Internship- Denali National Park Invasive Plant Management Placement

Position Summary 

Work in Denali National Park assisting biologists and natural resource managers with inventory, monitoring, and control of invasive terrestrial plants. This position is focused on working to stop the spread of invasive species in Denali National Park and support healthy ecosystems. You will work primarily with a small field crew to complete these surveys but will on occasion work with community partners and volunteers to complete this work. This position will require occasional overnight travel and camping to access more remote locations within the park.

Schedule 

May 19, 2025 - September 7, 2025

Additional Requirements for Application:

On your resume, please include all relevant experience gained through employment, school, volunteering or personal experience.

In addition to a resume please include short essay answers to these questions to receive full consideration for this position.

1. Describe your ability to work effectively in challenging conditions

2. Describe your experience working with a small team to complete complex tasks

3. Describe why you applied to this position and what you hope to gain from it.

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

• Perform identification of native and non-native plants.

• Perform invasive plant removal using both hand pulling and chemical herbicide treatments (you will be trained on the proper methods).

• Perform revegetation treatments in disturbed habitats.

• Record data in both digital and paper formats with a high degree of precision.

• Work in remote environments often in cold/hot/rainy/and buggy conditions. Often you will access sites by driving and hiking, but you may also travel to some remote field sites by small airplane.

• Work closely with a small team towards a shared goal, with occasional time spent working alone.

• Hike up to 10 miles per day on rough terrain where there are no trails, and may be thick brush and steep hills, while carrying a pack weighing up to 30 pounds.

• Work, travel, and camp in bear habitat safely (you will receive proper training on best practices and carry bear deterrent in the field)

Marginal Duties 

• Perform GIS data management and analysis.

• Use technical flora to identify terrestrial plants.

• Assist leading youth and adult volunteers in habitat restoration

• Assist with writing reports and completing other documents related to work done.

• Assist with other projects as needed (i.e. trail impact monitoring).

Required Qualifications 

• Ability to live and work in remote areas with limited amenities.

• Personal, work, or academic knowledge related to botanical identification or natural history.

• Competency using Microsoft word and excel programs, and general computer literacy.

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience collecting scientific data.

• Experience hiking and camping.

• Knowledge of ESRI GIS mapping and data collection products.

• Experience collecting botanical vouchers and using technical flora for plant identification.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Interns will stay in seasonal staff housing. There are 2 people per cabin and each person has their own bedroom with the kitchen and living room being shared. There is a common bathhouse and laundry building which is easy walking distance from the cabins.

• There is cell phone service through several major carriers at the park entrance and headquarters, but most of Denali does not have cell phone coverage outside of these front country areas.

• There is a small grocery store in town and several restaurants, but few other amenities. Park staff will work with you to make sure you are fully prepared to live in this rural setting.

Compensation  

$350/week living allowance

$1,500 one-time roundtrip travel allowance

$1,050 duty-related reimbursements (to use for in-season travel)

$1,200 Travel Booked by SCA (for SCA staff to book hotel stay for each intern during training in Anchorage)

AmeriCorps eligible (450-hour Award: $1,956.35)

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

Personal Vehicle Information

Not needed

Additional Benefits 

Bear Safety

Defensive Drive Training

AmeriCorps: Eligible/Optional

Equal Opportunity Statement 

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. 

 Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.