2015 Intern
Opportunities in Natural Resources Management
DeKalb
County Forest Preserve District
DeKalb
County Illinois
The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District carries out a
broad range of ecological restoration and maintenance activities intended to address
our core mission: acquire lands to “preserve, protect and restore the flora,
fauna and natural beauties, as near as may be, in their natural state and
condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens”. Interns will assist and gain experience in
all the routine activities of ecological restoration as carried out in the DeKalb
County Forest Preserves.
It is anticipated that each position will be 4 or 5 days per
week, potentially including some weekend work, from mid-May to mid-August. This schedule may be adjusted, depending on
the needs of the Forest Preserve District, the intern’s background and skills,
or university requirements. Be aware
that many of the routine activities are often physically demanding. The position pays $10.00 per hour.
Primary duties and activities:
1.
Invasive
species control, including spraying (back-pack or vehicle mounted) or
wicking herbicides, weed-eater operation, mowing, and hand-pulling. Invasive species control is a frequent
activity during much of the summer. Cutting,
hauling and burning brush may occur depending on seasonal conditions.
2.
Native
plant community restoration and reconstruction, including planting,
seeding, watering, weeding, barrier construction and predation control.
3.
Seed
collection, and supervising groups of volunteers during seed
collection activities.
4.
Assist
staff with inventory and assessment activities including plant and
animal identification, data collection, mapping and report preparation.
5.
Assist
with monitoring and inventory of rare or endangered species. This may include the use of telemetry and GIS
equipment, and frequent wading in steams, marshes or ponds.
6.
Maintain
a daily log, including activities and, as directed by the
supervisor, plant lists. The log will be
reviewed periodically by the Natural Resources Manager.
7.
Other
tasks, as assigned.
Occasionally, interns may be assigned to assist staff with tasks such as
mowing, fence removal or construction, grounds maintenance or various other
maintenance tasks. Depending on intern
skill sets, they may help guide tours or assist with educational programs.
Requirements:
1.
College student or recent graduate
with education or background in biological sciences, forestry, ecology, botany,
horticulture, environmental studies, or similar disciplines.
2.
Ability
to carry out physically demanding tasks on a routine basis, while
tolerating exposure to heat, humidity, insects, poison plants, and
allergens. In other words, working
outdoors in native plant communities in Northern Illinois during the summer,
all day long.
3.
Obtain
an Illinois Pesticide Operator’s License through the Illinois Dept. of
Agriculture. This must be obtained
within two weeks of hire, preferably before.
4.
Valid
Driver’s license.
5.
Ability
to work well with a team, as well as independently without direct
supervision.
Preferred skills:
1.
A
working knowledge of flora and fauna of northern Illinois or a strong
interest in learning them.
2.
Basic
digital age skills as applicable to natural resource management,
including GIS, GPS mapping techniques, Microsoft Office Suite.
3.
Any experience with mechanized equipment
is a plus: riding mowers, brush cutters, weed eaters, chain saws,
Bobcat, tractor.
4.
National
Wildfire Coordinating Group or Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew
Training and a flexible schedule in March and April.
Applicants should submit a resume and contact information
for two references by April 17, 2015
to:
Terry
Hannan, Superintendent
DeKalb County Forest
Preserve District
200
N. Main Street
Sycamore
IL 60178
(815)
895-7191
