Your Very Next Step newsletter for July August 2025
By Ned Lundquist
www.yourverynextstep.com
“What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.”
– Tim Ferriss
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”
– Lao Tzu
This edition of YVNS comes to you from San Jose, California.
http://www.yourverynextstep.com/2025/06/16/your-very-next-step-newsletter-for-july-august-2025
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“Your Very Next Step” adventure/outdoors/conservation newsletter, published by Ned Lundquist, is a cooperative community, and everyone is invited, no…encouraged, no…urged to participate. Share your adventures with the network today! Send to lundquist989@cs.com.
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*** Send us your comments, questions, and contributions to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** In this issue travel and adventure news; volunteer conservation and wilderness opportunities; travel, adventure and conservation jobs.
*** Where am I?
San Jose, California
*** Ned’s upcoming travel, maybe, perhaps
11-15 August Tucson, Arizona / Monterey, California
12 Sept – 26 Sept 2025 Paris/Lyon/Avignon/Aix-en-Provence/Marseille, France
*** The 12 Best Ice Cream Shops Across the United States
By James Wong
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/the-best-ice-cream-shops-in-america
*** The Best Train Journeys in the UK for Leaf Peeping, Ocean Views, and a Seat on the Hogwarts Express
Take the scenic route.
By Monisha Rajesh
https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-train-journeys-in-the-uk
*** The Best Apps for Managing Your Travel Expenses and Receipts
Keeping track of your expenses while on a work trip can be frustrating. The editors of WIRED and Condé Nast Traveler pooled our expertise to find the most efficient and user-friendly apps for the job.
By Reece Rogers and Jamie Spain
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-apps-for-managing-travel-expenses-receipts
*** A look around Japan’s Nara Prefecture
The Nara Prefecture in Central Japan is replete with attractions. Check them out here.
by The Travel Magazine
https://www.thetravelmagazine.net/a-look-around-japans-nara-prefecture/
*** From Sticking Out Tongues to Sniffing Cheeks, Here’s How People Around the World Say Hello
By Chris Ciolli
https://www.afar.com/magazine/beyond-the-handshake-how-people-greet-each-other-around-the-world
*** What to Do If Your Flight Is Canceled, According to Air Travel Experts
These expert-approved tips will have you navigating flight delays and cancellations like a pro.
By Lauren Dana Ellman
https://www.travelandleisure.com/what-to-do-if-your-flight-is-canceled-11764034
*** Step Back in Time at These 12 Frank Lloyd Wright Houses Across the USA
By Mae Hamilton
https://www.afar.com/magazine/frank-lloyd-wright-houses-you-can-visit
*** This Tiny New England Island Is Filled With Literal Treasure—Here’s How to Find It
Search for coveted glass orbs on Block Island, and discover your new favorite getaway.
By Stacey Leasca
https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-enjoy-block-islands-annual-treasure-hunt
*** The Lush Landscapes of Sri Lanka
From rolling tea hills and exotic gardens to jungle paths and tropical splendour, Sri Lanka reveals a beauty far beyond its famous beaches.
by Susie Boulton
https://www.thetravelmagazine.net/the-lush-landscapes-of-sri-lanka/
*** The U.S. Has Nearly 100,000 Miles of Shoreline—These Are the Prettiest Beaches
By Becca Blond
https://www.afar.com/magazine/most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-us
*** Rail Tail of the Month
June 2025 Trail of the Month
July
Idaho’s Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
By Glenn Zinkus
August
Iowa’s Wabash Trace Nature Trail
By Randiah Green
*** Trail/Outdoor/Conservation volunteer opportunities:
1.) Volunteer Guide, South Alabama Land Trust, Fairhope, Alabama
Guided paddles, nature walks, and birding tours are a few of the outdoor outreach activities we host. We reach out to a diverse and knowledgeable array of experts that know about anything from Bald Eagles to mushrooms.
https://southalabamalandtrust.org/get-involved/
2.) Hat Ranch Fence Removal Project, Hat Ranch, Arizona Game and Fish, Williams, AZ
https://volunteer.azgfd.gov/need/detail/?need_id=1097707
3.) Kansas Riverkeeper, Friends of the Kaw, Lawrence KS
https://kansasriver.org/get-involved/volunteer/
4.) Summer Internship Program (Unpaid), Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, Shipman, VA
https://rockfishwildlifesanctuary.org/employment
5.) Volunteer, Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center, Wildlife Conservation Corps (WCC), New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife, Warren County, NJ
https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/conservation/volunteering/
6.) Volunteer at a Puma Reserve, Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Abroad, Cordoba, Argentina
https://www.volunteeringsolutions.com/argentina/volunteer-puma-reserve
7.) Cross Timbers – Blackjack Campground Camp Host position, Cross Timbers State Park, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, Toronto, KS
Volunteer opportunities – Zoo Aides and Citizen Scientists, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/support/volunteer/front-royal
*** Travel/Outdoor/Conservation job opportunities:
1.) Digital Communications Associate, Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), Boston, Mass. (can be based anywhere in New England with flexibility for remote work)
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) is seeking a full-time Digital Communications Associate to join our Communications team. The Digital Associate will manage CLF’s social media channels and other digital marketing efforts that further our mission and strengthen the CLF brand. This position reports to the Director of Digital Strategy. This position reports to the Director of Digital Strategy and can be based anywhere in New England with flexibility for remote work.
What you’ll do
- Manage CLF’s social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram, and Threads.
- Generate, edit, publish, and share accessible daily content – original text, images, graphics, carousels, videos – for priority audiences across various platforms to build brand awareness and drive engagement.
- Track and analyze digital engagement metrics, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
- Work with and cultivate “influencer” relationships to boost CLF’s brand and advocacy priorities to new audiences.
- Support digital fundraising campaigns.
- Collaborate with communications and program teams to translate complex environmental issues into accessible and engaging content to support campaign advocacy goals.
- Manage and track digital advertising campaigns in Google Adwords and across social media platforms.
- Monitor social media trends and best practices, identifying opportunities for innovation
- Assist in managing and updating the organization’s website using WordPress, ensuring content is current and optimized for user experience
- Monitor day-to-day conversations and activity across all social media platforms.
- Work with Director of Digital Strategy to train CLF staff in how to effectively use social media for advocacy.
- Contribute to CLF’s strategic priorities and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and organizational excellence.
What you’ll need
- Up to 3 years of relevant professional experience, including managing social media platforms and developing content for multiple channels.
- Organizational skills and attention to detail in publishing email and social content.
- Ability to manage and self-direct many different projects at once, from assignment to delivery.
- Enthusiasm for working with a variety of departments and key stakeholders at various levels in their understanding of social media.
- Experience using Canva for design and reels creation.
- Familiarity with Hootsuite or other social media management tools a plus but not required.
- Familiarity with WordPress a plus but not required.
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to CLF’s mission.
Our highest priority is finding the best candidate for the job. Research has shown that people of color and women are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t believe they meet every one of the qualifications described in a job description. Our hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with various lived experiences. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background.
About CLF
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) protects New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. A non-profit, member-supported organization, CLF uses the law, science, and the market to solve the region’s most challenging environmental problems, from climate change to ocean conservation to transportation. Every day, CLF advocates stand up for New Englanders—in statehouses, courthouses, boardrooms, regulatory hearings, and community gatherings—to forge innovative paths to environmental progress and economic prosperity for all in our region. To that end, CLF frequently works with communities of color, and those that are economically or otherwise disadvantaged, which often suffer disproportionately from the impacts of environmental degradation.
CLF is committed to diversity among our staff, volunteers, boards, and membership and creating a positive, inclusive workplace culture where all can thrive.
Salary and Benefits
CLF offers a competitive salary, an extensive benefits plan (https://www.clf.org/careers-at-clf/benefits-culture/), and an open, inclusive, and accepting work environment where differences are highly respected. The starting salary range for the position is $52,000-$57,000; actual salary will reflect experience and qualifications.
We recognize the value of work-life balance and also strive to create opportunities for growth for all employees through professional development.
To Apply
To apply for this exciting position, click on the link below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your cover letter and resume.
https://secure6.saashr.com/ta/6181430.careers?ShowJob=637969284
2.) Outreach Program Assistant, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, International Crane Foundation, Decatur, Alabama
https://savingcranes.applicantpro.com/jobs/3817002.html
3.) Restoration Project and Crew Manager, Coos Watershed Association, Coos Bay, Oregon
4.) Forestry Technician (Fire Dispatch) – Direct Hire Authority, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, Branch of Wildland Fire Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, Lewistown, Montana
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/839152800
5.) Environmental Education Instructor, Sound to Sea Environmental Education Program, Pine Knoll Shores, NC
https://nonprofitstaffing.org/job/962/environmental-education-instructor
6.) Purple-Crowned Fairy-Wren Field Assistant: Oct-Nov 2025, Monash University, The Kimberley, Australia
7.) Field Hand, Wright-Locke Farm, Winchester, Mass.
https://www.wlfarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Field-Hand-Job-Description.docx.pdf
8.) Communications Officer, Donor Partnerships & Content, Fauna & Flora, Cambridge, UK
9.) Executive Director, Wild Seed Project, North Yarmouth, ME
https://wildseedproject.net/employment
10.) Managing Story Editor – Center for Conservation Media, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York
11.) Park Ranger Assistant (Ages 18+), City of Fremont, Fremont, CA
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=02efe7473b8a160f
12.) Assistant Conservation Officer, The Barn Owl Trust, Anywhere
https://www.conservation-careers.com/job/assistant-conservation-officer-19/
13.) Invasive Plant Coordinator, Cleveland Metroparks, Parma, Ohio
https://myjobs.adp.com/cmpcareers/cx/job-listing?keyword=invasive
*** Send your job opportunities to share with the YVNS network to lundquist989@cs.com.
*** Your Very Next Step is a service of the Job of the Week Network LLC
© 2025 The Job of the Week Network LLC
Edward Lundquist, ABC –
Editor and Publisher
Your Very Next Step
7813 Richfield Road
Springfield, VA 22153
Home office phone: (703) 455-7661
lundquist989@cs.com
www.nedsjotw.com
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Ha’ina ‘ia mai ana ka’puana
(And So The Story Is Told)
-Traditional ending to Hawaiian songs