Self-motivated and detail-oriented individuals needed for important vegetation and soils monitoring internships. These internships are in partnership with the Bureau of land management (BLM) and are part of AmeriCorps. Successful applicants who qualify will receive an AmeriCorps education award. The BLM AIM (Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring) program is vital for tracking the use and health of public lands. More details and other positions available please visit www.rockymountainyouthcorps.org/internship-program. Please contact l...@rockymountainyouthcorps.com with any questions or to apply.
Program Overview: Participants will manage all aspects of vegetation monitoring using the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, & Monitoring (AIM) methodology. More information on the BLM’s AIM strategy can be found on the AIM website: http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/. Crews will consist of three individuals: two crew members and one crew lead. Together, they will monitor land health on BLM lands including National Monument lands, vegetation treatments, rangeland allotments, or reference areas using AIM methodology. Within all plots, vegetation will be identified to species; line-point intercept will be used to gather species cover and composition data; soil stability will be measured; and soil pit descriptions will be completed. All data will be georeferenced using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase. Data are entered into the Database for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment (DIMA) on site with tablets and are further analyzed and synthesized into various reports for future land management planning. The crew may also have the opportunity to assist with other public land management projects involving wildlife, range and forestry. Crews will maintain and track botanical specimens of known and unknown species throughout the field season and keep records updated as needed. The crew member will continuously learn the local flora and build botanical knowledge. The crew member should be passionate about the botanical world and other natural systems and have a willingness to share that passion and knowledge with the crew lead and fellow crew member. Service will be completed in remote areas on BLM lands. Crews will be required to drive to several different areas of the Field or District Office throughout a four- to eight-day service week (“hitch”), camp overnight, hike several miles a day, and return to the office for equipment and data management. Crew members are expected to provide their own camping equipment for use while in the field Minimum Qualifications: - College Graduate (Bachelor’s, at minimum) with degree in ecology, botany, soil science, agriculture, range, plant ecology, plant biology, plant systematics, natural resource management or a related field. - Eligible to accept a 900-hour service term with Americorps o Aged between 21 and 30 (civilian) or 35 (veteran) years upon hire o With U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residence and associated identification, including an image of a signed social security card AND another acceptable primary form of documentation - Ability to produce identification as stipulated by I-9 upon hire - Valid US driver's license and insurable driving record - Ability to pass Rocky Mountain Youth Corps background checks - Experience with and knowledge of Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) - Self-motivated and able to serve independently with limited supervision after the initial training period. The applicant must be able to maneuver and operate in a mixture of office and fieldwork. - Physically capable of standing and walking (up to 8 miles/day on rough, uneven terrain), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100 degree (F) heat while maintaining a cheery to neutral attitude. - Experience and willingness to spending multiple days (1-4 days at a time) car-camping in remote areas; familiarity or willingness to learn and adhere to best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles - Willingness to spend several hours per day and/or per week riding in, navigating, and driving a 4WD vehicle on- and off-highway. - Ability to serve in and respond to adverse weather conditions including extreme heat, monsoonal rains, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions) - Current or ability to obtain CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, and Defensive Driver Training certificates - Passionate about learning the world of plants, plants’ interface with soils, and how plants can help inform us in understanding the landscape Preferred Qualifications: - At least 1 year of experience using taxonomic keys to identify plants to species in the field, from photos, and from pressed specimens (familiarity with flora in Colorado or adjacent states is preferred). - AND/OR Experience or education using taxonomic soil keys or equivalent mechanism to identify ecological sites Experience hand texturing various types of soils, experience digging quality soil pits to characterize and document all horizons, and experience using soil series descriptions, web soil survey or equivalent soil datasets - Experience or interest in large scale, spatially-balanced monitoring designs - Experience working as part of a small team and able to work well with others with excellent communication, organizational, and planning skills. - Experience with handheld GPS units and External GNSS GPS antennae and basic troubleshooting - Experience with ArcGIS Online interface and knowledge of ArcGIS Online Maps - Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads and driving for extended periods of time (2-3 hours at a time). Public Land Corps: The Public Land Corps program provides the opportunity for young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years to serve on conservation projects on public lands. Participants must successfully complete 640 hours that include at least 120 hours on federal lands through the PLC. PLC members are not federal government employees, but those who successfully complete the PLC requirements are then eligible to use, for two years, a noncompetitive hiring status for consideration when applying to competitive service positions. https://www.blm.gov/careers/students-and-grads/public-lands-corps
