Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Mammoth-Mono Lake Ranger District internships available

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Rosanne Catron, 2012 Office Director.

Are you looking for an internship in paradise? There are five internship positions currently available with the Mammoth-Mono Lake Ranger District through the Inyo National Forest. If you are interested in gaining public land management experience with the Forest Service, this is a great opportunity. Please read on for more details.

Mammoth-Mono Lake Ranger District Internships

Position Title: Mammoth-Mono Lake Ranger District Internships—Inyo National Forest

Position Details: Five positions available in recreation, wilderness & trails, timber, wildlife, visitor services, and interpretation. Internship will be multidisciplinary in nature and provide a diverse experience for the intern. If you have a preference or specialize in a particular field please indicate in your application packet. Duty station will be Mammoth Lakes or Lee Vining, California.

Dates: June–September 2012 (dates are flexible, please inquire)

Application Deadline: April 30, 2012

Compensation:

  • Free housing in the USFS barracks
  • USDA Forest Service uniforms
  • A stipend for daily food expenses (inquire for details)
  • All necessary training
  • Public land management experience with the Forest Service

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week. Exact work schedule TBD.

Recreation:

  • Assist with the administration of forest service campgrounds, including, but not limited to, collection and accounting of fees and donations, maintenance of campground facilities, and public contacts with campground visitors.
  • Assist with the maintenance of Day Use Recreation and Fee Sites.
  • Each intern will spend one day a week providing a public interpretive or educational program.
  • Work with partner organizations, youth groups, and volunteers in the control, management, and removal of invasive plant species on the Mono Lake Ranger District.
  • Assist with the management of area roads and trails.

Wilderness & Trails:

  • Assist trail crews with cutting, removing, and the cleaning up of downed trees in the Reds Meadow Valley requiring the use of traditional skills and minimum tools (i.e. crosscut saws, axes, limbing saws, rock bars, log rollers, etc.).
  • Assist wilderness rangers with daily duties such as cleaning water-bars, cleaning camp sites, public contacts, posting trailhead information, repairing signs, reporting trail conditions, and camping overnight for an extended period of time in the wilderness. Must have a desire to live, hike, and function in a wilderness setting.
  • Work with other volunteer groups such as Friends of the Inyo, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and the Back Country Horsemen of California on wilderness projects such as trail restoration, trail opening, rehab projects in meadows, or cleanup of closed areas.
  • Volunteers will always be with a crew leader or wilderness ranger and not required to work alone.

 Timber:

  • Provide assistance with timber sale preparation such as timber cruising (marking & measuring), boundary posting, stand examination, and data collection.
  • Assist vegetation management personnel with fuels reduction projects such as pre- and post-implementation monitoring, unit layout, and inspections.
  • Assist in timber patrols with timber sale administrators.

 Visitor Services & Interpretation:

  •  Offer visitor services & information in the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center or Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center.
  • Assist and educate the visiting public on local and regional information, history, and activities.
  • Perform Interpretation and Conservation Education programs at local sites.
  • Issue Wilderness permits, bear canisters, Interagency Passes, and Fuel wood permits.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 Wildlife:

  • Conduct surveys for Northern Goshawks at various locations.
  • Install remote camera stations to survey forest carnivores.
  • Fence construction to assist with appropriate livestock management.
  • Implement wildlife habitat enhancement projects (e.g. snag creation and road closures).

Internship General Requirements:

  • 18 years or older.
  • A valid driver’s license.
  • Outgoing and enthusiastic when communicating with forest visitors.
  • Interest and/or education in cultural heritage, natural resources, interpretation, environmental policy, conservation education, visitor services, forestry, timber, recreation, campgrounds, invasive species, wilderness, trails, or any related field.
  • Desire to be an integral member of the Mammoth-Mono Lake Ranger District team and represent the USDA Forest Service.
  • Ability to successfully perform duties with limited supervision.
  • Maintain records of duties and results.

 To Apply: Email résumé, cover letter and a list of three references to:

Lawson Reif
Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center Manager
Supervisory Visitor Information Assistant
office: (760) 924-5516
cell: (760) 914-1933