River Information & Outreach (RIO) Steward, Housatonic Valley Association

The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is seeking applicants to fill three River Information & Outreach (RIO) Stewards positions, available for summer 2021. This position is for weekends only. The RIO Stewards will work 8-hour days on Saturday and Sunday (approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for a minimum of 12 weeks (June 19 to September 6, 2020).

In 2018, HVA launched the RIO program as a response to reports of high visitor density at non-state, non-federal Housatonic River access sites in northwest Connecticut. These sites have fewer amenities in place (e.g., trash receptacles, restrooms), and dense crowds can negatively impact sites by contributing to litter and erosion. The overall goal of the RIO program is to preserve the outstanding natural character of Housatonic River access sites, with a specific objective of engaging with the public to inform about responsible use of access sites (e.g., Leave No Trace principles).