Each fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the United States and Canada to mountains in central Mexico where they wait out the winter until conditions favor a return flight in the spring. The monarch migration is truly one of the world's greatest natural wonders yet it is threatened by habitat loss at overwintering grounds in Mexico and throughout breeding areas in the United States and Canada.

Monarch Waystations are places that provide resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Without milkweeds throughout their spring and summer breeding areas in North America, monarchs would not be able to produce the successive generations that culminate in the migration each fall. Similarly, without nectar from flowers these fall migratory monarch butterflies would be unable to make their long journey to overwintering grounds in Mexico. The need for host plants for larvae and energy sources for adults applies to all monarch and butterfly populations around the world.

To offset the loss of milkweeds and nectar sources we need to create, conserve, and protect monarch butterfly habitats. You can help by creating "Monarch Waystations" (monarch habitats) in home gardens, at schools, businesses, parks, zoos, nature centers, along roadsides, and on other unused plots of land. Creating a Monarch Waystation can be as simple as adding milkweeds and nectar sources to existing gardens or maintaining natural habitats with milkweeds. No effort is too small to have a positive impact. By creating and maintaining a Monarch Waystation you are contributing to monarch conservation, an effort that will help assure the preservation of the species and the continuation of the spectacular monarch migration phenomenon.

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We're Hiring!

Do you love kids and gardens? KidsGardening is looking for an experienced garden educator to manage our high-impact grant programs and school garden installations as Program Director. The ideal candidate is an outspoken advocate for garden-based learning and is willing to travel the country spreading seeds of hope.

At KidsGardening, we value inclusion, compassion, humility, and optimism. We are looking for a team player excited to advance KidsGardening’s efforts to create opportunities for all children to learn, play, and grow through the garden.

We are looking for someone to join a team committed to organizational work related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

The application period is August 6 - 20, 2021. Applicants will be contacted after August 20, 2021.

See the full job posting here.

Project Learning Tree

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood Educator Training

Saturday, August 14, 2021

9:00 a.m.-1 p.m.

Early experiences with the natural world excite children’s imagination and foster their inborn sense of wonder and curiosity, which are important motivators forlifelong learning.

PLT’s Environmental Experiences for Early Childhoodincludes over 130 experiences that engage children in outdoor play and exploration. Activities are correlated to the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for ages 3-4 and 4-Kindergarten.

Participate in this training to discover teaching ideas for integrating nature-based exploration, art, literature, math, music, movement, and outdoor play into early childhood education programs.

All participants will receive the guide and accompanying CD.

Location: Green Explorers Academy, 10860 NE 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33161

Cost: $20

Register at: https://flpltearlychildhood081421.eventbrite.com

*BRING a water bottle and your lunch or snacks.*

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August Sea Hero!

I couldn’t be more honored and humbled to share that I have been selected as Sea Hero for the month of August by Scuba Diving Magazine! It’s really only been made possible through my work with Diversity In Aquatics and all of our partners, as well as my work with military veteran organizations like FORCE BLUE and USX.

Here’s some more context and a link to read the short interview on their website:

”Anesti Vega is on a mission to expand the accessibility of diving and ocean exploration. Experiencing neutral buoyancy for the first time was a turning point in the PTSD recovery of the veteran, who threw himself into helping others experience scuba’s healing power. As chair of the Scuba Council of the nonprofit Diversity in Aquatics, the Indigenous change-maker approaches swimming through the lenses of social justice and public health to empower communities underrepresented in aquatics with the skills necessary to be safe in and around water. For Vega’s dedication to meeting anyone wherever they are in their water journey, he is our August Sea Hero.”

It’s especially special because the article, both print and digital, feature photography by my 12-year-old son, Geo, who recently got scuba certified himself!

Much Respect,
Anesti Vega

SCUBA Council Chair
Diversity In Aquatics

Assistant Dive Safety Officer
FORCE BLUE

Underwater Technology Laboratory
Florida Institute of Technology

Read The Full Article Here

THIS WEEK'S OCEAN JOBS LIST

For the complete list and full descriptions find the ocean jobs page at https://sevenseasmedia.org/. We add 20 to 30 new opportunities per week with 40k views per month! We work hard to provide this jobs list and newsletter to you every week for free. If you find your next job from this list, or a new employee, please consider a tax-deductible donation as a thank you.

1. Policy and Impact Manager, Finless Foods, San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC 2. Postdoc Researcher (Investigador doutorado / IMAR / PLASTDEEP), University of the Azores, Azores, Portugal 3. Marine Robotics Engineer, Reefscapers A Marine Consultancy Company, Baa Atoll, Maldives 2. Manager of Volunteer and Intern Engagement, Greensboro Science Center, Greensboro, NC 5. Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) Analyst, FishChoice, Remote, USA/TBD 6. Grant Program Manager, 11th Hour Racing Inc. 11th Hour Racing, Newport, RI 7. Director of Major Giving -Central Virginia, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Virginia Beach, VA 8. Special Assistant, Ocean Conservancy, Washington, DC 9. Manager, Program Operations, Ocean Conservancy, Washington, DC 10. Deputy Executive Director, Pacific Whale Foundation, Wailuku, Hawaii 11. Aquarist, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle, WA 12. Data Manager GOOS Biology, UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE, TBD 13. Biologist/Analyst, Ecosystems Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada 14. Post-Doctoral Fellow / Scientist (Fish in Livelihoods and Food Systems), World Fish, Dili, Timor Leste 15. Campaigns Director, SeaLegacy, Remote (US, UK, Canada Preferred) 16. New England Fisheries Area Coordinator, A.I.S., Inc. (AIS), Gloucester, MA 17. Fisheries Policy Specialist, A.I.S., Inc. (AIS), Seattle, WA 18. Aquaculture Marine Policy Specialist, A.I.S., Inc. (AIS), Lacey, WA 19. OPS F&W Biological Scientist IV – POS #77901980, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comission, Tallahassee, FL 20. Fish & Wildlife Biologist 2 – Columbia Basin Wildlife Area Assistant Manager – Permanent – *07647-21

30th Annual EENC Conference + Southeastern EE Alliance Conference Registration Closes August 2

Last call to register for the 2021 EENC/SEEA Conference!  This will be EENC's 30th annual conference, bringing together educators from across the southeast. You'll be able to chose from amazing line-up of sessions, listen and learn from keynote speaker Dr. Trish O'Kane, and connect (or reconnect) with your professional peers in a camp-like setting! Registration for workshops, field trips, and the whole conference closes on August 2!  We hope to see you there.

August 4, 2021, 2pm - 4pm (EDT)

Introduction to Wings Over Florida and partnering.

Register for a two hour-long session where you will learn about the Wings Over Florida program and how you can use the program at your park/nature center/classroom.

Please note that this workshop is intended for education professionals working at parks, nature centers, or classrooms. There will be a general Wings Over Florida webinar in the near future for others interested.

Administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wings Over Florida rewards participants for observing birds and butterflies in Florida. Illustrated certificates are awarded for reaching various milestones. The butterfly portion was developed in cooperation with the Florida Museum of Natural History. These workshops are designed so education/interpretive staff can learn about the butterfly program, how to partner with Wings Over Florida, and award Wings Over Florida certificates.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

Description: Assist the Collaborative Burmese Python Research Project Team through intensive radio-telemetry tracking of invasive snakes throughout Southwest Florida. Responsible for additional duties, as assigned, such as data entry, sample processing and equipment maintenance.

Qualifications: Recent college graduates, who aspire to gain valuable skills and knowledge in specific areas such as Environmental Science and Research.  Applicants must complete the application process, including the application, cover letter, resume, college transcripts and two letters of recommendation.

Education and/or experience

• BS or BA in one of the biological or environmental sciences.
• Background in field survey techniques or willingness to learn.
• Willingness to work in extreme outdoors conditions. Ability to help drag or carry large snakes through the woods.
• Willingness to work in the laboratory setting assisting with necropsies. Working knowledge of MS Excel preferred.
• Willingness to work outside of the usual 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM business hours when necessary. 
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an internship participant to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:  While performing the duties of this Job, the internship participant is occasionally required to reach with hands, arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.  The internship participant is regularly required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel.  The internship participant is frequently required to talk or hear.  The internship participant must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.  Special vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and depth perception.

Work Environment:  The internship participant is regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions and outdoor weather conditions.  

$300 bi-weekly cost of living stipend and dorm accommodation, including laundry, provided.

More Information

General Description
Performs a variety of park maintenance and program implementation activities at assigned facilities.
Works under close to general supervision according to set procedures, but determines how or when to complete tasks.

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General Description

Secret Woods Nature Center is a passive recreation park designed for education and appreciation of nature. This park contains walking trails, an exhibit hall, a classroom and a rental facility. Additionally, this park offers many educational programs and special events throughout the year as well as programs for school groups, scouts, and day camps.

Performs a variety of park maintenance and program implementation activities at assigned facilities.

This class works under close to general supervision according to set procedures, but determines how or when to complete tasks.

MORE INFORMATION