Sustainable Forestry Intern

The NorthWoods Stewardship Center is hiring Sustainable Forestry Interns for a 10-week summer season. Interns will gain experience while working with Forest Stewardship staff on forestry, conservation, habitat management, and landowner outreach projects. 

Projects during the 2024 Sustainable Forestry Internship will include:

• Pre-commercial thinning, low-impact timber harvesting and trail work in the NorthWoods Demonstration Forest
• Forest inventory for a 10-year management plan update for the NorthWoods Demonstration Forest (working with a Vermont Licensed Forester)
• Invasive plant control (under supervision of a Vermont Commercial Pesticide Applicator)
• Firewood processing and supporting various NorthWoods programs and facilities
• Participation in professional development events and training, including Game of Logging Levels 1 and 2 (paid training at no cost to interns)
• Reading, mini-research-projects and shared learning with other Forestry Interns

Emphasis will be placed on gaining knowledge and understanding while completing boots-on-the-ground projects, with reading and discussions about silviculture, management goals/decisions, and forest dynamics. Current forest health priorities will be addressed, with a focus on climate-resilient forest management, ecological forestry principles, and invasive species control. Educational tours, conferences and/or field trips will be included during the work week throughout the season.

For the 2024 season, the majority of this internship will be spent in the NorthWoods Demonstration Forest, a 1,500-acre land base is located in Charleston and Morgan, VT. Interns will work on forest inventory plots for a 10-year forest management plan update (complying with requirements of Use Value Appraisal, Vermont Land Trust easements, and the Tree Farm Program), as well as implementing silvicultural small-scale timber harvesting following the current forest management plan.

Qualifications:

Qualified applicants should have basic knowledge of ecology and/or forestry, ability to identify local tree species, and chainsaw training/experience (Game of Logging, US Forest Service or equivalent). For those without chainsaw training, Game of Logging will be offered at no cost during the internship.

This position is very physically demanding and requires extensive outdoor work in varied weather. Applicants must be comfortable with this work environment and able to navigate in the woods with a map/compass and GPS unit.

Above all, a positive attitude, strong work ethic and interest in forest ecology/management are essential!

Preferred qualifications include coursework in forestry, dendrology, ecology, botany and/or environmental science; Wilderness First Aid/First Responder training; and/or other forest management experience. Both academic and non-academic forestry-related experience are considered when reviewing applications.

This internship is designed as a training and learning opportunity. We encourage anyone with interest and enthusiasm to apply, even if you do not have all of the desired qualifications listed above.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: People of every race, color, gender, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, belief system and background are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation will be made for applicants with disabilities. NorthWoods believes that diversity in our workplace is essential to building vibrant human and natural communities, and strives to provide opportunities for everyone without discrimination.

Employment Period: June 3rd, 2024 – August 9th, 2024 (10 weeks). 40 hrs/week. Start/end dates may be flexible for qualified applicants with scheduling conflicts. Occasional weekend work will be required.

Compensation:  $16.00/hr paid bi-weekly. This position is eligible for 1 day of Paid Time Off (PTO) during the season. A  gear stipend of $100 will be provided, half paid in the first week and half paid in the final week of the season. Employment at NorthWoods includes personal use of outdoor equipment, wood shop, and access to gear lending library.

On-campus housing and/or local affordable housing options arranged by NorthWoods may be available; details will be provided during interviews