Oregon Nature Conservancy Programme, USA

In collaboration with the Nature Conservancy in Oregon, USA, you have the opportunity to live and work in remote and beautiful northeastern Oregon on The Nature Conservancy’s Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, the largest remaining fescue-dominated bunchgrass prairie in North America. Participate in various botany and wildlife research projects for the 2010 spring and summer field season.

“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” - Aristotle

The Nature Conservancy in Oregon

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. In 2001, The Nature Conservancy celebrated its 50th anniversary as an organisation and their 40th year in Oregon. Acting through their ten offices in Oregon, The Nature Conservancy works in partnership with other conservation organisations, governmental entities and private landowners on complex restoration and management issues on some of Oregon’s most sensitive and important natural areas. The Nature Conservancy in Oregon currently owns or directly manages 133,737 acres and works with partners on hundreds of thousands of additional acres across the state. In the 40 years since volunteers founded The Nature Conservancy in Oregon, they have helped to protect well over 1.4 million acres of their state’s most biologically important habitats.

Volunteer Opportunities available: - ALL PLACES FILLED - Please contact Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com for 2011 places

Two Ecological Field Technicians:

Ecological Field Technicians will assist Conservancy staff members with a variety of vegetation inventory, monitoring and research projects in support of The Nature Conservancy’s conservation efforts on the Zumwalt Prairie. Volunteers will learn a variety of field ecology skills and apply them in collecting and analysing data on the Zumwalt Prairie and will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of on-the-ground conservation work. Volunteers need to commit to at least 8 weeks, starting from 1st to 15th June 2010. Duties will include: inventory, mapping and monitoring of plant communities, surveying for rare and endangered species, as well as invasive species and assisting with other ecological field projects. You will be working in rugged terrain and will be learning and applying botany and ecology skills. For specific details on these positions, please follow the link below to the next page, and/or email: Victoria.McNeil@workingabroad.com

Project Location:

Zumwalt Prairie Preserve

Zumwalt Prairie Preserve, with its beautiful views of the Wallowas and Seven Devils mountains, is located on the edge of Hell’s Canyon in the far northeastern corner of Oregon, near the Idaho border. The 160,000-acre Zumwalt Prairie is the largest remaining fescue-dominated bunchgrass prairie in North America. Abundant ground squirrels and pocket gophers attract one of the densest concentrations of nesting birds of prey on the continent. Ferruginous and Swainson’s hawks—on the decline elsewhere in the western United States—thrive here, along with golden eagles, prairie falcons and red-tailed and rough-legged hawks. Zumwalt Prairie is also a reintroduction site for the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, extirpated from Oregon in the 1960s. The Conservancy’s Zumwalt Prairie Preserve (formerly Camp Creek Ranch) includes 11,000 acres of the best native prairie habitat as well as 15,000 acres of canyon lands and 38 miles of creeks with spawning habitats for endangered Snake River steelhead and Chinook salmon. The spring wildflower display includes the rare Spalding’s campion (Silene spaldingii). Taken together, the preserve’s grasslands, forests, streams and riparian habitats support an estimated 28 at-risk species.

Purchased in October 2000, this is the Conservancy’s largest-ever single purchase of land in Oregon. To create a comprehensive management plan for the preserve, which includes guidelines for visitor use, the Conservancy’s staff ecologists began in 2001 with an inventory of the plants, wildlife and natural communities. They continue to survey for native species and invasive weeds, study hydrologic and other natural processes that support the prairie ecosystem and identify needs for ecological restoration. The Conservancy seeks to build partnerships with schools, universities, agencies and other landowners and recruits volunteers to assist with research and restoration efforts at the preserve.

Requirements

Willingness to commit to and complete a minimum of 8 weeks of volunteer service, 40 hours a week
Must be in good physical condition and able to walk 5 to 10 miles per day over rough terrain
Must be able to tolerate extreme weather conditions of cold, heat and wind while in the field
Must possess a good work ethic and pay close attention to detail
Must be willing to live in rustic, remote field housing with other volunteers, staff and/or crew members
Previous field experience on ecological projects and/or training in natural resources and botany or wildlife surveys is desirable, but not mandatory
Positions require mature individuals who can comfortably interact with TNC staff, Oregon State University, other crew members and the public.

Work environment

Volunteers will be working in rugged, remote terrain and in various weather conditions (cold, heat, wind, rain, sun). On clear days there are breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, and in May and June abundant wildflowers grace the prairies. There are opportunities for hiking, fishing, birding and photographing scenic areas on the preserves.

Transport, Food and Accommodations

Accommodation will be shared "dorm style" housing in the Summer Camp house or bunkhouse, both of which have bathrooms, running water and full kitchens. You will need to provide sleeping bags and work clothes such as sturdy calf-high hiking boots (for rugged terrain and rattlesnake protection), rain jacket and pants, gloves, hats and clothing for both warm and cold weather conditions. You will be provided with transportation to and from the worksite each day and will have at least one trip per week to town to purchase food and other supplies, do laundry or just enjoy time in town. You will be reimbursed up to $75/week for your food expenses.

Costs

You will be required to pay a £150 deposit with your application, and thereafter, your lodging costs in the field will be covered - and you will be reimbursed for your food up to 75$ per week, but will need to cover your own other personal expenses.

You must also arrange and pay for your own medical and accident/travel insurance. The Nature Conservancy provides limited accident/emergency medical insurance that is in addition to your personal insurance policy.

Travel to Project Site & Visas

You will need to book and cover your own airfare costs to either Portland, Oregon or Idaho’s Boise airport (the nearest airport to the preserves) and transportation to either La Grande or Enterprise, Oregon, where you will be picked up by Conservancy staff and taken to Zumwalt Prairie Preserve. Greyhound bus trips from Portland to La Grande take between 5-6 hours and cost approximately $50.00 one-way. Greyhound bus trips from Boise to La Grande take between 3-4 hours and cost approximately $40.00 one-way. Other options (such as carpooling with staff or other volunteers from Portland) may be possible, but we would not know this until much closer to your arrival date. With regards to visas, volunteers applying for Ecological Field Technician positions will have to obtain the necessary tourist visas for the duration of the time that you are on the project.