Oregon Nature Conservancy Programme

  United States

Corvallis,  Eugene,  Portland,  Salem

Term: Spring, Summer 
Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: 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 2006 spring and summer field season.

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:

Two Ecological Field Technicians

Two Ecological Field Technicians will assist Conservancy staff members with grassland research projects on The Nature Conservancy in Oregon's Zumwalt Prairie Preserve and possibly also on the nearby Clear Lake Ridge Preserve in northeastern Oregon. Duties will include mapping and surveying vegetation communities, surveying for rare and endangered species, as well as invasive species, and assisting with other field projects and logistics. Volunteers will be working in rugged terrain and will be learning and applying botany and ecology skills.

One Avian Research Field Assistant

One Avian Research Field Assistant will assist Conservancy and Oregon State University staff members with testing nest-finding techniques for ground-nesting songbirds, to study the effects of cattle stocking rates on grassland food webs. The project will take place on Conservancy and other privately-owned lands. The volunteer may also choose to stay an additional 2 weeks to assist Conservancy staff with botanical collections and surveys, mapping invasive species and other projects as needed. The intern will work in rugged terrain and will be learning and applying wildlife survey and ecology skills.

Project Locations:

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.

Clear Lake Ridge Preserve

Clear Lake Ridge Preserve is a prairie-covered plateau with mile-high lakes and a steep canyon, located near Zumwalt Prairie on the northeastern flanks of the Wallowa Mountains. The expansive basalt plateau hosts three shallow lakes amid native grasslands that give way to Devil's Gulch, a canyon plunging 3,000 feet toward Little Sheep Creek. Views from the plateau include the Seven Devil's range across Hells Canyon into Idaho and south to the 9,000-ft peaks of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in the Wallowas. Two key native grassland communities on the preserve include bunchgrass species; Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), junegrass (Koelaria cristata) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata). Colonies of Belding ground squirrels inhabit the grasslands and provide food for raptors, coyote and badger. Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, cougar and black bear are found on the preserve. Great Basin rattlesnakes are also occasionally seen on the preserve.

More than 250 species of birds are known to frequent the preserve, and at least 100 have been observed nesting, including mountain bluebirds, grasshopper sparrows and red-eyed vireo. Golden eagles and ferruginous hawks have nested in the vicinity of Downey Lake. Swainson's hawks and goshawks are periodically seen on the preserve, as are mountain quail, ruffed grouse, yellow-breasted chats, lazuli buntings and canyon wrens. The preserve's three shallow lakes, located in shallow depressions in the basalt flow, provide nesting habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Often seen are Wilson's phalaropes, yellow-headed blackbirds, horned larks and savannah sparrows. Eared and horned grebes nest at Downey Lake in wet years.

The hike up Devil's Gulch provides one of the premier birding opportunities in Northeast Oregon. The preserve hosts beautiful wildflower displays is May and June. Volunteers assist with research projects, help control invasive non-native plants and live as caretakers in the preserve cabin, monitoring preserve activities from July through October.

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. If you wish, you may also stay overnight at the Northeast Oregon office "house" and spend the weekend in the small town of Enterprise, checking out the local microbrewery, bookstore and other town attractions.

Transport, Food and Accommodations

Accommodations will be shared 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 drive and ride in work vehicles provided by The Nature Conservancy on Zumwalt Prairie and Clear Lake Ridge preserves. You will have access to work vehicles and/or will be able to catch a ride into town periodically (usually weekly) to buy food and other provisions, do laundry or just enjoy time in town. A food allowance of $75/week will be provided.

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 receive a food allowance/stipend of 75$, 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.

Highlights: This programme provides the ideal opportunity for any student or person to gain a lot of hands on experience working in the field with ecological and botanical issues, increasing knowledge of ecological studies and field sampling techniques, alongside an internationally reputable conservation organisation and conservation professionals in a beautiful setting - an opportunity not to be missed!

Qualifications:
- Willingness to commit to and complete 6 to 8 weeks (depending upon project) of volunteer service
- Must be in good physical condition and able to walk 10 to 40 miles per week over uneven ground
- 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 possess a driver's license from your home country
- 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.

Cost in US$: 150 Pounds registration fee - 260 USD

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 21 yrs onwards

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-3

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Resume
• Written Application

Year Founded: 1997