Housing Support: Housing stipend up to $5,000 for the entire Fellowship is authorized based on actual expenses incurred. Fellow will be required to provide documentation to validate reimbursement. 

Housing Description: Fellow will be responsible for locating and securing suitable housing.

Valid Driver’s License: Required

Transportation Support Description: No public transportation is available at this site location. A personal vehicle or alternate mode of transportation (such as ridesharing via Uber, Lyft, Holoholo, etc.) at the Fellow’s expense, is required for commuting to and from work. Unfortunately, the Refuge is not located near public transit, and the Fellow will need to find their own vehicle for transportation.

Position Description: Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 and encompasses approximately 700 acres and is one of the few natural wetlands remaining in the Hawaiian Islands. The Refuge was established to protect the wetland habitat of two endangered wetland birds. It is the largest lowland wetland remaining on Maui. Keālia Pond is located along the south-central coast, between the towns of Kīhei and Mā‘alaea, it is a natural basin for a 56-square mile watershed from the West Maui Mountains.
The Refuge is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Fellow to enhance the visitor experience to the Nature Trail located outside the visitor center. We hope to recruit a Fellow who values the conservation mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
To implement this position, the selected Fellow will be responsible for:

• Researching and collecting input from refuge staff, volunteers, local plant and insect experts, books, articles, etc., to draft short narratives about the native plants and insects found in the garden.
• Designing a map of the path of the trail including locations of interpretation signs, sitting benches, art murals, etc.
• Designing a self-guided hike brochure that visitors can take through the nature trail.
• Creating and hosting a volunteer docent training focused on docent-led hikes through the nature trail.
• Leading guided tours through the nature trail with visitors to the Refuge.

Minimum Education Level: Open for consideration to only undergraduate rising seniors and seniors who will not complete their degree requirements before September 22, 2024.

Fields of Study:

• Biological Sciences
• Education/Outreach
• Communication/Marketing

Working Conditions Requirements:

The Fellow will work 60% in an office setting and 40% being outdoors in hot, dry, and buggy conditions.

Desired Characteristics:

• Self-motivated
• Creative
• Independent
• Excellent time management skills
• Willingness to learn
• Organizational skills