BLM AZ San Miguel High School Intern Program

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Project Background Information: Arizona BLM desires to enter into new agreement(s) with a high school and a non-profit organization to provide students, interns, volunteers, or entry-level professionals for the following reasons; 1) Provide a basis for high quality scientific research and technical assistance for recreation, natural and cultural resource management on public lands. 2) Provide the most up-to-date scientific research on recreation, natural and cultural issues on public lands. 3) Create an on-going effective and efficient partnership between the BLM and a university or non-profit organization. 4) Enable undergraduate and graduate students to interact with Federal agency personnel and to experience on-the-ground resource management. 5) Assist the BLM in efficient and cost effective public land management by inventorying, monitoring, assessing, interpreting, educating, and informing natural, recreational and cultural resources, settings, and conditions so that these public lands and the NLCS units can continue to be managed for the public benefit. Work would primarily be field work assisting the BLM with recreation, interpretation, environmental education, travel management, cultural, wildlife biology, botany, and other natural or cultural resource projects. Students, interns, volunteers or entry-level professionals will work directly under professional staff. Interns and volunteers may work seasonally or for a specific project. Entry-level professionals could work seasonally or for longer periods, depending on available funding. The principle purposes for this program would be to provide efficient and cost effective public land management while educating and training students in recreation, natural and cultural resource fields. SMHS interns began working at TFO on 8/5/13. The school has a Corporate Internship Program, which is a subsidiary of San Miguel High School. The interns assist with administrative duties in the office and assist staff by providing work force with projects in the field. Project Objective: This project provides opportunities for students and / or entry-level professionals, interns, volunteers, or staff to work side-by-side with BLM professional staff to obtain experience in complex public land management issues and projects. This project will provide the background experience by which students may make long term career goals and decisions, and will enable continuing development between the recipient and BLM in terms of student development, recruitment, and service opportunities between the two entities. Inventory, monitoring, implementation, and public education projects will assist the BLM in expanding resource work on the ground and educating the public about public land resources and opportunities.

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