Northwest Youth Corps – 720 HR

Individual Placement

National Park Service

Nez Perce National Historical Park

Lapwai, ID

Position Title: Natural Resources Management Internship – 720 HR

Position Summary:

Nez Perce National Historical Park is recruiting two Natural Resources Management Crew Interns beginning early June 2025, through September 2025, dates are negotiable depending on availability. The intern will support Natural Resource program work through a field-oriented position with potential for some office work, as needed. Interns will have the opportunity to gain skills associated with conservation work and understanding the National Park Service mission. Work will be primarily within the vegetation program focused on vegetation management, invasive species control, and restoration work. Daily tasks will consist of travel between park sites in the greater Idaho area to accomplish program work and will be based out of the Visitor Center in Lapwai, ID. Some overnight travel to Big Hole National Battlefield and Whitman National Historical Site may be available to interns, if interested.

The Natural Resource Management Program is responsible for the preservation and conservation of the environment represented by the park sites across the traditional Nez Perce homeland. Work deals with a variety of tasks from invasive species control to vegetation monitoring and restoration, to promote ecosystem health. Interns will get the opportunity to assist with the tasks associated with this work, as well as have opportunities to experience and assist other park projects within the Cultural Resources, Interpretation, and Facilities programs. 

Nez Perce National Historical Park, Lapwai, Idaho:

The 38 units of Nez Perce National Historical Park form a park unit about a people, for all people. It is not one place, but many. It is not one story, but a multitude. It is not one viewpoint, but many more than one. Approximately 300,000 visitors annually come to Nez Perce National Historical Park to experience and understand the cultural heritage and history of the Nez Perce as well as to see the scenery along two national historic trails: the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, a unit of the National Park Service, and the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service in close partnership with Nez Perce National Historical Park. The majority of visitors discover Nez Perce sites as they travel to and from other destinations but are able to discover the many stories and legends inherently tied to this landscape.

Lapwai, Idaho is Park Headquarters for Nez Perce National Historical Park. It is located in NW Idaho near the Idaho Washington border 12 miles SW of Lewiston Idaho on US HWY 95.  The area is defined by the Clearwater and Snake rivers as they flow through canyons, steep hills, and run together in Lewiston. Vegetation in the area is mostly grass and sage, the topography is rolling hills with distant mountains, much of the area is agricultural and planted in wheat. The towns of Lewiston Idaho population 36,000 and Clarkston Washington population 8,000 offer all major services including rental housing, airport, schools, and hospitals. There is no public transportation to the park from the surrounding communities.  Daytime temperatures from June to October frequently reach the high 80’s with numerous days in July and August with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Daytime temperatures in the winter range from the low 30’s to mid-50’s.  The climate is arid at Spalding which is in the Clearwater River bottom with little rain or snow, both rain and snowfall increase significantly in the higher elevations around Lapwai.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General Resource Management (10%)

• Work in a team or independently to aid in all resource management activities at Nez Perce National Historical Park
  • Assist with Natural Resource program projects and other programs as needed such as the Cultural Resources, Interpretation, and Facilities programs.

Vegetation Management (90%)    

• Work in a team or independently to treat invasive plants at Nez Perce National Historical Park;
  • Survey, identify, map exotic vegetation
  • Treat exotic vegetation through hand-pulling, cutting, or herbicide application
  • Document treatments and update files and GIS layers
  • Maintain equipment
  • If interested, will be able to study and test for the Idaho Pesticide Applicator’s License certification
• Work in a team to monitor vegetation and specific plant species (camas, penstemon, Spalding’s catchfly)
  • Survey, identify, map native vegetation
  • Camas monitoring with Citizen Science groups
  • Lemhi penstemon monitoring at Big Hole National Battlefield site
  • Spalding’s catchfly monitoring at Old Joseph cemetery site
  • Document and update files
• Restoration
  • Spread native seed mixes in disturbed areas
  • Seed collection
  • Plant seedlings in disturbed areas
• Other duties
  • Preparing information (print and/or oral) for sharing with public and co-workers about project work at Nez Perce National Historical Park
  • Enter data
  • Document resource findings/activities
  • Work with other park programs as needed

Approximately 1-10 nights may be spent on overnight travel to other park sites, as needed and if interested. 

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to work outdoors in remote settings and inclement weather on uneven ground
• Willingness to work as a part of a team and/or independently in an outdoor setting
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 lbs.
• Willingness to carry and work with and near herbicides
• Reliable
• Strong focus on attention to detail
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Current Driver’s license
• Transportation to and from work
• Willingness to submit to a government background security check
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn