Individual Placement - Sea Turtle and Gopher Tortoise Surveys

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Student Conservation Association

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Jacksonville, FL, United States

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Program Dates: 1/5/2026 - 12/18/26 = 50wks

Program Description:

The Naval Station Mayport located in Jacksonville Florida requires a single SCA participant to assist Navy Natural Resource Manager (NRM) with field surveys. FWC Marine Turtle Permit Datasheet, GPS location database of gopher tortoise surveys, and bird survey datasheets

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • Manage Naval Station Mayport's sea turtle monitoring program including, but not limited to, the following: successfully complete required trainings, including a 2-day in-person training; train volunteers (oral presentations); recruit new volunteers; create and distribute monitoring schedules each month; maintain daily communication (text) with Lead Volunteers; conduct daily sea turtle nesting surveys, mark nests, conduct inventories at nests, and record data in FFWCC's Survey123 Apps; maintain data spreadsheets and complete end-of-season reports; respond to reports of injured and dead turtles, potentially after hours or during weekends; deliver weak and injured turtles to an animal hospital; educate beach visitors about Base policies and sea turtle-friendly beach conduct.
  • In general, tasks will be performed by working closely with NS Mayport's natural/cultural resources manager.
  • Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, excellent organization and planning skills, and the ability to adapt to frequent change and incidents.
  • Find and remove invasive plants.
  • Survey for and monitor gopher tortoise burrows.
  • Respond to reports of dead and injured wildlife, potentially after hours or during weekends; transport injured wildlife to animal hospitals.
  • Conduct surveys for nesting shorebirds and enter data in an FFWCC database; may conduct surveys for landbirds (point-counts) and secretive marsh birds. Enter historic and new bird survey data in the Avian Knowledge Network.

Marginal Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • As needed, design and install signs to improve conservation outcomes.
  • As needed, assist other Public Works Department Environmental staff and the Installation Environmental Programs Director

Member Benefits:

  • Living Allowance: $376 per week
  • Travel Allowance: $1,100.00 one-time
  • Duty-related travel/expenses: Up to $200 one-time (reimbursable)
  • Housing Allowance: $1,484.95 per month
  • Equipment/Services / Supplies Provided by Navy/Installation
  • Personal protection field equipment- hard hat, gloves.
  • Equipment/ Supplies to be Provided by Recipient
  • Health Insurance Provided

Member Qualifications:

  • Driver's license
  • Personal vehicle required.

Additional:

AMERICORPS: NOT ELIGIBLE

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.