Exotic Plant Management and Restoration Intern
Shenandoah National Park contains 197,000 forested acres along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia. The Park’s backcountry consists of more than 500 miles of trails, including 95 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and nearly 80,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Skyline Drive, the famous scenic tour road through the Park, follows the ridge crest for 105 miles from Front Royal to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesboro. Over a million people visit the Park each year to enjoy views from the Skyline Drive, hike trails, enjoy nature study, camp in campgrounds or in the backcountry, or stay overnight in one of the Park’s rustic lodges or backcountry cabins. The Park supports approximately 1400 vascular plant species, numerous state-rare plant species, and a variety of forest community types. The mountain streams are inhabited by a variety of species of fishes and provide some of the best protected strongholds for native eastern brook trout.
You will manage invasive exotic plants using manual, mechanical and chemical methods, (70%); participate in plant propagation and restoration activities, (15%); cross-train with other natural resource management operations, (10%); assist with volunteer events related to invasive plant management, and participate in training for plant identification, sampling methods, herbicide handling, and field safety, (5%). In the past, some interns have completed independent projects in lieu of cross-training.Seeking candidate that is willing to work hard for the betterment of preserving natural and cultural resources; ability to work as part of a team; good or better level of physical fitness with ability to carry a 30-lb. pack on and off trails and to hike and work under conditions of variable temperature (cool to hot and humid) and terrain (level areas to steep rocky slopes). Ability to drive 4WD vehicles; interest in and knowledge of plant identification and vegetation restoration techniques; and well-rounded academic background in natural resources are all desired skills for this position.
