USDA Forest Service

Biological Science aid

May 2017 • Libby, MT

What I liked

Good pay, good hours, and full time schedule

What I wish was different

Advice

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Forestry Technician

May - August 2018 • Minturn, CO

What I liked

I loved the other people on the tree marking crew and I loved being in the mountains.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have been able to work more of the season.

Advice

Befriend your coworkers and supervisors and try to get as much different experiences as possible that you think might need later on down the road.

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Forestry Technician

May - August 2018 • Seeley Lake, MT

What I liked

Spent over 50 days in the backcountry of Montana's wilderness.

What I wish was different

Wish I could have stayed on longer!

Advice

Apply early and often to USAJOBS

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Student Survey Intern

June - September 2018 • Vancouver, WA

What I liked

Being outdoors and the ability to see practical application of what we learn in class.

What I wish was different

Having a boss there full time to teach us and answer questions.

Advice

Apply for internships even if you dont think you have enough experience, they are an excellent way to gain experience and learn about your field.

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Forestry Technician (Timber Presale)

May - November 2018 • Williams, AZ

What I liked

Fits my skills. Mostly outdoor work. Hands on.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Recreation

May - August 2018 • Laramie, WY

What I liked

I enjoyed the whole job but getting to fight Wildland fires was the best part.

What I wish was different

Less monotony

Advice

Just work hard

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Forestry Aide

May - August 2019 • Pinecrest, CA

What I liked

I was working on a fire engine doing wildland fire suppression! I got to work and live in the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest while challenging myself everyday. It was a vigorous job that required a strong mind and body. I loved it all.

What I wish was different

I wish my summer could have been longer!

Advice

Don't be scared to go out and try something that might sound scary. You have to try things out to see what you like.

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GeoCorps Environmental/Civil Engineering Intern

May - August 2019 • Cadillac, MI

What I liked

This was a very unique opportunity to combine my love for nature with my passion for civil engineering. I was faced with design challenges that I would never have considered in Chicagoland or in a city. I collaborated with all types of engineers and different kinds of scientists.

What I wish was different

Nothing! I had two amazing summers with the Forest Service.

Advice

Never say no to anything! By always saying yes and being curious, I was invited on archeological digs, on wildlife surveys, vegetation surveys, etc.

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Engineering technician

February - August 2019 • Cedar City, UT

What I liked

Working outside, meeting new people, learning to use new computer programs, travel around the Dixie National forest

What I wish was different

That I didnt do school full time in conjunction with working full time

Advice

Be available to hard, labor intensive work. It doesnt always happen but when on the Forest you cant plan for everything.

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Wildland Firefighter

May - August 2019 • Escalante, UT

What I liked

Time out doors and lots of hard work

What I wish was different

Nothing, was a great experience

Advice

Come ready to work hard, dont expect to get in shape on the job

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Forestry Technician

June - August 2019 • Minturn, CO

What I liked

Hands on experience in my field, great pay, and inexpensive housing

What I wish was different

I wish I had more time!

Advice

The best way to get a federal job is to apply to every single one you're interested in, you never know what might happen.

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Forestry Aide

May - August 2019 • Troy, MT

What I liked

My supervisors and bosses were all very helpful and kind and I got to be outside all summer.

What I wish was different

I wish I didn't have to commute 30 min to work every day.

Advice

This experience was amazing and I learned so much in just a short amount of time. The US Forest Service is a great company to work for and I would recommend it to others.

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Forestry Technician - TImber

May - August 2019 • Avery, ID

What I liked

Locale was fantastic; very large mixed conifer forest. The work was quite interesting and varied, and I was given the opportunity to do many different things throughout the experience.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have been able to use a bit more of my GIS experience throughout the summer.

Advice

Invest in sturdy clothing if you intend to do field work.

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Recreation Technician

June - August 2019 • Loa, UT

What I liked

As an avid user of recreation facilities on public lands, I enjoyed being able to contribute to a project that would both conserve the natural resources while promoting connection and education for visitors.

What I wish was different

Stronger focus on mentoring and skill acquisition.

Advice

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Forestry Aide

May - August 2019 • Cedar City, UT

What I liked

Going up on the mountain every day, working 4 days a week, getting to see new places.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have had a chance to work with more departments.

Advice

Just enjoy it because you might not get to do something like that again.

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USFS Intern

June - August 2019 • Woodland Park, CO

What I liked

Everyday was an adventure and I never got tired of any of my chores or tasks. I met a lot of scientists with research in a variety of disciplines. It was the best way to learn about forestry with all of the hands on experience I gained

What I wish was different

I wish I could have travelled more outside of Woodland park to experience other natural areas.

Advice

Speak up about what you want to experience because they don’t have a concrete schedule for everything. If you want to learn how to use a chainsaw then let your advisor know and they will most likely make arrangements!

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Wildland Firefighter

May - October 2019 • Beckwourth, CA

What I liked

The hard work and various locations I traveled to. I worked on a hotshot crew for the forest service and loved the men and women I met. We fought fire in the most dangerous and often steep terrain. Camaraderie and self fulfillment are what made this job the most memorable.

What I wish was different

I wish the job was year round.

Advice

This job requires a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication. You will not have a typical fun summer like everyone else. Although, this will be made up with fun experiences, meeting new people, and of course fighting wildland fires.

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Unpaved road conditions surveyor

May - August 2019 • Cedar City, UT

What I liked

The pay was great and I got to see lots of amazing places across the western United States.

What I wish was different

I wish the data entry would have been easier to enter or just recorded more efficiently

Advice

Safety first.

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Wildland Firefighter

June - September 2019 • La Grande, OR

What I liked

This summer I got to work with some great people, and made lots of new friends! My favorite part of the summer was going to Montana for a fire, and being spiked out (sleeping out in the woods) in the middle of no where! This was my first time visiting Montana, and the best part of it was that I was being paid to do it!

What I wish was different

I wish summer never ended, because I honestly love my job! Some of my best memories have came from work with my best friends! We always find a way to at least make the worst possible work fun.

Advice

If you are interested in fighting wild fires, contact me or pull me aside at school! I’m always happy to help you in the long process of getting hired and I can put in a good word. Also, This job is not meant for everyone. You need to not only be physically in shape, but also mentally because we can go for up to 16 days doing hard work, sleeping on the ground in just a sleeping bag, and eating minimal food and being out through things that not everyone can handle. So you need to be strong minded and dedicated to your job!

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Forestry Technician

May - August 2019 • Moab, UT

What I liked

All the time I got to spend outdoors. Had a lot of exposure to animals, nature, and all kinds of weather. Worked with some really awesome people from all over the country, who helped me become a better person. It really helped me disconnect from the civilization for a while. No Netflix, fast food, or instagram. Just trees, fresh mountain air, and good people.