Let’s Go Birding Internship - ONSITE - Colorado National Monument Fruita, CO

Environment for the Americas • Fruita, CO

24d • Onsite

About The Position

Environment for the Americas seeks to engage young professionals in natural resource careers. For the Let's Go Birding Internship Program, we also welcome applicants with experience managing visual, hearing, or mobility challenges, or who are neurodivergent.
Let’s Go Birding interns help make birding at National Park Sites welcoming and accessible for everyone. Let’s Go Birding is a program funded by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered by Environment for the Americas in partnership with Birdability. The program works to reduce barriers so that people of all abilities and backgrounds can enjoy birding and bird conservation. This includes addressing challenges related to mobility, vision, hearing, neurodivergence, and chronic health conditions. The intern will focus on implementing and leading community outreach programs focused on birds. There are opportunities to connect with the Natural Resources team and engage in raptor monitoring.
Colorado National Monument, and the Grand Valley, are high-desert Colorado Plateau environments: pinyon pine, juniper, rabbitbrush, sagebrush communities punctuated by riparian corridors along the Colorado River and tributaries that host cottonwoods, willows, and tamarisk. The valley floor is around 4,500 feet in elevation, and the highest elevation in the monument is around 6,500 feet. The duty station and park housing are at 5,700 feet in elevation. Rain and clouds are rare from May to August, but they can and do occur. Temperatures range from the 60s Fahrenheit at night up to over 100 during the afternoons in July. Most of the summer is in the mid to upper 90s, with humidity below 30%, so it’s hot and dry, which makes the desert community thrive and makes river recreation more special. A one hour drive to the east can get you to the top of Grand Mesa at elevation over 10,000 feet, which is where many locals escape the heat for summer recreation in national forest lands and lakes. An hour and a half to the west and you can be in Moab, UT.
From the visitor center, the nearest grocery store is about a 20-minute drive into the city of Fruita. Within a 30-minute drive are many more grocery stores you would normally expect in a city or suburb, like Sam’s Club, Walmart, Sprouts, Target, Natural Grocers, etc. Both Fruita and Grand Junction have hospitals, medical centers, and specialist offices. The Grand Valley is the major halfway hub between Salt Lake City to the west and Denver to the east, about a four hour drive in either direction.
The intern will need to drive a park vehicle to accomplish work duties. A personal vehicle is not required but is recommended to commute between housing and the worksite and to access groceries and other needs on days off. Carpools can be arranged but some people may feel challenged or isolated without a personal vehicle.

Requirements

• A U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Between the ages of 18 and 30, or up to age 35 if a veteran.
• Be willing to undergo a background check upon hiring.
• Available for on-site work.
• Have a valid driver's license and a good driving record.
• A personal vehicle is required for this position.
• Passion for wildlife conservation.
• Interest in birds, conservation, and environmental education and interpretation.
• Strong commitment to communication and learning.
• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and abilities. Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with training or addressing accessibility challenges is a plus.
• Knowledge of birds and birding, including the use of binoculars, is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Regularly facilitate birding and bird education programs in the monument and surrounding areas.
• Review park facilities and programming to identify opportunities for accessible programming.
• Develop activities tailored to specific accessibility challenges
• Establish or build upon bird programs
• Coordinate and host World Migratory Bird Day activities
• Create new or leverage existing relationships with local organizations to develop programs
• Meet deadlines for Environment for the Americas program requirements

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed