USDA Forest Service

Archaeology Assistant

May - July 2018 • London, KY

What I liked

I had the ability to apply a lot of what I learned in class to field work. My supervisor was amazing and ready to answer any questions I had for her.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Botany technician

June - August 2019 • Alturas, CA

What I liked

I really enjoyed learning a wide variety of plants and staying active; we hiked about 6-10 miles a day.

What I wish was different

Everything was great there. The people, job, and environment was very welcoming. I just wish my internship was closer to home.

Advice

Be open to new experiences and don’t be afraid to try something out of your comfort zone, it could turn out to be one of the best summers!

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Forest Firefighter

May - August 2018 • Duchesne, UT

What I liked

The experience and the self accomplishment.

What I wish was different

School was after fire season.

Advice

Get in shape.

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Wildland Firefighter

May - August 2018 • Logan, UT

What I liked

Great people! Awesome experiences.... Best job in the world!

What I wish was different

More money....

Advice

Be prepared to work EXTREEMLY hard and be gone for long hours

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Forestry Technician

June - August 2018 • Hayfork, CA

What I liked

Being out in the woods and staffing fire engines at peak fire season.

What I wish was different

Stayed longer and gotten more firefighting experience.

Advice

Do it. Branch out.

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Sierra Nevada Carnivore Monitoring Intern

May - August 2018 • Shaver Lake, CA

What I liked

The work and terrain were challenging but the views made it all worth it. The crew was comprised of a bunch of amazing, brilliant, excited wildlife technicians always willing to share their passion.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been able to stay longer.

Advice

I would advise any potential candidates to expect a lot of difficult, off-trail hiking. The first two weeks or so are very strenuous as you're whipped into shape and acclimated to the altitude.

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Rangeland intern

May - August 2018 • Logan, UT

What I liked

I was outdoors and got to see so much of the forest land in both cache and Ogden districts. Plus I learned a lot about the major I’m going into.

What I wish was different

The things we did that day were pretty unpredictable and it’s just me but I do like to know what I’m doing for the week a little ina svante.

Advice

Stick with it, prove to them you know how to work hard.

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Fire Dispatcher

May - August 2018 • Lakeview, OR

What I liked

I enjoyed my job when there were multiple fires for me to handle or tasks for me to take care of.

What I wish was different

It was slow at times making it hard to stay focused on positive things.

Advice

Be ready to learn and have a lot of fun while doing it. There is a lot of pressure in this job and a lot of high pressure situations, but that is the fun of it.

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Forestry Technician

June 2016 • Idaho City, ID

What I liked

Consistent hours, getting to be outdoors, choosing the days I work, working with friends.

What I wish was different

More Variety of work

Advice

Have a good resume and be ready to work hard in the summer heat and drink lots of water. Also it's great experience no matter what field you are going into.

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Recreation Intern

May - July 2018 • Fairplay, CO

What I liked

Getting to spend most of the summer outdoors, learning from very experienced individuals.

What I wish was different

The scheduling from day to day was different. I enjoy more of a consistent plan.

Advice

It was one that changed me. It took me out of my comfort zone. I would recommend others take a chance and apply for something that would challenge you.

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Assistant Timber Crew Leader

June - September 2018 • Randolph, UT

What I liked

I liked working outdoors with students that I already knew. Knowing the applied silvicultural method was based off of Jim Long's research showed me there is collaboration between the university and federal agencies.

What I wish was different

I would like a bit more structure in our daily duties and preparedness for the seasonal workers. Better communication between the crew lead and myself (assistant crew lead) would make our day more efficient and beneficial to everyone.

Advice

Pay attention in all your courses relating to forestry, especially land navigation, GPS, measurements, and plant I.D. Get in shape before you start your summer job. Network with as many professionals as possible and ask questions.

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Hi-Mountain Intern

June - September 2018 • Santa Margarita, CA

What I liked

This internship allowed me and my partner to live at the lookout for part of every week during the Summer. Every day, we would do field work, plant surveys, radio telemetry for California Condors, as well as allowing visitors to stop by for the view and the lookout.

What I wish was different

I wish we could have had more time to brainstorm and settle on the project methods before those we were collaborating with left on trips for the rest of the summer. While it was nice to maintain the independence, it made it hard to collect the resources we deemed necessary.

Advice

Bring a camera! The lookout was originally intended to be used for fire spotting so it's at the top of a mountain - you can see for miles. The views are amazing.

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Forestry Aide

May - August 2018 • Ephraim, UT

What I liked

My boss Justin Bradley, the Timber Sale Administrator, was the easiest boss to work for I have ever had. It made me want to work even harder and produce results in our timber work.

What I wish was different

This summer was amazing. The last two weeks everyone was getting on each other's nerves a lot more, but that is pretty normal after a whole summer together.

Advice

I would recommend the Forest Service to anyone. It is a solid summer job that pays very well. I plan to pursue a career in either the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife, Wyoming Game and Fish, or continue on to earn my PhD in Forestry, Range, Natural Resources or Environmental Studies and conduct research for these agencies.

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Wildland Firefighter

May - August 2018 • Springerville, AZ

What I liked

A sense of purpose, and many translatable skills gained.

What I wish was different

More training opportunities (can there ever be enough?)

Advice

Keep a good attitude and you will do well.

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Wilderness Ranger Intern

May - August 2018 • Bend, OR

What I liked

I was able to make my own choices throughout the season. I felt like a part of the team and not just an intern. I made really good connections as well.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been giving living arrangements and that I had had the ability to earn a Red Card.

Advice

Don't let your schedule define the internship. Make an effort to work extra days or change days to go out on hitches with the Rangers. Don't just be a trailhead steward.

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Business Intern

May - August 2018 • Grand Junction, CO

What I liked

The people from the forest service Grand Junction office were all helpful, kind and hardworking, which made my experience incredibly educational and provided me an opportunity to learn what the agency is all about.

What I wish was different

I had a really good experience and no complaints.

Advice

Be ready to work and learn to communicate with everyone around you. Try to understand what everyone does and ask as many questions as you can come up with!

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