Ecology Project International (EPI) is hiring two field instructors to mentor and deliver academic content for 12 Bitterroot Wildlife Internship program high school interns this summer.

The Bitterroot Wildlife Internship (BWI) program is a partnership between Ecology Project International (EPI) and MPG Ranch that offers a unique experience for high school students that combines ecological education, conservation service, and hands-on field research at MPG Ranch in Florence, Montana from June-August. Each month-long session will be comprised of six interns. Interns will be paired with MPG staff or affiliates to assist with ongoing research, service, or outreach projects and complete their own related research project. EPI has offered the Bitterroot Wildlife Internship program in conjunction with MPG Ranch since 2014. Field instructors will mentor, supervise, and manage the intern experience.

Bitterroot Wildlife Internship instructors will spend Monday morning-Thursday of each week at the ranch leading interns to complete conservation service projects (approximately 10hrs/week), conduct ecological research (approximately 16hrs/week), and learn about the Bitterroot Valley’s ecosystem (approximately 6 hrs/week). Instructors and interns will camp in a designated campsite on the ranch Monday-Thursday. Conservation projects on the ranch might include pulling invasive weeds, removing fencing, and gathering native seeds. Potential research involvement includes avian, soil, plant, ungulate, and insect projects. Instructors will also teach Leave No Trace awareness, guide wildlife observation, and mentor the interns in nature journaling.

Instructors will work approximately 50 days from June through August and will be paid $150/day for Monday-Thursday field days. Instructors will be expected to work at least four hours in EPI’s Missoula office on Fridays, and this office-based work will be paid at $15/hour.