoing for five years. In May 2021, with my internship complete, I graduated from Cobleskill with a Bachelor’s Degree of Technology in Wildlife Management. On January 3rd 2022 I am set to begin my full time position as an Assistant Farm Manager for Klocke Estate: a fully organic farm which produces various types of brandy and wine. I am excited to take the next steps in my career and will always be grateful for the people that have helped me get to this point.

It’s Giving Tuesday and loyal Greenagers friend and supporter, Robin McGraw of Black Rock Foundation & the Donald C. McGraw Foundation, has upped his pledge this year to $10,000 to match your donations!

Check out the video to hear from Robin and Will Conklin our executive director.

Click on the button to help us reach our goal of $20,000 today! Gifts or pledges must be received by year’s end to qualify for the match.

If you choose to mail in a check, please put “Giving Tuesday” in the memo line. Remember, your Giving Tuesday gift will be doubled by Robin. Help us continue to make a big difference in our community and beyond!

DONATE NOW

It was a full and fulfilling summer! Thank you to our youth employees, our program staff, our program partners, and our donors who made it all happen. We are so grateful to work with you all.

We are holding on to all the successes of past programming and building a new foundation here at April Hill, one that will buttress our youth for generations. Instead of stone it is you, our community, that has held us up and will continue to hold us and support us. We couldn’t be more thankful or more excited.

Will Conklin, Executive Director

Austen took the time to write about his experiences with Greenagers – we are so grateful for his hard work, thoughtfulness, and great spirit as a former trail crew member and now as one of our fearless trail crew leaders!

Here is his testimony:

My Greenagers journey started at 16 years old. It was my first “real job.” Full time and a meager 8.50/hour. Without any idea of what the job entailed, young and impressionable, I signed up. Next thing I knew we were hiking 45 minutes into the wilderness of northwestern Connecticut with a crew of 8 local teenagers on the fringes of normalcy. The payment was the experience. Waking up to the sound of birds, the orange hue of the fresh summer sun, it was liberation from a life of high school obligations. After the first day, led by a passionate and vivacious Elia Delmolino, we were all best friends. Elia’s passion was almost corny, yet unfaltering: contagious. When the work day concluded we would relax by the river and play poker for who had to carry the water jug. I continued with Greenagers until college; time passed, life changed. When I returned to the Berkshires, I was fresh off of a cross-country trip. Eager to get back into society yet nervous at the possibility of a lost opportunity. I assumed Greenagers was no longer, until a chance encounter with Elia. I popped into April Hill Farm the following week: lost, discouraged, 23 years old with no sense of direction. Once again, I found my niche in the woods. Greenagers had their first fall crew and I was offered the position of crew leader. I nervously accepted. Now, a tumultuous year later, I have a place in the organization. A true sense of belonging and direction. I’ve regained passion for the environment and once again, covered in dirt and worms, I’m happy. Happy to be part of something bigger than myself. I’ve traveled half the world, seen the silver spoon, eaten from a microwavable plastic platter, and through it all Greenagers was the unspoken angel on my shoulder, quietly laying the foundation for my future. I’m proud, truly happy, blessed, and still bewildered that these opportunities have come into my life. When I leave April Hill at 5 o’clock, I’m excited for the challenges of tomorrow, fulfilled with the day I’ve completed, and more than proud to tell my peers I’ve found my calling. It feels good to go home knowing I’ve done my part, and helped others along the way.

I’ve regained passion for the environment and once again, covered in dirt and worms, I’m happy.