Have you noticed more Conservancy staff t-shirts out and about on our preserves so far this summer? Led by Conservancy Land Steward Mark Roberts, and thanks to a grant from the Truist Foundation, we now have four Seasonal Land Stewards out on Conservancy nature preserves working on key projects. From restoring degraded trail systems by making them more sustainable and safe for both the community and the environment to managing invasive species and restoring critical native wildlife habitat, this crew is making a very real and noticeable difference.
Hear from the crew members themselves about their experience so far, but first Brandon Tennis, Senior Vice President of Stewardship for the Conservancy, answered some questions about this new initiative and the important role the Seasonal Land Stewards are playing on our preserves and in our community.
Learn About the Seasonal Land Steward Program
The Seasonal Stewardship crew at an overlook in the Lancaster River Hills Conservation Area.
Why is it important to have a seasonal land steward crew to work on Conservancy projects?
BRANDON: The 2022 Stewardship Crew is a pilot program to bring back the seasonal Stewardship Crew of years past. We have spent six years focusing our efforts and investments on building-out a much-needed full-time field staff with exceptional talent and skills. We now have three regional preserves managers who are responsible for the seasonal and daily preserve maintenance across the Conservancy’s entire portfolio of nature preserves while our Sr. Preserves Manager and Forester focus on preserve improvement projects such as access, trails, habitat improvements, and reforestation. The seasonal Stewardship Crew has come in during our busiest time of year to lend extra hands and talents and to support the overlap of work between our regional preserves managers and senior managers.
A member of the Stewardship Team works to clear a trail at Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve
Why does the Conservancy think it is important to create green-collard jobs in our community?
BRANDON: The Conservancy began advocating for a green-collar job training initiative 6 years ago. The grant funding support through Truist and the Lancaster County Community Foundation has given us the opportunity to pilot the program. As the Conservancy’s portfolio of nature preserves grow, so do our responsibilities to care for and manage the properties as publicly accessible natural lands. Through our 53 years of success of 8,000 acres preserved, the Conservancy has the opportunity to support young and passionate people in the direction of professional conservation careers within a growing organization that is leading landscape -scale conservation across Lancaster and York Counties. Personally, I had to travel widely across the United States early in my career to find the opportunities to work in conservation. Lancaster and York Counties have had enough success in conservation to now support the need and opportunity for sustainable green-collar jobs right here in our own region.
What are the key projects the Seasonal Land Stewards will work on over the next several months?
BRANDON: The Stewardship Crew, led by Mark Roberts (Land Steward), is focused on trails and habitat projects for 5 days per week through a 12 week season… that’s a total of 2,400 person hours! The crew’s highest priorities are in advancing our priority projects including building the redesigned trail system for Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves and restoration efforts at Wizard Ranch Nature Preserve as implementation of the Hellam Hills Conservation Area Master Plan.
Get to Know the Crew!
Mark Roberts
Mark Roberts, Land Steward and Seasonal Stewardship Crew Lead
What have you enjoyed/found rewarding about training and leading a trail crew this summer?
MARK: Having worked the previous summer as a seasonal land steward, I get to pick up where we left off at Tucquan with a fantastic group of individuals seeking various environmental careers. I truly enjoy helping to convey my knowledge of the natural world and the multitude of pathways that they can take to further enter into this ever-growing field.
What do you hope the trail crew will leave this job having learned about themselves and conservation/stewardship as a career path?
MARK: I hope that after this summer they are enlightened to the world of conservation. I learned a lot when I was pursuing a degree in natural resources management, but there is a type of knowledge that this work brings that cannot be taught in a classroom, conveyed in a lecture, or learned any other way than experiencing it first hand. I believe that the perspective that they gain from this experience will substantially help them in the environmental path they choose to pursue.
Aaron Eby-Good
Aaron Eby-Good
What is your favorite tool to use in the field?
AARON: My favorite is the McLeod, the rake edge is great for removing duff and plants when you’re cutting a new trail, and the flat edge moves a lot of dirt. The rock bars we use for moving huge rocks are a close second.
Why did you decide to become a seasonal land steward for the summer?
AARON: I hope to build a career in conservation, using the environmental biology degree I’m currently working on. Though in the future my work may be more focused on planning and strategizing, having this on the ground, implementation experience is very valuable. I’m very passionate about making nature accessible to more people of all backgrounds and inspiring the same passion and love for nature that I have!
What excites you the most about this job so far and the work you are doing?
AARON: It’s awesome to be able to spend my days surrounded by birds chirping, and the sounds of the Tucquan creek running next to us. I love learning to identify so many new plants, birds, frogs, and fish!
What is the most challenging part of the job so far?
AARON: Some of the hardest work is removing rocks and roots from the trail, but it’s very satisfying once you’re done.
Which is your favorite hike on a Conservancy Nature Preserve?
AARON: My favorite hike is Shenks Ferry in the spring. I’ve been going there my entire life and I love seeing the flowers!
Ian Batchelor
Ian Batchelor
What is your favorite tool to use in the field?
IAN: My favorite tool to use for trail building would have to be the rock bar. It is incredible how a seemingly innocuous piece of metal can be used so effectively to move massive weight alone when it would take the efforts of multiple individuals without.
Why did you decide to become a seasonal land steward for the summer?
IAN: My reasons for joining the land steward team this summer lie in my desire to give back to the land I grew up using and to the county I’ve lived in for most of my life. I also was drawn to the challenging nature of the work and the opportunity to be outside all day in a beautiful location.
What excites you the most about this job so far and the work you are doing?
IAN: Similar to my reasons for becoming a seasonal land steward, I am most excited about being able to contribute to a project that will hopefully remain in use for decades to come.
Most challenging part of the job so far?
IAN: Most challenging aspect of this job for me has been adapting to the different tools and managing my fatigue levels to last a full day of consistent effort.
Which is your favorite hike on a Conservancy Nature Preserve?
IAN: It is hard to simply choose one, but I would say my favorite hike is the climb from wind caves to house rock on the Clark Nature Preserve. If I could experience one hike again for the first time, it would be that.
Jerilyn Lapp
Jerilyn Lapp
What is your favorite tool to use in the field?
JERILYN: At first, the McLeod was my favorite tool because it’s simple to use—but I’m becoming more partial to the pick mattock because it saves time and energy when I’m dealing with a lot of large rocks.
Why did you decided to become a seasonal land steward for the summer?
JERILYN: This job aligns with my goals for the future, which are not completely defined yet, but focus on conserving nature and understanding ecological processes. I’m learning about conservation in school, but I also want to experience how the work is carried out in the field.
What excites you the most about this job so far and the work you are doing?
JERILYN: I am excited about helping to revamp Tucquan Glen to make it a safer and more beautiful place, spending time in nature every day, and helping narrow down my long-term plans for a career in conservation.
Most challenging part of the job so far?
JERILYN: Initially, it was difficult to adapt to the physical demands of the job, but I am starting to build muscle which makes the work feel much more enjoyable rewarding.
Which is your favorite hike on a Conservancy Nature Preserve?
JERILYN: My favorite hikes are in Tucquan Glen & Pyfer and Shenks Ferry.
Matt Lebel
Matt Lebel
What is your favorite tool to use in the field?
MATT: My favorite tool to use is the McLeod since it’s so versatile.
Why did you decide to become a seasonal land steward for the summer?
MATT: I’m extremely passionate about caring for the environment and helping other see how beautiful nature can be and how this planet is more than just people and our personal wants and needs. Being able to help make nature accessible and viewable to others is a dream come true and I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my summer than outdoors in the nature I care so deeply about.
What excites you the most about this job so far and the work you are doing?
MATT: What excites me the most is working with a team of other passionate people who want to learn and see more of their surroundings. I love being able to stop and look at an interesting organism while we’re working and everyone else will stop to look or get a picture or share what they know about it.
Most challenging part of the job so far?
MATT: Definitely moving giant boulders.
Which is your favorite hike on a Conservancy Nature Preserve?
MATT: I’ve been really enjoying doing daily hikes on the Tucquan Glen & Pyfer Nature Preserves because everything there is so beautiful to look at and I never get tired of seeing it. I feel like there’s something new to see every time I go.
