Sierra National Forest Intern

Conservation Begins Here

Sierra National Forest Intern

Position Dates: 3/10/2025 to 5/16/2025

About us:

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, community green spaces, and much more across the country..

Description:

This intern will primarily focus on wildlife surveys and wildlife-related office work with the potential for experience with other departments within the Ranger District including but not limited to timber/silviculture, visitor information services, recreation, archaeology, range management, and off-highway vehicle trail maintenance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

Assist and participate in surveys for threatened, endangered, or otherwise sensitive wildlife species including but not limited to California spotted owl, great gray owl, Northern goshawk, bald eagle, and Pacific fisher. Wildlife surveys will be in support of various fuel reduction, timber sale, and forest resiliency projects on the Sierra National Forest. Duties are both field-based and office work, including but not limited to reading and understanding survey protocols, studying bird vocalizations, animal husbandry (mice), completing accurate data sheets, data entry, and maintenance of field gear and vehicles. Intern may also receive ArcGIS Pro training and create maps. Work schedule is highly variable, and changes frequently between nocturnal surveys for owls and early-morning follow-up shifts. Owl surveys will be performed in remote mountainous terrain at night in a team of two people. Interns must be comfortable working under these conditions.  All field work includes driving on rugged mountain roads with a four-wheel drive truck during day and night hours. Additionally, strenuous hiking long distances over steep, rugged terrain (off trail) with numerous logs and drainages to cross over, carrying a backpack will be required.

Member Benefits:

• $350/week living allowance
• $650 travel allowance (Personal vehicle required for shopping, weekends, exploring the area)
• $850/month housing allowance
• $1,459 AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of no less than 300 hours of service
• Housing Provided by USFS

* The allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes

Member Qualifications:

Applicants are preferably studying wildlife biology or a related discipline. Interns must be prepared to handle working in all weather conditions and strenuous hiking. Good physical fitness is required. Be sure to bring a heavy coat, 6-inch hiking boots, hat, gloves. You may be asked to survey in the rain, or hike in the snow. Owl surveys occur at night. Cell phone use and iPod/headphones use is not allowed during surveys but fine at other times. Valid driver’s license required.