Job Description

The Reading Conservation Corps (RCC) is a seasonal workforce development and environmental stewardship program based in Reading, Pennsylvania, established in 2022 through a partnership between the City of Reading Public Works Department, Berks Nature, and the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The RCC Urban Forestry Fellowship, alongside the 2026 Reading Conservation Corps Adult Conservation Crew currently in the field, are the two main components of RCC programming for 2026-2027.

The Urban Forestry Fellow will work closely with the City of Reading Public Works Department and Berks Nature to research, catalogue, and inventory existing trees, assess and collect data on sites pertaining to invasive and native tree species, and develop location-specific stewardship and planting plans to inform the City’s plans for a tree nursery and future plantings. The Fellow will update existing land management plans, as well as create new ones, and start implementing plans in the Spring. Data collection, tree and plant identification, plan-writing, and communication are desired skills, as well as the ability to work independently and take initiative.

The internship offers candidates interested in the fields of forestry or conservation a longer-term one-on-one job mentoring experience with the City of Reading and Berks Nature, offering advanced, hands-on experience, additional credentials, and direct pathways into municipal and conservation careers.

Hosting Organization

The City of Reading Department of Public Works and Berks Nature

Location

Reading, PA

Schedule

August 24, 2026 - March 22, 2027

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Biological Data Collection

• Inventory and catalogue existing trees in the Department of Conservation Natural Resources database, TreeKeeper.
• Conduct biological plant surveys for the City of Reading and Berks Nature on various sites, with a focus on native and invasive tree species.
• Conduct garden assessments for the City of Reading and Berks Nature.

Tree & Land Stewardship Plans

• Write location-specific stewardship plans for the City of Reading and Berks Nature for various sites that describe in detail for each area which invasive species need removal, and which native species would thrive.
• Update existing land management plans for the City of Reading and Berks Nature.
• Exhibit strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication for writing and delivering land management plans, as well as working alongside various partners in the field.

Field Work

• Support the planting, mulching, watering, post-establishment care, and maintenance of trees.
• Support the implementation of the City of Reading’s tree nursery, informed by tree data collected during the position.
• Manage invasive species with hand and/or power tools (without using herbicides or pesticides).
• Work with Berks Nature and City of Reading staff on field work projects.

Marginal Duties

• Work with the Reading Conservation Corps on tree plantings, invasive species management, and urban gardening.
• Support staff at the City of Reading and/or Berks Nature with large public and community engagement events.

Required Qualifications

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Data/Statistics, Environmental Science/Studies, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscape Architecture or a related field OR equivalent work experience in the field of botany, ecology, biology, arboriculture, horticulture, environmental science, data & statistics, or landscaping
• Professional and/or academic experience in data collection and organization, using spreadsheets, GIS, or similar software.
• Driver’s license.
• Comfort in and openness to operating hand and power tools.
• Fluent in common software, including Microsoft (Word, Excel) and Google (Docs, Sheets) and organizing data in databases.
• Familiarity with plant identification, either through existing knowledge or through comfort using field guides or identification apps such as iNaturalist and Seek.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical conservation skills, including in managing invasive species, planting and stewarding trees, identifying plants, and stewarding urban gardens
• Preference for local candidates, living in or near Reading, PA
• Proficiency or fluency in Spanish

Hours

35 per week

Living Accommodations

No living accommodations provided.

Compensation

• $20/hour, 35 hours/week
• $50/week commuting allowance (paid bi-weekly)
• $1,000 in reimbursable professional development training/travel expenses

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

• Required

Additional Benefits

• First Aid/CPR Training
• AmeriCorps: Not Eligible
• SCA may be able to provide a laptop for the duration of the position that would need to be returned at position end.

Equal 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.