Field Data Collection on a Collaborative Virtual Fence Project
Primary Topic:
Food and Agriculture
Other Topics:
Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources and Sustainability
Internship Overview:
We are looking to fill 2 intern positions. These 2 positions are an awesome opportunity to spend the summer in beautiful and remote locations in the central mountains and gain invaluable experiences as a field technician in collaboration with Extension, the Eagle County Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. A successful applicant will also have the ability to work in a team of 1-2 technicians funded by the Eagle County Conservation District and CSU. Sampling will include standard soil, vegetation, and location metrics. Given the nature of the field experience, applicants must demonstrate their ability to work outdoors under inclement conditions. Applicants with interest in soils, botany, range science and/or wildlife habitat are preferred. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in a career in wildlife, range, or natural resource management, and interested in cattle management on public and private rangelands. You will gain direct experience working with land management agencies, ranchers and individuals on a collaborative project.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
Goals of these 2 internships are to: 1. Collect vegetation trend and use data in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Eagle County Conservation district and CSU Extension; 2. Gain valuable, applied experience in field work and interagency collaboration on land management, 3. Participate in collecting the second year of data for a 3-year experiment using virtual fence (Vence) that can help evaluate the technology for use in our region.
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
Ranchers, the Eagle County Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service are the primary stakeholders. The intern(s) may also work with staff from the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service.
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
The intern(s) will learn to collect standard soil, vegetation, and location metrics for rangeland data. They will learn to work with a field crew and organize field labor at a plot. This is an excellent professional development opportunity for applicants with an interest in soils, botany, range science and/or wildlife habitat. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in a career in wildlife, range, or natural resource management, and interested in cattle management on public and private rangelands. You will gain direct experience working with land management agencies, ranchers and individuals on a collaborative project.
