Conservation/Stewardship Intern

The Conservation/Stewardship Intern at Great Hollow Nature Preserve in New Fairfield, CT, is a paid summer internship for undergraduate or graduate students majoring in natural sciences. Interns assist with field research on bird and habitat responses, conduct surveys, and participate in various operational tasks. The internship lasts approximately 8 weeks, starting in late May, and includes a weekly stipend and on-site housing for non-local interns.
• 9 hours ago

Employer: Great Hollow Nature Preserve Location: New Fairfield, CT Country: United States Last Date to Apply: 02/08/2025 Open Until Filled: Yes
• UPDATED FROM PREVIOUS POSTING*

Great Hollow offers paid summer internships to undergraduate or graduate students who are majoring in the natural sciences and have a strong academic record and an interest in field biology. Interns work under Great Hollow’s scientists to assist with summer research projects, during which they gain experience in study design and a variety of field methods. Interns also help with miscellaneous office duties, community events, animal care, and facility and trail maintenance, and otherwise contribute to the general day-to-day operation of Great Hollow. Internships are typically 8 weeks long, beginning in late May. They include a weekly stipend as well as shared, on-site housing for those who do not live locally.

Great Hollow is currently accepting applications for one internship position for the summer of 2025. Applicants must have demonstrated experience with the identification of Northeastern forest birds by sight and sound (ability to identify forest vegetation and experience collecting invertebrates are a plus, but not necessary). The intern will mainly assist with the first year of a study investigating the responses of birds, bats, arthropods, and vegetation to a forest thinning treatment intended to create habitat for the New England cottontail. The intern will be primarily responsible for conducting fixed-radius point-counts of birds in treatment and reference plots at Great Hollow and additional study sites within an hour’s drive of Great Hollow (vehicle provided). As such, applicants must be skilled at identifying birds by sight and sound (experience solely from a college ornithology course is insufficient). The intern will also be responsible for processing sound files from acoustic bat recorders deployed at each site (training provided), and assisting with vegetation and arthropod surveys.

An opportunity to assist with an ongoing bird research project on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont, involving mist-netting and banding of thrushes, is also a possibility, but not required.

Outside of field research activities, the intern will occasionally be asked to help with invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, miscellaneous office duties, facility maintenance and cleaning, care of our non-releasable birds of prey, community events, and kids’ education programs, to contribute to the general day-to-day operation of Great Hollow.

Internships begin in late May and last approximately 8 weeks (start and end dates slightly flexible). Interns receive a weekly stipend of $450 and free on-site, shared housing.

Minimum Qualifications

-Completion of at least 2 full years of a 4-year university program, majoring in natural resources, conservation biology, ecology, wildlife management, or a similar field.

-Strong ability to identify northeastern U.S. forest birds by sight and sound. Experience gained solely from the lab section of a college course is insufficient. Applicants must demonstrate other sources of experience (e.g., prior field positions, atlasing efforts, volunteer work, etc.). Specific experience with point-count survey methods is a big plus. Experience with vegetation surveys and/or arthropod sampling (beat-sheeting) is also a big plus but not required.

-Ability to enjoy working outdoors for several hours, sometimes under uncomfortable (e.g., hot, buggy) conditions.

-Ability to perform field work early in the morning (e.g., around sunrise).

-Ability to hike on rugged terrain for long periods.

-English fluency and ability to verbally communicate effectively.

-Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

-Ability to live in shared, drug-free and smoke-free housing with respect for others. One staff member with which the housing would be shared has a dog, so applicants must also be comfortable living with a dog in the house.

-Proof of existing health insurance coverage (not provided with internship).

-U.S. citizenship or current authorization to work in the U.S.

How to apply:

Applications will be accepted until March 15 and reviewed in the order in which they are received. To apply, please assemble a single PDF containing (1) a cover letter that includes a clear description of your relevant experience with Northeastern forest bird ID and other relevant skills; (2) a resume or CV; and (3) contact info and your relationship to at least two professional references, and email the PDF to Great Hollow’s post-doctoral research fellow Sarah Deckel (sdeckel@greathollow.org) and CC executive director Chad Seewagen (cseewagen@greathollow.org). Please label the PDF as “Last name_first name” and put “Last name_2025 Internship Application” in the subject line of your email. Applications that fail to follow these basic instructions may be disqualified.