Overview

Expected Dates

January 13, 2022 to January 11, 2023

Site

The Nature Conservancy Disney Wilderness Preserve

Position ID

PO-00732494

The Land Conservation Intern will work alongside staff member of the Stewardship and Field Programs Department (SAF) of The Nature Conservancy’s Florida Chapter. SAF is responsible for implementing and managing field conservation work (e.g., wildland fire management, invasive species management, and wetland restoration) across Florida and for stewardship of the Florida Chapter’s network of preserves. Central Florida preserves include Disney Wilderness, Tiger Creek, Saddleblanket Scrub, Venus Flatwoods.  These preserves are integral to The Conservancy’s Center for Conservation Initiatives (CCI). The Land Conservation Intern’s primary focus will be invasive species management and prescribed fire with other duties including wildlife monitoring, fire line preparation, trail maintenance, public engagement, facilities maintenance and leading volunteer workdays. The Intern will also develop, execute, and report on an independent project. The project will be related to their work on the preserve but will be entirely of their choosing. They serve as part of SAF’s Central Florida Program team and are supervised by the Land Conservation Coordinator. The ideal candidate will be self-motived, comfortable working as part of a team, and passionate about conservation. The Intern should have a strong desire to build a broad base of foundational career knowledge and to learn from a dedicated team of conservation professionals.

All TNC staff based in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of receiving one of the vaccines approved in the U.S. (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) shall be condition of employment and must be provided prior to starting work. TNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and reasonable accommodations for candidates who cannot be vaccinated due to a valid medical or religious reason will be considered.

• Location DescriptionHome to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, The Disney Wilderness Preserve is an essential part of the Everglades ecosystem and contains 3,500 acres of restored wetlands that act as nature’s “sponges” in the landscape capturing rain, filtering out nutrients and replenishing our ground water.The core of The Disney Wilderness Preserve is comprised of what was once an 8,500-acre cattle ranch situated at the head of the Greater Everglades watershed. In the early 1990s, the ranch was slated for extensive residential and commercial development which would have spelled the end for the property’s degraded—but restorable—wetlands, as well as the destruction of significant habitat for endangered plants and wildlife.
• Training ProvidedWildland Firefighter Type 2- S130/190, incident command trainingState Pesticide applicator Certification training
• Handicap Accessible?Yes

Main Area of Focus

Natural Resources Mgmt

Education, Training & Skills Expected

Biology: some coursework or experience

Ecology & Restoration: some coursework or experience

Resource Management: some coursework or experience

GPS: some experience

Hand Tools: some experience

Plant Identification: some experience

Trail Maintenance: some experience