Your Very Next Step newsletter for July 2012
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“Things of the spirit are what count: brotherhood – in a day when there is too much hatred at home and abroad; cheerfulness – in a day when the pessimists have the floor and cynics are popular; service – in a day when millions are interested in getting or grasping, rather than giving”
— E. Urner Goodman
Founder of the Order of the Arrow
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
– Lao Tzu
“Your Very Next Step” newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
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*** I enjoyed my most recent visit to Italy. I had a wonderful lunch in Milan with my friend, Massimo and his wife Laura. We saw the duomo, La Galleria and La Scala opera house. In La Spezia, Massimo asn I stayed at the venerable “Circolo Uffiziali” officers quarters. Later I moved over to Lerici and stayed with Dave Waterman, with to-die-for views of the Golfo dei Poeti—noted for Shelley and Lord Byron and other poets. Dave and I joined John Potter for a boating excursion to Porto Venere , located on the Ligurian coast of Italy in the province of La Spezia, noted for the Gothic Church of St. Peter (consecrated in 1198) and the Doria Castel. Nearby is Isola Palmaria, where we enjoyed a delightful and leisurely lunch before moting around the island and adjacent Tino and Tinetto. We also motored over to the Maralunga area and found a quiet cove for swimming.
*** Ned’s upcoming travel:
27 July – 4 August – East Lansing, Mich.
5 August – Put-In Bay, Ohio
11-17 August – San Diego, CA
30 August – 5 September-Copenhagen / Lystrup / Frederikshavn, Denmark
22-26 October – London, UK
*** In this issue:
*** Travel news
*** Watch a Boeing 747-8 Wing Flex on Takeoff in This Awesome Video
*** It’s Hot Out There… Enjoy the Water Safely and Responsibly
*** Hook up for travel partners:
*** Trips of a Lifetime
*** Change is Coming to Travel Technology, Driven by Access to Data and Eager Developers
*** 300 Minicabs Add to London’s Free Wi-Fi Services
*** TSA expedited security screening—now available at Chicago O’Hare
*** HOW TO GET A GOOD SEAT ON A PLANE:
*** The 10 Worst Airport Terminals
*** Trail / Outdoor / Conservation volunteer opportunities:
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
*** National Rail-Trail of the month:
Rail Trail of the Month: June 2012
West Virginia’s Greenbrier River Trail
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) Volunteers and Housing Coordinator, American Conservation Experience, Flagstaff, AZ
2.) Advocacy Campaign Manager, Bike Walk Mississippi, Mississippi (Jackson area preferred)
3.) Seasonal Restoration Technicians, Sound Greenway Trust, Seattle, WA
4.) Trails Development Manager, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio
…and much more…and it’s all FREE!!!
*** Do you have a travel adventure to share?
Send me your stories and I’ll post in the “Your Very Next Step” and on the YVNS website (http://www.yourverynextstep.com/).
*** Keith Moore needs reintegrating:
*** Here’s the YVNS Travel News for July:
*** Watch a Boeing 747-8 Wing Flex on Takeoff in This Awesome Video
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)
www.wwoof.org – Board and lodging is offered in exchange for a day’s work on the farm. Stays available from one week to many years, and with thousands of hosts available in 53 countries there’s an opportunity suitable for everyone.
For more information, check out A First-Timer’s Guide to WWOOF-ing.
*** National Rail-Trail of the month:
Trail of the Month: July 2012
Indiana’s Cardinal Greenway
One can imagine the collective Hoosier hooray when the final leg of the Cardinal Greenway was put in place last summer. The rail corridor for Indiana’s longest and long-awaited rail-trail was purchased nearly 20 years ago and now offers 62 miles of smooth, inviting blacktop spanning five counties in east-central Indiana.
The newest 20-mile section from Losantville to Richmond is “truly gorgeous,” says Angie Pool, the executive director of Cardinal Greenways, the nonprofit that manages the trail. “It’s way out in farm country, and you go through wooded areas and over small creeks.”
A major boon for the trail’s development came in 2006 with Governor Mitch Daniels’ ambitious initiative, “Hoosiers on the Move.” The primary goal of the program—designed to encourage healthy habits, enhance tourism and boost economic development—was to have a usable trail within 15 minutes or 7.5 miles of every resident by 2016. Flash forward to today, and with four years remaining, that feat is already close to completion.
“We are actually looking at raising the bar with a new goal of having residents within five miles or 10 minutes of a trail,” says Steve Morris, director of the Outdoor Recreation Division at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
To help accomplish this task, Governor Daniels pledged to double funding for trails from $10 million to $20 million annually, primarily by directing a larger percentage of annual federal Transportation Enhancement funding toward bicycle and pedestrian projects. TE has been a major source of funding for the Cardinal Greenway, as has support from donations and private-sector sources, such as the Ball Brothers Foundation and the Lilly Endowment.
“Because of the program, we saw trails that I didn’t think would be built in my lifetime completed in just a couple of years,” Morris says.
The Cardinal Greenway was included in the plan as a State Visionary Trail, one of several to be united to form a statewide system of interconnected pathways nearly 1,000 miles long once completed. And the Greenway is also part of the American Discovery Trail, a network of connected trails that forms a coast-to-coast, non-motorized route across the country.
“The Cardinal Greenway is not just a state trail, but part of a regional trail system,” says Eric Oberg, manager of trail development at RTC’s Midwest Regional Office. “These connections make the trail not just a destination for Hoosiers, but for residents outside the state as well.”
The dream for such a trail began in 1993, when a group of dedicated locals saw the rail corridor’s potential and purchased the land from CSX Corporation. The trail’s name stems from the last passenger train that regularly traveled the railbed.
“The Cardinal Greenway was one of the pioneering flagship trails,” says Morris, “developed early on by future-minded citizens that banded together.”
Groundbreaking began four years later in Muncie, the physical and metaphorical center point of the trail. Much of the city’s Wysor Street Depot, which once served as a destination for passengers and mail, has been beautifully restored to its 1901 condition, with the original woodwork and flooring. The building is included on the National Registry of Historic Places and houses the trail’s headquarters, as well as a model railroad and gift shop. Old-fashioned cruiser bikes with big, cushy seats and large handlebars are also available here for a free spin along the trail.
“They’ve made the depot more than just a place to pick up a trail brochure,” says Oberg, who recalls his visit to the trail fondly. “They’ve made it a destination.”
Along its length, the pathway offers picturesque rural landscapes, fields of wildflowers and several bridges. These tranquil sections are interspersed with the cities of Marion, Muncie, Losantville and Richmond, which offer places to rest, eat and enjoy cultural attractions.
In addition to being a popular amenity for cyclists, walkers, inline skaters and cross-country skiers, the trail features a companion equestrian pathway that stretches nearly four miles alongside the Muncie section and provides access to the Prairie Creek Reservoir horse trail. The Medford Trailhead (at County Road 500 South) has hitching rails, a mounting step and ample room for trailers. But this is just the beginning; future plans call for a 25-mile horse trail to be built alongside the greenway.
Another project hinges on the resolution of a roughly 10-mile gap between Gaston and Gas City caused by opponents to the trail who purchased this stretch of rail corridor years ago. Alternative routes are being considered to replace the current on-road connection. Fortunately, the list of naysayers is small, and the trail has received widespread support from the surrounding communities.
That support has been crucial for Cardinal Greenways, which with only six staffers relies heavily on local volunteers. The trail has a reputation for being remarkably well maintained, especially given its distance. “We pride ourselves on having our trail in pristine shape,” Pool says. “We have 400 active volunteers that help with the trail’s maintenance and they really take ownership of it.”
Supporters also come out in full force for the annual Great Greenway Tour held in July. The event, which draws more than 350 participants, benefits the maintenance of the greenway and promotes cycling and healthy lifestyles. Multiple route options departing from various points along the trail offer trips for all ages and cycling abilities.
As Pool enthusiastically notes, “I’ve been told the Cardinal Greenway is the best-kept secret in Indiana. We’re not a secret any more. We’re here for the communities we span.”
http://www.railstotrails.org/news/recurringFeatures/trailMonth/index.html
*** Travel/Adventure/Outdoors/Conservation employment opportunities:
1.) Volunteers and Housing Coordinator, American Conservation Experience, Flagstaff, AZ
Opportunity: 1 Full Time, Year Round, Permanent Staff Position
American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps, is currently seeking one energetic person to coordinate the activities of up to 120 American and foreign volunteers in our Flagstaff, AZ base.
Length of Term: Ongoing, year round with substantial opportunity for advancement.
Salary: $20,800 per year plus optional free communal housing in Flagstaff.
Hours: Flexible, including every other weekend. 40 hours per week
Benefits: After six months in the position the Volunteers and Housing Coordinator is eligible for permanent status providing full health and dental benefits, 2 weeks of annual vacation time, and sick leave.
ACE Background: ACE recruits a diverse mix of participants from the US and 40 countries to participate in 3-6 month long positions. Crews perform a wide range of environmental conservation projects, including fencing, trail construction, and revegetation projects for National Parks, National Forests, and other land management agencies. ACE corps members are provided housing in Flagstaff, AZ between their remote work projects, as well as general staff support and training to ensure that their experience is comfortable and rewarding.
Position Description: ACE’s Volunteers and Housing Coordinator is responsible for the following aspects of ACE’s Flagstaff operations:
1) Housing: organizing housing assignments for all corps members, managing 15-20 live-in housing supervisors, coordinating and enforcing house rules and cleaning routines to ensure a comfortable and hygienic living environment, purchasing house supplies.
2) Orientation and Training: preparing orientation materials for incoming participants, driving 15 passenger vans with a trailer to meet arriving corps members at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, orienting new corps members to ACE and to Flagstaff.
3) Volunteer Management: maintaining consistent communication with future and current volunteers, preparing certificates of achievement for departing volunteers, maintaining volunteer files, responding to emergencies and organizing medical care for sick or injured volunteers (including after hours), responding to inquiries from concerned relatives or friends, distributing tents and t-shirts to volunteers, coordinating recreation and educational events for volunteers in Flagstaff and the surrounding community.
ACE’s Volunteers Coordinator is NOT responsible for coordinating ACE’s field projects but is responsible for appropriate oversight and support during corps members’ off days in Flagstaff.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be interested in further advancement in ACE and will consider this position to be a potential stepping stone to a permanent career in Non-Profit Management. Candidates must have specific experience and a record of prior accomplishment in organizing complex operations such as volunteer management, event coordination, or non-profit activities. If you pride yourself on being organized, detail oriented, tidy, patient, nurturing, and personable yet consider yourself capable of maintaining strict standards by enforcing ACE housing rules with utmost determination, this position is for you. Candidates must possess strong computer skills, especially Microsoft Word and Excel.
The job is fast paced and unpredictable, so a flexible approach and an acceptance of an inconsistent weekly schedule (including weekends and after hours) is required. The position is perfectly suited to recent graduates in the field of non-profit management, hospitality, or parks and recreation management, but all qualified applicants with strong references will be considered.
Drug users, including recreational smokers of marijuana, should not consider applying, as ACE reserves the right to require drug testing and generally abhors the presence of drug users in our program. Applicants must have a clean driving record and will be subject to a criminal history background check.
Age: 21 and over
Training: Volunteer Coordinators will be certified in First Aid/CPR and 15 passenger van safety and will develop interpersonal and leadership skills while serving as mentors to ACE volunteers.
Application Deadline: None, but will offer the position when we find the right person, so please apply quickly.
To Apply: Please email your application materials to Matt Roberts at mattr@usaconservation.org with “AZ Volunteer and Housing Coordinator” in the subject heading of your email. Each application should include:
1) A detailed resume including two professional references.
2) A supporting letter detailing what you hope to achieve and what skills you have to offer in pursuing a job as ACE’s Volunteer and Housing Coordinator.
Contact: Matt Roberts, Director ACE Arizona
http://usaconservation.org/Home/positions.html
2.) Advocacy Campaign Manager, Bike Walk Mississippi, Mississippi (Jackson area preferred)
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/jobs/job_item.jhtml?id=386800024
3.) Seasonal Restoration Technicians, Sound Greenway Trust, Seattle, WA
Working on a small crew or in pairs, seasonal restoration technicians will identify, survey and control invasive plants and maintain riparian restoration projects throughout the Mountains to Sound Greenway. As a member of the Greenway Stewardship Program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a highly successful team in an energetic, productive and fast-paced environment. Through extensive hands-on involvement in a wide variety of projects and agency partnerships as well as environmental education, you will learn about ecological and recreational use issues on public natural lands and build skills in public land management.
Position Description
Temporary/seasonal, full-time, 4.5-month restoration technician position, with possible extension. Crew is based from Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, WA and works on surrounding public land. 10 hour workday, Tuesday-Friday and at times Wednesday-Saturday when working volunteer events. High physical demand; technicians will work in variable weather conditions, at times in remote locations, on difficult terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
Primary Responsibilities
Work with staff to complete ecological restoration projects including: manual, chemical and mechanical invasive weed control, noxious weed surveys, and plant establishment/site maintenance.
Lead Saturday volunteer land stewardship events in the Greenway twice a month, which includes developing relationships with and educating volunteers, especially youth, about the Greenway, site history, and other relevant information.
Potentially to include working for a portion of the season on new trail construction.
Work with hand tools, herbicides and power equipment.
Required Qualifications
Strong interest in ecological restoration and public land management.
At least one year of field experience with ecological restoration projects.
Familiarity with Northwest native plants and common invasive plants.
Familiarity with hand tools and how to use them.
Proven oral communication skills and ability to represent the program in a professional manner.
Ability to work independently and with a team and to plan and prioritize multiple tasks.
Clean driving record.
Transportation to Lake Sammamish daily (transportation from there to worksites is provided).
Desired Qualifications
Experience using herbicides to control invasive weeds.
Herbicide applicator’s license.
Experience surveying vegetation and using GPS.
CPR, basic first aid, and/or wilderness first aid a plus.
Compensation / Benefits
Salary is $14.00/hour. Hands-on experience in ecological restoration Opportunity to strengthen skills relating to public natural lands management and interact with a wide variety of groups and individuals while completing projects on multiple agencies lands as well as private parcels.
Hands-on and formal training may include: ecological restoration and other topics related to conservation and public natural lands management.
Program Mission and Challenge
The Greenway Stewardship Program provides long-term stewardship of public lands in the Mountains to Sound Greenway, which consists of over 800,000 acres of public lands along Interstate 90 from Seattle to Central Washington. This program works on federal, state, county and city lands completing tree plantings, invasive plant removal, riparian restoration, logging road removal, trail maintenance and construction, and a host of other stewardship activities. The involvement and education of thousands of volunteers yearly is a major component of the program.
In the early 1990s, with the population of the Seattle area rapidly growing, the farms and forests leading out of the city along Interstate 90 were threatened to be lost forever to urban sprawl. A group of citizens led the charge to find a better way. The Greenway Trust was formed and a diverse coalition of people created a vision to preserve, protect and enhance this corridor and its ecological and recreational resources. In the past 20 years over 125,000 acres of land has been added into public ownership tying together a 100-mile corridor of permanent public natural areas. At the same time, the budgets of public land management agencies have shrunk. The ability of our government agencies to manage the land in their care is threatened. The Greenway Stewardship Program was created to bring together the strengths and resources of several partners to help meet the challenge of caring for this important landscape.
About the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust
The Greenway Trust is a non-profit organization working to protect forests and open spaces and to connect trails in a 100-mile corridor along Interstate 90, from Seattle to central Washington. (See mtsgreenway.org for more information). The Trust works with local, state and federal agencies, private companies, civic and environmental groups and volunteer organizations. The Greenway Trust actively seeks a diverse team of people who enjoy working together to high standards of productivity and quality.
Application Process
Please email a current resume and cover letter describing your past experiences as they relate to the position to: Jennifer.McKeown@mtsgreenway.org
Email responses are preferred, but hard copies will also be accepted. Jennifer McKeown, Restoration Project Coordinator Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, 911 Western Avenue, Suite 203, Seattle, WA 98104
http://www.americantrails.org/NewsAction/mtns-sound-trail-job-apr2012.html
4.) Trails Development Manager, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Metroparks is seeking an enthusiastic and eminently qualified candidate to plan, administer and evaluate trail programs and projects. The individual selected will join hundreds of like-minded employees dedicated to conservation, education and recreation, in support of the “Emerald Necklace”, an open space of natural beauty and diversity. This is a newly created opportunity to expand the trail network in one of the finest park districts in the United States. The position serves as the Park District s manager for planning and development of new trails and trail additions.
Cleveland Metroparks was established on July 23, 1917 to provide open space for the people of Greater Cleveland, as well as to conserve and preserve the natural valleys of the area. Today, Cleveland Metroparks consists of more than 22,000 acres of land in 16 reservations, 8 golf courses, over 100 miles of parkways, and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It is a multiple winner of the AAPRA/NRPA Gold Medal Award. Cleveland Metroparks is a five (5) time winner of the prestigious NorthCoast 99 Award. NorthCoast 99 is an annual recognition program that honors 99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio.
The Park District offers an array of facilities and opportunities such as cross country skiing, hundreds of miles of trails (Bridal, hiking, physical fitness, mountain bike, and all purpose trails), fishing, picnicking, golfing, swimming, hiking, winter recreation including tobogganing, wildlife areas, outdoor education, and a wide variety of special events and programs.
Located on the shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland is a great place to live, work, and play. It s one that is a must-see destination for tourists and a powerful force in the world economy. Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region have best-in-class assets, attractions and opportunities and an alluring quality of life. It s one that has four million diverse residents and an enviable lifestyle and a $140 billion economy. It s one that has a rich history of civic involvement philanthropy. Medical care is world class.
The qualifications one must possess for Trails Development Manager include a Bachelor s degree in one of the following disciplines: environmental science, ecology, landscape architecture, recreation, park and recreation management, biological sciences, transportation planning, or related discipline, from an accredited college or university. The qualified candidate will have a minimum of three years experience in all aspects of trail building: planning, project management, and verifiable experience in supervising construction crews and volunteers. Strong verbal and written communication skills are necessary as the Trails Coordinator will make presentations to local planning commissions, Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners and the general public and stakeholders. Additionally, s/he will serve as liaison with trail user and citizen advisory groups. Preferred are a trail certificate from U.S. Fish and Wildlife or U.S. Forestry Service and designation as a Certified Prescribed Fire Manager. Must be willing to work weekends and attend evening meetings.
The salary range for the Trails Development Manager position is $47,000 $70,000. The position is open until filled.
A detailed job posting can be accessed at www.clemetparks.com/aboutus/employment/hr_fulltime.asp
Cleveland Metroparks invites applications to the position of Trails Development Manager. Please provide with your résumé, a cover letter referencing position #11095 and describing how your background aligns with all the position qualifications. Email your résumé to resumes@clevelandmetroparks.com
Cleveland Metroparks is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse and talented workforce
Cleveland Metroparks
4101 Fulton Parkway
Cleveland, Ohio 44144
Phone: 216-635-3241
Contact: Joel Howson
resumes@clevelandmetroparks.com
http://www.trailbuilders.org/resources/joblist.html
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2012 The Job of the Week Network LLC
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Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
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