Outdoor Stewards of Oregon

OSO Internship Opportunities

Outdoor Stewards of Oregon (OSO) is a paid internship program offered through TBCC and three local land management agencies. Throughout this experience, learn essential industry skills and work alongside others in your future career field with a mentor that supports you. See available internships below. All internships require an OSO application. You may apply for multiple internships.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

Applications are now closed, please check back in Winter 2024 to learn about upcoming internships.

Internship Interest Location Agency
Forestry
Tillamook
Oregon Department of Forestry
Forestry
Tillamook
Oregon Department of Forestry
Natural Resources
Hebo
Forestry Service (FS)

Oregon Department of Forestry
State Forests – Recreation Internship

Hours: 5/8 schedule, 8:00AM – 4:30PM
Schedule: Thursday – Monday *Required to work weekends*
Wage: $16.88 – $17.11
Estimated Start Date: 06/2023
Estimated End Date: 08/2023
Open Until: Student needs to return to school
Location: Tillamook District
                    5005 Third St.
                    Tillamook, OR 97141

Supervisor: Megan Deane McKenna

Agency Information:
Agency: Oregon Department of Forestry
Mentor: Matt Goolsby
Phone Number: 503-815-7034
Email: matthew.g.goolsby@odf.oregon.gov
Title: Recreation Operations Specialist

Overview:
The State Forest Division in Tillamook District consists of management of 250,000 acres of State Forest land to secure the greatest permanent value of such lands to the State by maintaining healthy, productive, and sustainable forest ecosystems.

The primary purpose of this position/job is to assist in recreation facility operations of Tillamook State Forest.  The primary functions are performing the various technical tasks associated with public contact, facility maintenance and operations.

Working Conditions:
This position works primarily in the field. Requires physical exertion, working in campgrounds or facilities with recreating public, hiking on trails and work during inclement weather.

Responsibilities:

  • Campground Operations:
    • Assist in fee collection, camp host support, and providing information to users
  • Facility and Dispersed Site Maintenance:
    • Picking up litter/garbage from campgrounds, day-use areas, and other forest recreation sites
    • Organize and restock janitorial supplies
      Maintain sign boards in campgrounds, day use areas, and other forest locations
    • Operates hand and power tools such as shovels, power drills, and maintains tools by cleaning and charging.
  • Rule Compliance and Public Contacts:
    • Assist with patrolling, campground and forest areas to protect and preserve resources by checking for rule and regulation compliance
    • Assisting public/users
    • Ensures visitor safety by looking for safety hazards or rule violations
    • Assists in explaining campgrounds and forest rules to visitors

Qualifications:

  • Ability to use tablets and data recorders, and assorted measuring devices
    Ability to perform prolonged and strenuous labor
  • Ability to follow oral and written instruction and safely perform assigned tasks
  • Ability to learn to use small tools and equipment
  • Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather

Special Instructions:
This position may work near or around Department of Corrections, Adults in Custody.  AIC’s perform duties such as road clearing, tree protection, recreation facility cleaning, and firefighting.  This position may come into AIC when doing inspections of work or when with other ODF employees.

This position may be called upon to assist in fire emergency in non-firefighting capacity such as support to logistics or office staff in duties like front office backfill, delivering meals, or assisting others in those duties.

Employee is required to have boots for working in forest conditions such as walking on uneven ground and steep slopes.  Employee will be provided all tools and equipment for job such as uniform, hardhat, raingear, etc.

Supervisor: Megan Deane McKenna

Agency Information:
Agency: Oregon Department of Forestry
Mentor: Matt Goolsby
Phone Number: 503-815-7034
Email: matthew.g.goolsby@odf.oregon.gov
Title: Recreation Operations Specialist

Fill out the application below to apply for this internship

Oregon Department of Forestry
State Forests – Management Internship

Hours: Negotiable/Your Preference
Schedule: Monday-Friday 5/8 or 4/10
Wage: $16.88 – $17.11
Estimated Start Date: 06/2023
Estimated End Date: 08/2023
Open Until: Student needs to return to school
Location: Tillamook District
                    5005 Third St.
                    Tillamook, OR 97141

Supervisor: Megan Deane McKenna

Agency Information:
Agency: Oregon Department of Forestry
Mentor: Nathan Atchison
Phone Number: 503-815-7031
Email: nathan.p.atchison@odf.oregon.gov
Title: Lead Sale Prop Forester

Overview:
The State Forest Division in Tillamook District consists of management of 250,000 acres of State Forest land to secure the greatest permanent value of such lands to the State by maintaining healthy, productive, and sustainable forest ecosystems.  Management consists of reforestation, stand management, sales of forest products, managing forest roads, property line surveys, road layout, recreation management and general administration.The primary purpose of this position is to assist in State Forest management.  The primary functions are performing the various technical tasks associated with the sale of forest products and related silviculture.

Working Conditions: This position works primarily in the field. Requires physical exertion on steep, rough terrain, during inclement weather approximately 50% of the time.

Responsibilities:

  1. Timber Sale Preparation:
    • Assist with timber sale preparation with recon of timber sale areas for location of sale boundaries, roads, and landings
    • Posting timber sale boundaries and right-of-way boundaries
    • Cruising timber
  2. Reforestation and Young Stand Management:
    • Assist in reforestation by monitoring site preparation, animal control, tree planting, vegetation management, and precommercial thinning by contractors
    • Establishing plots and recording data for sites
  3. Forest Roads:
    • Assists in locating and posting road locations for timber sales, inspecting road maintenance and construction activities and rock crushing operations

Qualifications:

  • Ability to use tablets and data recorders, and assorted measuring decives
  • Ability to perform prolonged and strenuous physical labor
  • Ability to follow oral and written instruction and safely perform tasks
  • Ability to learn to use small tools and equipment
  • Ability to work outdoors in all types of weather
  • Ability to use, operate, and maintain specialized equipment such as tablets, lasers, and data recorders

Special Instructions:
This position may work near or around Department of Corrections, Adults in Custody.  AIC’s perform duties such as road clearing, tree protection, recreation facility cleaning, and firefighting.  This position may come into AIC when doing inspections of work or when with other ODF employees. This position may be called upon to assist in fire emergency in non-firefighting capacity such as support to logistics or office staff in duties like front office backfill, delivering meals, or assisting others in those duties.Employee is required to have boots for working in forest conditions such as walking on uneven ground and steep slopes.  Employee will be provided all tools and equipment for job such as uniform, hardhat, rain gear, etc.

Fill out the application below to apply for this internship

The Forest Service
Natural Resources Internship

Hours: 40 per week
Schedule: Monday – Friday 8 hr days, 8 AM – 5 PM
Wage: $18.00
Estimated Start Date: 06/17/2024
Estimated End Date: 08/31/2024
Open Until: Filled
Location: Hebo Ranger District, 31525 Hwy 22, Hebo, OR 97122

Supervisor: Lauren Yokum

Agency Information:
Agency: Forestry Service (FS)
Mentor: Erin Anderson
Phone Number: 503-815-7034
Email: ericanderson@usda.gov
Title: Partnership Coordinator

Overview:
The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Forest Service motto, “Caring for the Land and Serving People,” captures the spirit of our mission. The Siuslaw National Forest’s Hebo Ranger District encompasses 151,000 acres of lush coastal forest, dunes, and meadows in Oregon’s northern Coast Range. The district is home to productive forests, diverse wildlife and fisheries, and recreation opportunities.

Selected applicants will be assigned to a field crew to assist Forest Service staff performing field work for the Hebo Ranger District in recreation, aquatics, wildlife, and timber programs. Overall goals include providing interns with a range of experiences across disciplines by participating in Forest Service natural resource activities, learning about the Forest Service as an agency, and building connections with the local community.

Working Conditions:
Work is conducted primarily in the field. Work is routinely performed in rough uneven ground, within and adjacent to streams, on and/or off trail in dense brushy conditions. A variety of weather conditions will be encountered ranging from cold and wet to hot and dry.

Responsibilities:

  • Aquatics activities include aquatic organism passage (AOP, culverts) surveys, fish surveys (presence/absence), stream temperature and turbidity monitoring, stream and riparian habitat surveys, stream nutrient enhancement, collection of eDNA, abandoned road surveys and engage the public through outreach events.
  • Wildlife activities involve identification of Marbled Murrelet nest trees, identify wildlife trees in timber units, conduct Oregon Silverspot butterfly monitoring & habitat improvement, and perform Western Snowy Plover surveys.
  • Silviculture activities include stand exams, tree inspection, forest and vegetation surveys, tree planting inspection, maple tree seed collection, and other related activities.

Qualifications:

  • Must have completed at least 1 year Tillamook Community College with emphasis in Natural Resource courses.
  • Must be at least 18 years old with a strong work ethic and willingness to learn, an understanding of outdoor environments and an interest in public lands.
  • Possess a positive attitude, flexibility and commitment to the program while having basic knowledge of tools, the ability to lift 25 lbs., hike long distances and perform strenuous labor.
  • Ability to follow oral and written instruction and safely perform tasks.
  • Ability to be respectful and considerate to all team members, land managers, and visitors

Special Instructions:
Forest Service bunk housing is not available. Employee is required to provide their own rain coat, rain pants and sturdy boots for working in forest conditions such as walking on uneven ground and steep slopes. A boot stipend is provided but may not cover full cost of boots. Employee will be provided all tools and equipment for job such as gloves, hardhat, or specialized technical gear for completing assigned tasks.

Supervisor: Lauren Yokum

Agency Information:
Agency: Forest Service (FS)
Mentor: Eric Anderson
Phone Number: 503-758-8787
Email: ericanderson@usda.gov
Title: Partnership Coordinator

Fill out the application below to apply for this internship

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