Summary
Winter 2025 Internships now available, apply by December 22nd, 2024
Ten Week Internships starting Winter Quarter 2025 – Monday, January 6th, 2025
2 unit Internships through the ENVS Internship Office or Volunteering Internships available:
Background:
The Santa Cruz Mountain Reserve (SCMR) is a new collaboration between UC Santa Cruz’s Natural Reserve System and regional partners in the Santa Cruz Mountains. SCMR plans to help partnership agencies with wildlife research/inventory projects, invasive species monitoring, stream and wetland management, the impacts of wildfire and recreation on floral and faunal communities, and the potential for other projects related to the management of habitat and working lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Partnership agencies and lands within the SCMR include Cotoni-Coast Dairies (Bureau of Land Management), San Vicente Redwoods (Sempervirens Fund, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Save the Redwoods League, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County), Cascade Ranch (Pie Ranch), and various State Parks within the SC Mountains, with plans for more regional partners in the near future. Data collected from projects will help inform land management, conservation, and general trends in regional floral and faunal populations.
Internship Projects for Fall 2025:
Cascade Ranch Biodviersity Surveys:
Wetland and Grassland Plant Surveys
Bird Point Counts
Mammal Camera Trapping and Surveys
Drone Surveys and Mapping
Pollinator Surveys (TBD depending on weather)
Herp/ California red-legged frog (CRLF) monitoring:
Pond Surveys (CRLF)
Night eyeshine surveys (CRLF)
Acoustic Monitoring (CRLF)
Coverboard Surveys (Herps)
Visual Encounter Surveys (Herps)
Stream Surveys (Herps)
Opportunistic Opportunities:
Monitoring Wildfire in Forests: Continuous Forest Inventory Plots
Small Mammal Trapping (TBD)
Requirements and Experience:
Project locations are around 30-40 minutes north of UCSC along Highway 1 and Empire Grade Rd.
No vehicle is required, but having your own vehicle would provide you more flexibility on driving yourself/ carpooling with others.
No previous internship or work experience is required
Interns may be required to hike 1-3 miles through difficult terrain
Interns may work independently or with team members, and must check in weekly, good communication is a top priority for safety and coordination
Potential to encounter poison oak, ticks, venomous snakes, or other in the field challenges
Potential for continued data management and statistical development outside of the field
Students interested in independent research/senior theses are encouraged to participate in a 2-unit internship or volunteer position before starting a 5-unit independent research project.
Available Shifts:
6 hour shift one day per week Tuesdays – Fridays. Midday shifts (9am – 3:00pm) available. Some flexibility depending on morning and afternoon classes around beginning/end of the shift.
Bird Point Counts: If you are interested in conducting bird point counts, these shifts will be 6am – 12pm. Must have some 9am-3pm availability for 2-unit internships.
Options available Tuesday – Friday. Monday availability will only be considered for additional make-up work/ office hours.
Application Process:
Please fill out the application below if you are interested in working at SCMR!
Application Link: https://forms.gle/Xb5MRRVvm7cWNDtT8
Once you have filled out the application, expect an email from me (Chad Moura – Director of the Santa Cruz Mountains Reserve) for further instruction and details. I will be interviewing candidates for the internship via 10-20 minute zoom/in person interviews if possible.
If you have any questions, please email me at cwmoura@ucsc.edu
Final deadline for application is Friday, December 22nd, 2024. Early applicants will start receiving requests for interviews. Applications sent in after the deadline will not be reviewed for the current application period.