SCA's Native Plant Corps engages young adults in meaningful service learning opportunities to support resource managers in the restoration of native plant communities
2012 Summer Native Plant Corps Teams [1]
The Native Plant Corps has 5 teams throughout the country for the Summer 2012 Season, they are:
o Wetland Restoration Teams, Indiana Dune National Lakeshore, IN (PO-00119851 , PO-00119855)
Durations: Team 1 (6 mos.): 5/16/2012 -11/16/2012, Team 2 (3 mos.): 5/16/2012 - 8/24/2012
The team will be working in the parks’ numerous wetlands in the effort to restore native wetland habitats using various methods that include but are not limited to: planting native plants, collecting seed, applying herbicide, removing shrubs and trees, monitoring and recording planting data, and invasive plant removal; community outreach and educational activities. You will learn wetland restoration techniques and be given the opportunity to teach other volunteers your skills. You may also have the opportunity to work with other park staff on special projects as they arise.
o Botany Revegetation Teams, Superior National Forest, MN (PO- No PO yet, No PO yet)
Durations: Team 1 and 2 (3mos): 5/16/2012 – 8/24/16/2012)
The team will focus on early detection and rapid response through inventorying, mechanical control methods, and GPS data collection. Responsibilities include invasive vegetation removal through mechanical and manual means; GPS data collection of invasive vegetation sites, treatments, and monitoring activities; community outreach and educational activities. Corps members may use hatchets, loppers, chainsaws, and other cutting tools. Members will work in remote and diverse terrain, camping and canoeing to all sites. The team will be working 8 days on and 6 days off. Experience camping and canoeing is required.
o Exotic Plant Management Team Saguaro National Park, Tucson, AZ (PO-00063744)
Duration: (6 mos.) 5/16/2012 – 11/16/2012
Teams will be tasked with exotic invasive plant mapping and removal using a variety of techniques, including pulling and use of herbicides; collect and enter data. This team will be carrying a pack up to 45lbs, in 100 degree heat, over uneven terrain, up steep slopes for up to 10hours a day. The team will need to be able to distinguish up to 20 different species of plants by their Latin and common name. This team will be working closely with other biological science techs on the Buffle Grass removal project on site. The team will be starting each day 5 am to avoid the heat of the day.
General Information:
o Teams consist of 3-6 members and 1 SCA Project Leader
o Extensive training will include: SCA member expectations, Wilderness First Aid, CPR, Leave No Trace, herbicide application, defensive driving, GPS, environmental education, botany, restoration methods, tools usage and safety, chainsaw usage and safety, any other necessary training specific to each project.
o Housing will be provided and vary depending on location
o Outreach and education is an important component to this position, and will include community activities and a mid-season project of your interest.
o As most sites are remote, it is strongly recommended (but not required) that team members bring a personal vehicle to use on their off-time.
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Position Open Fall Native Plant Corps Team - Indian Dunes Wetland Restoration. [4]
Located on the Lake Michigan shore an hour east of the Chicago area, this Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore contains dunes, beaches, bogs, marshes, prairie remnants, oak savanna, woodland, forest, and historic buildings. The surrounding area is urban, rural, and industrial. You will work with a team of 4 and 1 Project Leader, focusing on restoring native vegetation in wetlands. You will learn wetland restoration techniques and be given the opportunity to teach other volunteers your skills. You may also have the opportunity to work with other park staff on special projects as they arise. The work will be completed in varying and often challenging environmental conditions.
Daily activities will include applying herbicide, removing shrubs and trees using a chainsaw, planting native plants, collecting seed, monitoring and recording planting data, and invasive plant removal. Other duties assigned as necessary.
Job requirements: Chainsaw and invasive plant removal experience.
Project Duration: 3 mos. 9/8/2011 - 12/6/2011
If you are interested in this position please email
Mike Stefancic Program Coordinator at mstefancic@thesca.org [5]
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Native Plant Corps Details [7]
The Student Conservation Association’s Native Plant Corps (NPC) takes on a variety of projects related to restoration ecology. We train and deploy teams consisting of a skilled Project Leader and 3-5 Corps Members (interns) to help agency partners achieve their plant conservation and restoration initiatives goals. NPC has partnered with the BLM, NPS, FWS, USFS, non-profits and others located all over the United States. Each team focuses its work efforts in the following areas:
Eradication/Control
With the goal to reduce the total number of invasive species infested acres on public lands, NPC teams learn to identify invasive plant species and determine the best treatment methods. Treatment methods include manual, mechanical, and chemical techniques using chainsaws, pole saws, brush cutters, loppers, manual and gas-powered sprayers, 4WD and all-terrain vehicles.
Inventory, Monitoring & Mapping
Teams use GPS/GIS equipment to compile, map and analyze invasive species data. Additionally, teams monitor treated areas to better evaluate treatment effectiveness and long term restoration efforts.
Restoring Native Plant Species and Habitats
Throughout the country, teams aim to restore native plant species and habitats in damaged and altered natural landscapes by planting appropriate native plants and trees.
Public Outreach & Education
All of the teams engage in various forms of outreach to educate the public about the threat of invasive species, and to let communities know about the restoration work being done in their area. Activities include leading field trips for school groups, attending community events and leading volunteer service days.
Media and Publicity
The teams actively seek media attention in order to increase community awareness of invasive species issues. As a result, news stories are published that highlight the excellent work public land management agencies and SCA are undertaking to control invasive species.
NPC Project Model
NPC teams currently work during three seasons: Spring (Feb/Mar start), Summer (Apr/May start), and Fall (Aug/Sept start). Teams serve from 3-9 months depending on the agency partnership.
The Project Leader is an SCA seasonal paid employee and serves as the supervisor of the team and liaison to the agency coordinator. He/she arrives 5-7 weeks prior to the members’ arrival to work with the agency partner to review project priorities, create the workplan & calendar, do equipment inventory, prepare housing, and many other preparatory tasks. The Project Leader will also stay 1-2 weeks after members’ departure to complete a final report.
The SCA Corps Members are selected from a pool of highly skilled applicants. Many have college degrees and are looking for work experience in the field. Others are seeking experience that will help them choose future graduate studies. Corps Members receive training in leadership, safety, and project specific skills. NPC staff works with each agency partner to develop the skill set that each partner needs.
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2011 Summer Native Plant Corps Positions in Various Locations [9]
Apply for these position in browse all Internships on the SCA webstie. Enter this number into the search field: 13390. By applying for the Native Plant Corps you are applying for all of these positions.
GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, INVASIVE PLANT TEAM, 5/18 TO 8/12/2011
From ocean beaches to maritime forests, freshwater ponds and salt marshes, Gateway National Recreation Area includes many ecosystems that provide homes for a wide variety of wildlife. The park is also an important migratory stopping point along the Atlantic Flyway. The team will be based out of Ft. Hancock located near the end of Gateway's 5 mile long peninsula. Gateway NRA offers plenty of coastal beach access, hiking and biking trails and is within close distance to New York City.
The team will work in a coastal area targeting invasive species: Russian olive, autumn olive, tree of heaven, Asian sand sedge etc. The method of control will include chemical, mechanical and manual methods. Including the use of chainsaws, herbicide backpack sprayers and various other hand tools to remove invasive vegetation (90%); GPS mapping of invasive vegetation sites; data collection on surveys, treatments, and monitoring activities (10%). The work will be completed in varying and often challenging environmental conditions.
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE, WETLAND RESTORATION TEAM (INDIANA), 5/18 TO 8/19/2011
Located on the Lake Michigan shore an hour east of the Chicago area, this Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore contains dunes, beaches, bogs, marshes, prairie remnants, oak savanna, woodland, forest, and historic buildings. The surrounding area is urban, rural, and industrial.
The team will be working in the parks numerous wetlands in the effort to restore native wetland habitats using various methods that include but are not limited to: planting native plants, collecting seed, applying herbicide, removing shrubs and trees, monitoring and recording planting data, and invasive plant removal (90%); community outreach and educational activities (10%). You will learn wetland restoration techniques and be given the opportunity to teach other volunteers your skills. You may also have the opportunity to work with other park staff on special projects as they arise. The work will be completed in varying and often challenging environmental conditions.
SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST, BOTANY REVEGETATION TEAMS (ELY AND GRAND MARAIS, MN), 5/18 TO 8/19/2011
The Team will be working in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest of Minnesota. Over 445,000 acres or 695 square miles of the forest is surface water. In addition, more than 1,300 miles of cold water streams and 950 miles of warm water streams flow within the boundaries of the Superior. Fish species such as walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout can be found in abundance in these waters. The northern forest community thrives with its pine, fir and spruce trees and is home to numerous wildlife species including deer, moose, the gray wolf, and black bear. The team will be traveling through the historic waters ways of the voyagers.
The teams will focus on early detection and rapid response through inventory and mechanical control methods, and GPS data collection. Responsibilities include invasive vegetation removal through mechanical and manual means; GPS data collection of invasive vegetation sites, treatments, and monitoring activities (85%); community outreach and educational activities (15 %). Corps members may use hatchets, loppers, chainsaws, and other cutting tools. Members will work in remote and diverse terrain, camping and canoeing during work days on. Experience camping and canoeing is required. The work will be completed in varying and often challenging environmental conditions.
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Michael Stefancic - Program Coordinator [11]
Mike grew up in the Midwest and that is where his love for the outdoors began. After graduating from Northern Michigan University with BS in Environmental Science, he spent 5 years studying plant ecology under various government agencies around the western US. During that time, Mike served as a SCA member for two years while working on three different teams in ID, AK, and CA. He developed an understanding of natural systems and began to comprehend their complexity through his inquires as an SCA member. Mike started teaching environmental education as an avenue to share many of his experiences and his passion for ecology with others. Recently, Mike finished his Master’s Degree in Science Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Washington. His work at UW allowed him to further study how people learn and understand the world around them through inquiry based experience and created an opportunity for him to return to the SCA.
As the Program Coordinator of the Native Plant Corps his goals are to foster a deeper appreciation of the natural surroundings through restoring native plant communities in a safe and ethical way. Mike works to develop trainings that engage members, assist in the development of the program, and develop a culture of safety within Native Plant Corps teams to create a well rounded experience for all.
Feel free to email or call Mike with any questions or interest about the Native Plant Corps
1491 Tyrell Lane
Boise, ID 83706
P: 208.424.6734 ext 420
F: 208.424.6944
mstefancic@thesca.org [5]
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Brian Doughty - Program Manager [15]
Conservation Corps - Fire / Native Plant Program Manager
1491 Tyrell Lane
Boise, ID 83706
P: 208.424.6734
F: 208.424.6944
BDoughty@thesca.org [16]
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