Assist with Audubon staff to ensure that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are incorporated and followed in all aspects of our work.

Stack all sugaring firewood. This position is responsible for the stacking of the large sugarhouse woodpile if there is wood to be stacked at the beginning of the season. The sugarhouse must be fully stocked with wood on a regular basis for the sugar maker throughout the sugaring season.

Prepare Equipment and Tap Sugarbush. The Maple Sugaring Assistant is responsible for preparing taps, buckets and other equipment needed to tap the sugarbush. The assistant responsible for tracking how many trees are tapped and for monitoring the condition of the taps and buckets as well as the productivity of the trees.

Assist with the tapping of the sugarbush. The Maple Sugaring Assistant is responsible for helping to tap the sugarbush on tapping day. He/she may be responsible for leading a group of volunteers on tapping day and giving clear instructions on how to tap a maple tree.

Prepare Sugarhouse for Maple Syrup Production. Includes scrubbing and cleaning the pans, stacking firewood, wiping down counters, setting up the evaporator with the Maple Sugar Maker and maintaining a tidy and presentable appearance inside the sugarhouse.

Gathering Sap. This work includes gathering sap from all of the trees in the sugarbush each time the sap runs. The Maple Sugar Maker will call the Maple Sugaring Assistants to let them know when the sap will need to be gathered. We tap close to 600 trees. The work is physical in nature and can take up to a full day if there are not any volunteers to help gather. The Maple Sugaring Assistants must be willing and able to drive a tractor in order to gather the sap. The gathering may happen on any day of the week, and may need to be gathered several days in a row. The work is weather dependent.

End of Season Cleaning. This work includes the pulling of taps and buckets from the trees, washing, drying and neatly stacking the buckets in the sugarhouse and then scrubbing the pans and flipping them up-side down for safe storage for the year. All sugaring tools must be cleaned and the sugarhouse must be left in a clean, safe and presentable fashion. Much of this work is done with volunteers and/or a second assistant.

Work with Volunteers. The Maple Sugaring Assistants may work with volunteers on a regular basis during the sugaring season. If the sap runs during a Sugar on Snow Party, the sugaring assistant may be asked to gather with the public during the event.

Tractor Care and Maintenance – This includes regularly checking the diesel, oil and other fluid levels in the tractor. If there is a problem with the tractor, it must be reported immediately to the Center Director.

Work at Sugar on Snow Events on March 22 and 23rd as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Maple sugaring experience preferred.

Holds a valid driver’s license.

Must have a flexible schedule and be able to work beginning mid-February through mid-April.

Must have experience driving a tractor with a trailer attached

Willingness to work outdoors in all types of weather; including rain, sleet, snow etc.

Must possess the necessary motivational and physical skills to work doing hard labor for several hours at a time.

Self-motivated, detailed-oriented with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

Must be knowledgeable about, and committed to, the Audubon mission and the conservation of birds, other wildlife and their habitats.

Must be comfortable using hand and power tools as well as the sugaring equipment.

Ability and willingness to drive a tractor with an attached trailer.

Able to shovel, chop ice and stack firewood on a regular basis

Able to lift, reach, climb, push, pull, carry and smile even while gathering sap in foul, cold weather.

This job requires a great deal of physical strength and the ability to lift more than 50 lbs. at a time on a regular basis.

Able to attach a trailer to a tractor.