Description

  • Do you enjoy working in nature and passionate about trees?
  • Are you looking to get hands on experience in the tree care profession in a safe and fun environment?

If this sounds like you, Montgomery Parks has an opening for a summer intern in our urban forestry program. You will work with a team of highly skilled arborists and urban foresters within a multi-faceted and innovative urban forestry program. Montgomery Parks’ urban forestry program is responsible for managing the health and safety of trees throughout our 37,000-acre park system. The selected candidate will gain experience and knowledge of a wide range of tree care knowledge that can be applied in a wide variety of careers in the green industry. See more about our operations at https://montgomeryparks.org/about/divisions/arboriculture/.

 

Examples of Important Duties

 

The urban forester intern will assist staff and rotate through the different work areas within our urban forestry operations learning skills which include:

  • Tree Pruning and Removal: Gain hands on experience working on our Parks’ tree crew which is responsible for removing hazard trees and limbs that pose a safety risk to park patrons as well as routine tree pruning. Become familiar with tree climbing techniques and ground operations equipment such as chippers, chainsaws, and aerial lifts. Learn how to safely operate equipment and complete work according to accepted industry standards (i.e. ANSI, OSHA, MOSH).
  • Tree Inspection: Learn how to methodically inspect trees for hazards that may cause risk to persons and property using International Society of Arboriculture’s tree risk assessment guidelines
  • Tree Planting and Nursery Operations: Interns will gain experience working in our Pope Farm Nursery which supplies all trees that are planted within Montgomery Parks. Work with nursery managers to see how trees are grown, how tree species are chosen based on park needs, and get an understanding of why it is important to grow trees according to accepted industry standards.
  • Green Waste/Urban Wood Recycling: Interns will learn about the urban wood waste stream and how park trees that are removed are then turned into usable products such as mulch, woodchips, compost, and lumber.
  • Tree Preservation: Inters will learn the principles of tree preservation during design and construction of park projects. Participate in plan review of proposed projects, visit projects that are currently under construction, as well as help implement tree protection measures as construction projects begin. Participate in meetings with park project design teams to see how urban foresters can influence design to better protect trees.
  • Tree inventory: Interns will become familiar with a tree inventory, the analysis tools used to complete these types of inventories and know how the inventory is used. They will actively assist in the completion of a park tree inventory using hand-held GPS technology. Gain experience in the field using TreeKeeper® 8 Urban Forestry Management Software to collect tree data points, evaluate tree maintenance needs, prioritize work based on a defined ranking system and develop a tree management plan for the designated park.
  • The intern will receive thorough on-the-job training relative to each of the work programs and use what they learned to develop a tree management plan for one park at the end of their internship that will set forth actions to address tree health, safety, and diversity.
  • The intern will use tools which include, various hand pruners, hand saws and other hand tools. They will also be introduced to safe operating procedures for equipment used in tree maintenance including wood chippers, chainsaws, tree climbing equipment and aerial lifts.

 

Minimum Qualifications

  1. Applicant should be a junior enrolled in a college program focusing on forestry, horticulture, arboriculture, environmental science, or related field, or recently graduated within the last 6 months.
  2. Applicants should have a passion for learning new and varied skills relevant to tree care operations and be capable of working on a team.

 

Supplemental Information

Working conditions:

  • This position primarily works outside with some indoor work and will be required to perform physical tasks. They will also be exposed to weather including high temperature and high humidity, dirt, insects, and wildlife.

Supplemental Information:

  • Internship is from June 3, 2024, to August 9, 2024.
  • Wages will be $16.50-$19.00/ hour based on qualifications and experience.
  • Work schedule is 25 hours a week Monday-Friday. Work schedule will be determined at time of hire.
  • No housing is provided.
  • This position does not provide benefits.
  • A criminal background investigation will be completed prior to hire.

May be subject to medical, drug and alcohol testing.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.

Applicants with Disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
If you require accommodations or special arrangements due to a qualifying disability, please notify the Recruitment & Selections Services Unit at the time of applications at or 301-454-1411 (Maryland Relay 7-1-1)
M-NCPPC will make all efforts to reasonably accommodate you.