Forest Health Steward
Length: Term of positions is 18 weeks
Location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
Living Allowance: $600/week
AmeriCorps Award: Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $2,474.27 (pre-tax).
Start Date: Desired Start Date: May 22, 2023
Application Due Date: Preference given to applicants that submit application by 3/6/2023
Title of Position: Forest Health Steward
Position Details:
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.
Stewards is partnering with the Natural Resource Stewardship branch of Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO). Natural Resource Stewardship hosts a wide variety of programs under which natural resource management and monitoring are conducted. The Forest Health Steward would work on Forest Health issues at the park, including collecting monitoring data about the spread of white pine blister rust in the park's forests, outplant seedlings, and protect high value trees. The mission of the Forest Health program is to mitigate the effect of invasive pests and pathogens in these forests. Native pests are allowed to follow their natural process, except areas that have cultural significance and high visitation.
Position Responsibilities will include:
- Monitor Limber Pine trees. This includes:
o Survey 18 different limber pine stands for the presence of white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle beetles.
o Navigate to forest plots over challenging terrain using GPS, map, and compass in a backcountry setting.
o Hike up to 15 miles in a day carrying a 40lb pack.
o Apply chemical pheromones to monitored trees to reduce beetle kill
o Work safely under potentially dangerous environmental conditions and comply with organizational safety standards at all times
o Data entry on geospatial tablets and paper forms.
o Assist with data entry, management, and quality control in an office setting
o Collaborate and communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors
- Protect high value trees from beetles and other forest pests. This includes:
o Navigate to tree stands in the front country at historic locations and high visitor use areas. Apply chemical pheromone patches to trees to slow the spread of insects.
o Data entry on geospatial tablets.
- Plant limber pine seedlings (this activity would be approx. 2 weeks. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a full-time tree planting internship). This includes:
o Plant limber pine seedlings in areas burned by wildfire in 2020
o Overnight backcountry camping
o Data collection on geospatial tablets and paper forms.
- Assist with a variety of natural resource management projects on an as-needed basis, such as native plant restoration, invasive plant control, hazard tree surveys, limber pine cone collection, pruning white pine blister rust, and wildlife monitoring.
Minimum Requirements:
- Learn/apply tree ID, pest id, field collection methods.
- Collect accurate data in the field using electronic tablets
- Navigate to forest plots over challenging terrain using GPS, map, and compass in a backcountry setting
- Hike up to 15 miles in a day carrying a 40lb pack
- Work in extreme weather conditions with exposure to difficult terrain, altitude, poisonous plants, biting insects, wild animals, herbicides, and wildlife pharmaceuticals
- Work safely under potentially dangerous environmental conditions and comply with organizational safety standards at all times
- Assist with data entry, management, and quality control in an office setting
- Collaborate and communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors
- Maintain a positive, flexible outlook when working on a variety of projects
- Ability to pass a Motor Vehicle Records Check (must be at least 21 year old or have had a license for 3 years)
- Ability to work outdoors at elevations above 8,000 feet for 8-10 hour days.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of tree species in the Rocky Mountains
- Knowledge of forest pests and pathogens
Benefits:
- Position is eligible for an AmeriCorps education award upon successful completion of the program. Value of education award is $2,474.27 (pre-tax).
- Living Allowance: $600/week (pre-tax)
- Training Opportunities
o Rocky Mountain National Park program orientation
o Limber pine survey protocol training
o Training on identifying white pine blister rust
o Safety trainings for vehicle operation, working under inclement environmental conditions
How to Apply:
Apply on-line by clicking the "Apply Externally" button. In addition to your resume, please submit a one page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position.
Application Questions:
Please contact Alex Whittow with any questions at awhittow@conservationlegacy.org.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, political affiliation, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.