Native Plant Restoration & Nursery Internship

Learn about native plant restoration and ecology while gaining valuable hands-on field experience by joining the restoration/native plant nursery team in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area!

This internship is designed to allow participants to explore a variety of aspects within Southern California native plant restoration. Plant communities where work will be done include Southern Oak Woodland, Coastal Sage Scrub, Valley Grassland, Riparian Woodland, Chaparral, and more. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in all of the following areas, depending on time of year:

• Seed Bank Program- species population scouting, seed collecting, cleaning and storing

• Herbarium- plant ID, plant families of Southern California and taxonomy training, specimen and voucher collection, mounting and labeling of herbarium specimen

• GPS/GIS- use GPS units for navigation and collection of spatial data

• Nursery- plant propagation (seed germination, cuttings), plant production of local species

• Restoration- installing plants into restoration sites, watering, mulching and weeding

• Invasive Plant Control- target the park’s most ecologically damaging invasive plant species using a variety of methodologies

• Vegetation Monitoring- collect vegetation data in a variety of plant communities across the mountains

Interns can choose to specialize in any of these specific areas, as time and work allows.

Participants will check in at the native plant nursery located in Newbury Park at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa. Work locations will vary on a weekly basis, and will include historic Paramount Ranch, Cheeseboro/Palo Comado Canyon, Rancho Sierra Vista, Solstice and Zuma Canyon, and many more areas within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area!

Requirements

• Intern must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

• Interest in native plants, ecological restoration and/ or seed banking and herbarium work

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Attention to detail

• Must provide own transportation to the work site at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record are required to drive a government vehicle.

Work Site and Conditions

• Most work will take place outdoors (nursery, hiking, restoration sites)

• Main work site is located at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa in Newbury Park, CA.

• Bending, lifting, and moving heavy objects may be required.

• Weather can be hot, humid, cold or rainy.

• Minimum commitment of 12 weeks, 3 - 5 days a week (part or full-time). Working on Saturdays is an option.

• Interns are eligible for a $20/day stipend.

• Housing is not available.

• Position is available year round.

• Fingerprint check may be required.

How to Apply

To apply, submit the following documents via email to [e-mail] .

• Letter of intent (include how the position will benefit your career, the dates you are available, your understanding that this internship is unpaid except for the stipend, and that you have a method of transportation to and from work)

• Resume

• Transcripts (unofficial are acceptable)

• Three references

For additional questions contact [e-mail]