2025 Land Steward Internship

Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) seeks two Land Steward Interns for the 2025 season. The interns will work under the direction of FOPOS’s Director of Natural Resources and Stewardship, assisting in the day-to-day activities of managing an open space preserve. Most of the interns’ time will be spent outdoors working within riparian and forest restoration project sites located at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, in Princeton. As a small non-profit organization, FOPOS relies on its volunteers to meet its stewardship goals and hosts frequent volunteer sessions and community events. Stewardship interns will play a critical role in organizing and leading these events, typically held on weekends. Please read the full job description and application instructions below. We look forward to hearing from you!

https://www.fopos.org/land-steward-internship 

Internship description:

• Invasive species management: identify, monitor, and remove invasive plant species using loppers, pruners, hand saws, electric weedwhackers and hedge trimmers. There will be opportunities to gain experience in selective herbicide treatment under the supervision of a licensed applicator.
• Assist with ecological and field monitoring projects at the Preserve: tree inventories and botanical surveys, plant health, wildlife surveys including monitoring of beaver activity and tree damage.
• Support FOPOS’s native plant propagation program, helping to collect, germinate, and care for seedlings through to the planting stage.
• Organize and lead volunteer stewardship sessions with public, school, community, and corporate groups. Must be available for group activities on some weekends.
• Contribute to environmental education and outreach activities targeted at the greater Princeton community. Each intern will develop and lead their own community event; examples from the past include guided bird walks, ‘water bug’ surveys, and a nature art walk. Interns will also lead a presentation and hands-on activity for the local YMCA’s summer outdoor living skills program.
• Native tree and shrub plantings: experience working with native plants and with proper planting techniques, or willingness to learn. Mulching, watering, planting, weeding, deer-cage installation, monitoring and plant care.
• Support administrative and field needs such as organizing tools, file management, shed clean-up, etc.
• Contribute photos and written content that help to highlight and promote FOPOS events and mission.
• Opportunity to create a conservation-based independent project that supports FOPOS’s needs.
• Engage in additional outside educational opportunities as relevant, such as lectures, exhibits, and nature walks.

Compensation: $16/hour.

Duration and hours: This is a part-time internship opportunity with 2 positions available as listed below.

• 2 summer season interns: May 1 - August 30, 2025 (Start and end dates are flexible); 350 hours

A commitment of 350 hours is required for each summer season intern. Interns are expected to work an average of three days per week and must be available to work on some weekend dates for events. As with all field jobs, our schedule may need to change at times to accommodate weather, agency needs, and scheduled events

Requirements: Ideal candidates will be actively pursuing a degree or career in ecology, natural resource management, environmental education, or related fields; must possess a strong interest in conservation, a desire to work outdoors, the ability to tolerate various field and weather conditions as well as conduct physically strenuous field work. Applicants must be able to work both independently and as a member of a team, engage with the public, be accountable, punctual, organized, and maintain a positive attitude. Applicants must have their own transportation and live within commuting distance of Princeton. We do not provide housing.

Interns will become familiar with the local flora and fauna of the NJ piedmont and learn how to mitigate some of the pressures that our forests face, from invasive species infestations to the overabundance of white-tailed deer. Interns will also gain leadership skills as environmental educators and land stewards as they engage with volunteers, school, and community groups, along with FOPOS stewardship staff throughout the course of the season.