The Fire Ecology Internship Program For High School Students

Here is a great internship opportunity in Orange County, that we received as a press-release, applications are due by September 22, 2023.  Looks like a great opportunity for local high school students in Orange County. 

Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Crystal Cove Conservancy and Crystal Cove State Park Partner on Fire Ecology Internship

(High school interns researching wildfire impacts on cacti in OC Parks’ Limestone Canyon. Photo courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy.)

(Orange County, Calif.) – Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) will partner once again with Crystal Cove Conservancy and Crystal Cove, a California State Park, for the 2023-2024 Fire Ecology Internship. This internship program will provide local high school students with hands-on scientific research experience collaborating with land managers and researchers in studying the impact of wildfires on ecosystems and open spaces throughout Orange County.

The program for the 2023-2024 academic calendar will include 13 classroom sessions and several field trips taking place from October through the end of May, designed to cover all steps of scientific research. Students will study the impact of wildfires and their frequency as well as reflect on the relationship between fire, the landscape and how humans and non-human organisms play a role in wildfires and their aftermath. Students will craft pointed scientific questions, design protocol, collect data from various sites across Orange County, work with professional researchers in the field, analyze and organize data and present their findings at the end of the program. Classes will be conducted both over Zoom and on-site at OC Parks’ Weir, Gypsum and Limestone Canyons as well as Moro Canyon within Crystal Cove State Park.

The students will continue a longitudinal study, building upon the research conducted by the previous academic cohort surrounding cactus scrub habitats, specifically how the coastal cactus wren, a sensitive bird species, has been affected by wildfires. The goal is to accumulate a more robust database of long-term information to track changes over time and be able to measure the impact of past and future fires for IRC, Crystal Cove Conservancy, and Crystal Cove State Park.

“New this year, we’ll have experts come into the virtual classroom to speak to the students as well as work alongside them in the field,” says Georges Edouard, Education Coordinator, Crystal Cove Conservancy. “Our interns range from sophomores to seniors and have career aspirations across sustainability, climate change, pre-med and resource management. Students gain valuable experience working in restoration, fire ecology and land management, helping local land managers address real-life conservation challenges.”

Past cohorts focused on impacts and burn intervals within different areas of the county. Last year, student interns focused on the critical habitat relationship between cacti and the coastal cactus wren within burned areas. Students looked at the differences in wildlife behavior in these areas and how differences in native vs. non-native vegetation relate to these wildfire impacts. Through tallying numbers of cacti vs. wrens, students discovered that an uptick in fire frequency has been negatively affecting cactus health and wren nesting patterns.

“This program provides students with real-life, hands-on experience with managing natural resources, which will be great if they want to pursue a career in environmental science. They’re addressing actual conservation challenges by helping to understand the impact of past and future fires,” says Nathan Gregory, Vice President & Chief Programs Officer at Irvine Ranch Conservancy. “These findings will also help inform our approach to other habitat restoration and enhancement projects, especially projects designed to support healthy cactus and cactus wren populations.”

Applications are open now through September 22, 2023. To apply or learn more about this educational program for a cause, please visit crystalcove.org/fire-ecology-high-school-internship.