Service Learning OpportunitiesAt — National Park Service 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. Interns will gain experience working in a variety of plant communities including southern oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, grassland, riparian woodland, chaparral, and more. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of restoration duties for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
• Seed Bank Program- species population scouting, seed collecting, cleaning, and storage
• Herbarium Operations- plant ID, plant families of Southern California and taxonomy
training, specimen and voucher collection, mounting and labeling herbarium specimens
• GPS/GIS- utilizing GPS units and iPads for navigation and collection of spatial data
• Nursery Operations - plant propagation (seed germination, cuttings, divisions, etc.), plant
production of local species
• Restoration Operations - 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
• Public Service – work with public volunteers, partners, school groups, and more to carry
out restoration duties on public lands.
NPS will provide training in the following:
• Field Safety and Orientation (extreme weather, hazardous plants and animals)
• Radio Communications
• Driver’s Training
• Tool and Mechanical Equipment Operations
• Herbicide Application Training
Students will receive safety training in driver training, mechanical equipment operations, herbicide application safety, field hazards such as biting and stinging insects and rattlesnakes, radio communications, etc.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 24 | hours per week |