Overview
HIGHLIGHTS:Inspire others through re-wilding, species ID & outreach!
Rural Ecologist ($20/hr, 35 hrs/wk, 8 week term)
Butternut Creek Nature Reserve is looking for two rural ecologists to assist with habitat restoration, scientific monitoring and community outreach and events. The ideal candidate will have excellent writing and communication skills, interest or experience in habitat restoration or horticulture; interest in species counting and ID; and a willingness to share their interest with others.
If you are a secondary school graduate or post-secondary student who enjoys working outdoors and has a demonstrated passion for the natural world or environmental studies, this job may be for you. Reliable transportation is required.
Position Responsibilities
- Habitat Restoration & Land Stewardship
- Participate in hands-on conservation work, including tree planting, invasive species removal, and installation of nest boxes and other habitat features.
2 . Species Monitoring
- Assist with ecological monitoring in wetland, grassland, and forest habitats
- Conduct bird counts and identification, amphibian and reptile surveys, and data collection
3. Community Outreach & Education
- Contribute to outreach initiatives including social media content and educational materials
- Assist in planning, organizing, and hosting small-scale events, such as nature walks and citizen scientist counts
- Help promote ongoing programs (e.g., frog and moth counts)
- Support public presentations and community engagement activities
4. Horticulture & Native Plant Gardens
- Assist in the development and maintenance of native species plant gardens
- Create native plant identification markers
5. Trail Development & Maintenance
- Assist with trail development, including basic layout and improvement
- Manufacture and install trail signage
- Perform trail maintenance to ensure safe and accessible pathways
Qualifications
- Proven interest in environmental protection, conservation, and habitat restoration
- Basic computer skills for data entry
- Ability to create engating social media content
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Strong observation skills and attention to detail
- Comfortable working outdoors, independently, and in varied weather and terrain
- Consistency and accuracy in data collection and recording
- Willingness to learn species identification and use apps such as Merlin, eBird, and iNaturalist
Indigenous Applicants and Rural Applicants Encouraged
We invite applicants from Indigenous backgrounds to self-identify in their application. Similarly, local youth from the rural communities of Stormont-Dundas and Glengarry or Leeds-Grenville are encouraged to apply.
Reliable transportation is required.
Application Instructions
Please submit a brief cover letter outlining your interest in the position and any relevant experience, along with your resume to:
📧 jeanie@butternutcreek.ca
About Butternut Creek Nature Reserve Foundation
Located on a 150-acre farm in Eastern Ontario, Butternut Creek is dedicated to rewilding, species monitoring, community outreach, and habitat restoration for species at risk.
