Student Internship - Campus Sustainability Office

Intern – Tree Inventory and Processing

ENCAP, Inc. 

Campus Sustainability, Office of the President

Position Description

This is a 120-hour internship with ENCAP, Inc. and Campus Sustainability, Office of the 

President, reporting to ENCAP, Inc. and Director of Campus Sustainability. This internship is 

anticipated to run from May 12, 2025 to June 13, 2025 (5 weeks). In this role, the intern will 

assist with conducting a comprehensive tree inventory of the NIU Main Campus in DeKalb, IL. 

The anticipated length of the inventory will take place over 8-10 days (May 12 – May 23). After 

the inventory has been completed, the intern will assist ENCAP, Inc. with data analysis. 

Additional labors could include benchmarking and research for Urban Forestry Management 

Planning, research and knowledge building of trees for a virtual arboretum database, and other 

duties as assigned. 

General Duties and Responsibilities

1. Tree Inventory

Working with ENCAP, Inc., you will assist an Arborist in the data collection process of existing 

trees located across campus. The inventory is anticipated to take place over 8-10 business days. 

This process requires business to be conducted outside, rain or shine, walking over potentially 

uneven terrain, and over the distance of the main NIU campus. 

2. Data analysis

After the Tree Inventory has been conducted, the intern will assist with data analysis of the data 

collected during the inventory. After data analysis, ENCAP, Inc. will suggest new trees for 

planting. 

3. Urban Forestry Management Plan

The creation of an Urban Forestry Management Plan will be explored after the tree inventory is 

conducted. The intern may assist in benchmarking, research, and informational interviews for an 

Urban Forestry Management Plan for NIU. 

4. Engagement

Another goal is to begin developing a virtual arboretum for the NIU website. This database will 

consist of general forestry information, facts about our current trees, and anticipated additions to 

the campus. The intern may have the opportunity to compile research and assist in the co-creation of this database. 

5. Other Duties as Assigned

To reach the 120 hours of this internship, the intern may be asked to perform other duties as 

assigned in relation to naturalist work or research and engagement. These duties would be 

assigned by the Director of Campus Sustainability.

Qualifications

- Current NIU student 

- GIS experience strongly preferred

- Passion for ecological restoration

- Ability to follow instructions from colleagues/coworkers/team members

- Ability to work in a team environment

- Meet the physical requirements of the position

Pay

The intern will earn $15/hour for the 120-hour internship. This pay is subject to tax withholding. 

The intern may also receive course credit when working with their academic advisor and the 

Director of Campus Sustainability for approval.

Career Services - April 30th End-of-Year Career Fair

 This fair is open to all majors and class levels (undergraduates, graduate students, alumni, and community members); 72 employers are registered to participate. Students can see the list of employers attending through this link and additional details through their Huskies Get Hired account.

Résumé support and elevator pitch practice provided by Braven will be available on the day of the fair (April 30th) from 11:30am to 3:00pm in the Holmes Student Center, Regency Room.

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District Summer Internship

2025 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 5th, 2022 to:

DeKalb County Forest Preserve District

200 N. Main Street

Sycamore IL 6017 jclark@dekalbcounty.org (815) 895-7191

 https://dekalbcounty.org/departments/forest-preserve/

Summer Global Environmental Course