Seminar: Meet the National Parks of Boston Climate Conservation Corps

The Lab’s August seminar presentation features National Parks of Boston’s Climate Conservation Corps (NPB CCC)!

NPB CCC is a service-learning program that addresses climate change through lenses of understanding, mitigation, adaptation, and communication. The National Parks of Boston is comprised of three sites with valuable historic, natural, and cultural resources. The CCC program is evaluating how these important assets will be affected by climate change and what action(s) can be taken to conserve them. The team is gaining real-world experience relevant to conservation, while furthering the park’s mission and commitment to climate response.

Join us Thursday August 15 from 2:00-3:00pm for this free virtual seminar to meet the CCC and learn more about their work!

About the Climate Conservation Corps

Rachel Muller (she/her) | Program Coordinator

Rachel Muller manages the day-to-day operations of NPB CCC and is committed to the long-term success of the program by making sure NPB CCC is innovative, collaborative, and solution oriented. She comes to the National Parks of Boston from Orlando, Florida, where she was the Sustainability Planner for the City of Titusville. As a Sustainability Planner, Rachel helped the City of Titusville implement resilient and sustainable strategies in city operations. Rachel is passionate about finding local solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and working with communities to address environmental and social vulnerabilities. Rachel received her B.A. in Political Science and B.A. in Economics from the University of Florida, and she holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in Environmental Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology. When Rachel is not at work, she spends her time exploring (via public transportation) charming New England small towns.

Mason Bunker (he/him; they/them) | Strategic Planning Coordinator

Mason Bunker strategizes the future of the NPB CCC, looking ahead for long term sustainability, funding, and partnership opportunities, as well as developing a multi-year strategic plan. He regularly engages with program stakeholders across multiple disciplines of climate response, curates promotional materials for the Corps, and supports pilot year projects where he is able. Mason began his journey into conservation and environmental research during his undergraduate years at Bates College, majoring in environmental studies. He focused on carbon sequestration, where he explored the potential benefits of mineral carbon storage and researched salt marshes as natural carbon sinks.

Ellie Bychok (she/her) | Crew Member

Ellie Bychok comes to the National Parks of Boston with a B.S in Environmental Conservation and Sustainability from the University of New Hampshire. She pursued this degree and her current role with the Climate Conservation Corps (CCC) because she has a desire to make a difference within her community. During her time with the CCC, Ellie has enjoyed addressing climate change through outreach and communication the most. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants around Boston and relaxing at the beach.

Evan Paris (he/him) | Crew Member

Evan Paris comes to the NPB CCC from a background in science. In 2021 he graduated from Vassar College with a degree in biochemistry, then worked as a post-bacc in a plant microbiology lab before deciding that he wanted to pursue a career that allowed him to tackle the climate crisis more directly. In his free time he enjoys climbing trees, hugging trees, and walking around trees.

Olivia Smith (she/her) | Crew Member

Olivia Smith was born and raised in New England, graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. Her job with the National Parks of Boston has given her opportunities to think about how climate change is impacting the local environments she was raised in and loves so much. As a Climate Conservation Corps crew member, Olivia has worked as lead for projects examining energy efficiency and development of educational materials. For her independent work, Olivia is examining how sea level rise will impact coastal breeding birds on Boston Harbor Islands.