Deadline: Sun, 06/16/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: National Park Service (Federal) Job Field: Forestry Wildlife Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: South Carolina Location Detail: Hopkins, South Carolina Job Description: Congaree National Park uplands were historically characterized by the longleaf pine ecosystem which is one of the most biodiverse but imperiled ecosystems in North America. One of the species that calls the longleaf pine ecosystem home is the red-cockaded woodpecker. The red-cockaded woodpecker is listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered and was last seen at Congaree National Park in the 1990s; however, due to staff and funding shortages, surveys to confirm presence or absence of the species have not been conducted in decades. This position will work to understand habitat requirements and presence/absence of the red-cockaded woodpecker in Congaree National Park. The position will perform avian surveys throughout the park but focusing in the area the red-cockaded woodpecker was last seen. They will also perform habitat surveys and various other forestry related tasks by assisting the NPS Forester with collecting data on habitat metrics. Those duties will include but not limited to performing stand surveys, marking candidate trees for red-cockaded woodpecker cavity nests, taking data on tree species composition, fire effects, and more. Qualifications: DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS -Positive attitude, strong work ethic. -Ability to work in inclement weather over varied terrain. -Ability to establish goals and prioritize work. -Curious about the natural world. -Comfortable working outdoors where snakes, insects, and other wild animals are common. VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS -Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle. -A personal vehicle is recommended for this position. Miscellaneous: Duration: 12 weeks (not flexible) Start Date: 10/07/2024 Flexible Start Date: YES Number of positions available: 2 Remote position: No WORK SETTING Congaree National Park is located approximately 30 miles outside of Columbia, the state capital, where there are many recreational and social activities that the interns can easily engage in. Recreation at the park includes hiking, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, bird watching, and attending ranger led walks/talks. Grocery stores and restaurants are 20-30 minutes away with a few local eateries only a short drive away. Temperatures can vary from mild to hot and humid conditions. The daily work will be both outdoors and indoors. Most of the work will take place in the upland (non-floodplain) areas of the park. Interns may need to hike both on and off trail to reach more remote work locations and potentially work in hot, humid, buggy conditions. Salary: $565.00 weekly stipend Benefits: Relocation allowance: $400.00 HOUSING Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Lodging consists of a bed space in a shared 4-bedroom (6 bed) dormitory that includes, a shared kitchen, shared bathroom and shared living area. Each bedroom includes at least 1 twin-sized bed, dresser or armoire and ceiling lights and fan. The kitchen is equipped with a stove, microwave, refrigerator, coffeemaker, and basic cookware and eating utensils. Additional kitchen tools may be desired by long-term guests. The living room has modest furnishings and a TV. The restroom facilities include an “in-house” bathroom with a stall shower, two sinks, and a toilet. Additional showers and toilet facilities are available in the “comfort station,” located across the gravel parking lot. A washer/dryer is located in the bathroom of the dorm. The screened porch offers additional seating, electric outlets and tables. Internet access is available within the dorm area. How to Apply: Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks Intern positions per winter. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your service delivers messages there. Please visit (https://www.scientistsinparks.org/how-to-apply) for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.) Contact: Carson Lillard (carson_lillard@nps.gov)
