Kane County Forest Preserve District Seasonal and Internship Positions

 

TNC-IL seasonal job opportunities

 

Field Ecology Course for Students

 

ENCAP, Inc. Internship Listing

 Ecological Restoration Technician Internship - https://encapinc.net/careers/

Still accepting applications for our winter-break field course in the Caribbean!!!🌍🌴🐠

 

WINTER-BREAK, 3-CREDIT, FIELD COURSE ALONG THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF MEXICO! with Ecosystem Field Studies   www.ecofs.org Caribbean Ecosystem Field Studies   December 28, 2025 - January 17, 2026 ·  Earn 3 undergraduate college transfer credits in this exciting 3-week, hands-on, marine field study course. ·  Learn practical scientific skills & field research methods through snorkeling, SCUBA diving & investigating the coral reef, beaches & spectacular coastal ecosystems of the Caribbean. ·  Engage & connect with a dynamic & diverse group of student peers from throughout the US and beyond. Get out in nature by the ocean, breath fresh air, earn credit, and enjoy a safe and inspiring field science course in the Caribbean Coral Reef Open to students from all universities & majors | Accredited by the University of Montana at Missoula, Environmental Studies Program: ENST 391- for 3 undergraduate semester transfer credits Direct questions to Professor Steve Johnson, EcoFS Director at steve@ecofs.org Visit www.ecofs.org for all info! Click on link below for a pdf format announcement or the image below for a jpg format announcement.  Thank-you!   Caribbean Ecosystem Field Studies Announcement (pdf)

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Fall Preview Day - Explore Graduate Opportunities with ESE at Purdue

 Are you considering graduate school in ecological or environmental fields? The Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at Purdue University invites you to our Fall Preview Day on Friday, October 3, 2025.

This free event is a chance to:

• Learn about our MS and PhD programs
• Meet current students and faculty
• Explore campus and research opportunities
• Address questions regarding admissions and student life

 

Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Friday, October 3, 2025
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM EST
📍 Location: Purdue Hall for Discovery and Learning Research (DLR)

RSVP Here

We’d love for you to join us and discover how ESE can help you shape a more sustainable future! Contact us at ese@purdue.edu with questions you may have.

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/

Field course opportunities for students

 

Scholarships for Middlebury School of the Environment

 Scholarships

Students interested in applying for scholarships should submit their complete application along with the relevant application questions by January 15.

#1 Planet Forward Scholarship
The Middlebury School of the Environment has partnered with Planet Forward to provide additional scholarships. Planet Forward is a project at the Center for Innovative Media at the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs that teaches, celebrates, and rewards environmental storytelling by college students. 

• Application question: Would you like to be considered for the Planet Forward scholarship? If you are interested, please describe how you currently use storytelling and media to help influence environmental change and move the planet forward, and how you might draw from your experience on the program to continue this effort? (~200 words). Award winners will be asked to manage and contribute to the School of the Environment’s social media accounts throughout the program

#2 Award for Environmental Science and Ecology

• Application question: Would you like to be considered for the Award for Environmental Science and Ecology? If yes, please let us know how you plan to use your experience in environmental science to contribute to our program and continue your journey in making environmental progress after the program (~200 words). Award winners will be asked to contribute to the School of the Environment’s social media accounts throughout the program.

#3 Award for Environmental Equity, Justice and Conflict Transformation 

• Application question: Would you like to be considered for the Award for Environmental Equity, Justice and Conflict Transformation? If yes, please let us know how you plan to use your experience in environmental equity, justice and conflict transformation to contribute to our program and continue your journey in making environmental progress after the program (~200 words). Award winners will be asked to contribute to the School of the Environment’s blog, highlight conflict and conflict transformation efforts in course assignments, and act as ambassadors upon returning to their home institutions. 

Graduate Student Opportunity // Urban Ecology and Sustainability Lab @UBC

Job posted for Nachusa Restoration Ecologist!

 Nachusa Grasslands Restoration Ecologist (CP V) - 55855 – The Restoration Ecologist develops, manages, and advances conservation programs, plans, and methods for small to medium scale geographic areas. The Ecologist addresses critical threats to natural systems and individual species, fosters cross-site learning among conservation community, and supplies conservation planning teams with site or landscape level information relevant to the planning process. The Ecologist coordinates community support, ensures the maintenance of preserve areas frequented by the visiting public and coordinates multiple projects, sets deadlines, and manages completion. They will assist with managing the Nachusa bison herd. This position is onsite at Nachusa Grasslands near Dixon, IL and this position will close once a strong applicant pool is identified. For more details and to apply, please visit https://careers.nature.org/ and search for Nachusa or Job ID 55855.

Summer opportunities

There is an internship and 2 Americorps positions this coming summer with the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District. We would love to have NIU students fill these positions. We currently have 2 NIU alum on staff, Damon Lubkeman and Cole Heyden, who were summer interns for us and are now full time employees. Feel free to share the attached job description and have any interested students e-mail me. We will be setting up interviews for April.

 

The Americorps positions are coordinated by Ann at Severson Dells. At this point the positions haven't been posted but students in that program receive a stipend and student loan waivers for 500 hours of work starting in May and going into August. We have also arranged for our Americorps volunteers to be housed at New Hall if needed. Housing would be a benefit the Forest Preserve would pay for. The duties for this position are essentially the same as the internship. 

2023 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                     thannan@dekalbcounty.org                  (815) 895-7191 

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