Resource Management Internship

This internship is offered in partnership with Wild Rivers Conservancy and the National Park Service at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. 

Wild Rivers Conservancy is recruiting applicants for up to two Resource Management internships at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway during the summer of 2024. Positions will be temporary, full-time, for a minimum of 10 weeks, beginning May 30, 2024. 

The Riverway, one of the nation’s first wild and scenic rivers, is a National Park consisting of 255 river miles that flow through some of the most scenic and least developed land in the Upper Midwest. Learn more at: www.nps.gov/sacn 

Wild Rivers Conservancy is a nonprofit organization that works to inspire stewardship to forever ensure the rare ecological integrity of the St. Croix and Namekagon Riverway. 

Learn more at: www.wildriversconservancy.org  

Position Summary 

These positions will work within the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway’s Natural Resources Program, which is housed within the Resource Stewardship and Education Division. They will be supervised by the park’s terrestrial biologist and/or aquatic biologist. These internships provide students with practical work experience in resource management in a national park. 

Core Functions 

Interns work with resource management and other park staff to gain a deeper understanding of the park’s resources and perform biological work to protect the Riverway. Interns will learn about and be engaged primarily with: 

• Aquatic species research and monitoring, assisting with mussel inventory/surveys throughout the Namekagon River
• Forest Health research, conducting surveys to better inform oak wilt models
• Assisting with interpretation and education at the National Park Service Trego Visitor Center

Other activities may include: 

• Assisting with Invasive and non-native plant control using hand tools, power tools, and herbicides. Sites will be accessed by vehicle, canoe/kayak, and on foot
• Terrestrial restoration activities such as tree planting, inter-seeding local ecotype seed, and installing erosion control materials
• Terrestrial resource monitoring activities including bat acoustic surveys and invasive species monitoring
• Aquatic species research and monitoring activities, including fish and native mussel surveys, water quality monitoring, aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling, and zebra mussel monitoring
• Outreach activities on resource management projects, issues, and resources to inform and engage partners and local citizens

Qualifications 

• Must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
• College student or recent graduate with coursework in natural, physical, or cultural sciences; resource interpretation; natural or cultural resource management; outdoor recreation; or park/recreation management
• General knowledge of the National Park Service or St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is helpful
• Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team, be detail-oriented and organized, and follow oral and written directions
• Good oral and written communication skills and basic computer familiarity
• A valid state driver’s license is required
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds independently, and up to 50 pounds with assistance

Work Site and Conditions 

• Interns will be based out of the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Trego Visitor Center in Trego WI
• Work in the field is required and will involve some physical activity, including walking, standing for long periods, carrying a 3-gallon backpack sprayer, and paddling a kayak or canoe at a variety of park locations
• The work schedule is anticipated to be Monday – Thursday, 10-hour days. Due to the nature of the work, this is flexible with some days lasting 12+ hours and the ability to adjust other days to fewer hours
• An internship of at least 10 weeks is preferred. Flexibility in the length of the internship is negotiable, but the intern must be able to begin on May 29th, 2025
• A fingerprint and background check are required

Benefits 

• Food and expense allowance of $500 per month
• Housing is provided for the duration of the internship for those coming from outside of the area.
• Training in paddling skills and CPR/First Aid
• Training in herbicide application and power tool use such as chainsaws

● Up to $1500 for college credits/tuition is provided to the school in which the student is enrolled. ● With 250 hours worked, you will receive a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass that provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies (valid for 12 months after issue)