2024 Student Intern Opportunities in Restoration Ecology
DeKalb County Forest Preserve District
The DeKalb County Forest Preserve District carries out a broad range of ecological restoration activities related to our core mission: “preserve, protect and restore the flora, fauna and natural beauties of our lands, as near as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the education and recreation of our citizens”. This position will be from approx. mid-May to mid-August. Wage rate is $14.00/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.
2. Native plant community restoration and reconstruction, including propagation, planting, seeding, watering, weeding, barrier construction and predation control.
3. Seed collection, and assisting volunteers during seed collection activities.
4. 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, species lists. The log will be reviewed periodically by the Natural Resources Manager.
7. Other tasks. Occasionally, interns will assist staff with other related tasks.
Requirements:
1. College student or recent graduate with education or background in biological sciences, forestry, ecology, botany, horticulture, environmental sciences 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 as soon as possible after work begins, preferably before.
4. Valid Driver’s license.
Applicants should submit a resume and contact information for two references by May 6th, 2024 to:
Joshua Clark
jclark@dekalbcounty.org
