Applied Ecology Internship

2024 Applied Ecology Internships at Norcross Wildlife Foundation

Internship Opportunity
Three Educational internship positions are available at Norcross Wildlife Foundation (NWF) for the 2024 growing season, beginning in (or around) late May of 2024 and ending in (or around) mid-October of 2024. The NWF internship program is designed to aid applicants with their career development via on-site educational and work experiences. Interns will primarily work on landscape planting, maintenance, invasive plant removal, and habitat restoration tasks; will practice native plant identification through botanical inventories and will aid in other tasks related to the maintenance and care of Norcross landholdings as needed. As participants of an educational program, interns will attend lectures/programs, go on field trips, and work collaboratively on an assigned internship project. The 2024 internship project will consist of preparing and planting an approximately half-acre scrubland habitat. Interns are provided with free housing on-site and a stipend paid biweekly.

Qualifications
The major qualification is a desire to learn more about building habitat using native plants. The following qualifications will all be considered when filling the positions:

• Experience with propagation, horticulture, gardening, farming, wildlife ecology or related fields
• Experience with invasive species removal
• Ability to identify plants using a botanical key
• Preference will be given to applicants with professional or academic backgrounds (BA, BS, etc.) in environmental science, ecology, wildlife biology, botany, and similar fields.

Additional Qualifications

• Ability to handle inclement weather including buggy conditions and hot, cold, or wet weather
• Ability to handle strenuous manual labor associated with outdoor work:
  • Safely lift 30-50lbs
  • Walk and hike on steep slopes and uneven terrain while carrying equipment
• Valid driver’s license from any US state and a driving record reaching back at least six years
• Preference will be given to applicants available for the full program duration (800 hours, or about 5 months beginning in mid-May).
• Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor visa applicants.

The Public Area of Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS)

At the heart of the Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary is a 75-acre parcel open to the public where a substantial proportion of the Applied Ecology interns’ time will be spent. This area provides numerous examples of the value native plants offer to their ecosystems. Ranging from high and dry sites to swamps and rich woodlands, the public area is welcoming, beautiful, and above all, valuable wildlife habitat chock full of both common and rare native species. Most of those species planted at NWS are grown on-site in our greenhouse before being moved to permanent places.

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1939 by Arthur D. Norcross. Its present area includes thousands of acres of wooded hills, ponds, and streams. It is maintained by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc. whose purpose is the conservation of wildlife and the active practice of conservation for the benefit of the public. This includes the propagation of native plants, the preservation of birds and wildlife, and the conservation of land and water.

Additional Duties
Interns will work under the Applied Ecology Apprentice and report to the Applied Ecologist, who will set weekly tasks, organize, and lead field trips, lead trainings, and facilitate work activities. As participants in an educational program, interns will have the opportunity to work with other members of the NWF staff. Additional duties might include boundary identification and marking, trail maintenance, storm cleanup, and other duties as needed.