Conservation Management Apprenticeship
Purpose
Interest in restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems and conservation-oriented management of existing longleaf pine systems for both forest and wildlife values is increasing. There is, however, a scarcity of well-trained individuals to carry out such management goals, and experience is difficult to obtain. Most academic programs in natural resources focus on specific and often intensive aspects of resource management (e.g., timber or game management) and rarely integrate conservation objectives as a primary consideration in the management of natural resources. In addition, few (if any) academic programs provide practical training in land management, particularly in the use of fire in the southeastern Coastal Plain. A training program that provides hands-on, practical resource management experience in longleaf pine forests is therefore needed in the region.
The Jones Center is uniquely situated to provide such a training program given the experience and expertise of our staff, the well-managed Ichauway property to serve as a “laboratory”, and collaborative relationships with a variety of other individuals and organizations with significant expertise. Our intent is to train professionals that will eventually work in conservation management of public and private lands in the region. In this capacity we will not be training apprentices to meet our goals or to add to our workforce, but instead will be training them to work professionally for other landowners or organizations. We envision that the apprenticeship program will be one of the most significant outreach activities of the Center, and the influence of the program will be especially apparent as these apprentices eventually serve as future mentors of other land managers in training. Our intent is train apprentices in practical, day-to-day management skills, thus all apprentices are actively involved in land management at Ichauway (i.e., it is not a passive process) with a focus on ecologically sound resource management.
Program Description
Our objective is to provide a unique and prestigious internship that provides hands-on management and restoration experience in longleaf pine ecosystems. Those trained in the program will become competent and experienced practitioners of numerous aspects of conservation-oriented land management, from forest, wildlife and wetland management, to supervision of employees and contractors, to equipment and road maintenance.
An individual will train in the apprenticeship program for an average of 1 1/2 years (minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 2 years in the program). One year – a full cycle of management, not necessarily following the calendar year – is the minimum time necessary to ensure adequate experience in several key aspects of resource management. Additional experience and competence can be obtained through the second year of training, and is especially valuable in providing the opportunity for advance planning and scheduling of necessary tasks. Some flexibility in the duration of the apprenticeship is desirable to optimize the learning options, including individual goals, the ability to take advantage of available training opportunities, or to accommodate potential job opportunities. Apprentices will be part of the Conservation Program workforce and will be expected to work on tasks assigned by their supervisor(s) at least 40 hours per week. Initially, apprentices will work under close supervision and in a team environment. As experience is gained, an apprentice will take on more responsibility and may eventually help to train less experienced interns.
The comprehensive nature of the training is designed to develop an appreciation of the many interrelationships between the resources and their management, and consequent tradeoffs and compromises that must be made when the management goal emphasizes the maintenance and health of the entire system rather than the maximization of any one resource. It is difficult to list all the specific topics that will be included in the apprentice training program (i.e., potentially all aspects of applied management), and there could also be some slight differences in training depending on the intern's interest in and opportunities for a job with public or private landowners. Still, several general topics and major areas of training include: fire ecology and management; game and non-game wildlife management; forest stewardship and management; aquatic resource management; restoration practices; agricultural management; endangered species; ecological research & monitoring programs; applied maintenance and management.
How and When to Apply for an Internship
The program targets individuals who have a degree in natural resources or ecology and desire to manage land for conservation purposes. The degree can be either a four-year bachelors degree or potentially a Masters degree for a person with appropriate career goals. Previous experience, interest in conservation, and overall abilities are more important to the success of an apprentice than the particular degree obtained, and the best qualified candidate will be selected.
We currently have no more than two apprentices at any given time. When openings are anticipated in the program the position is advertised regionally, on national job boards, and on the Jones Center web site. Details for required application materials are included in the announcements, along with associated deadlines. The program provides a salary and full health and retirement benefits for the duration of the training.
Conservation Apprentices
Stacy Hurst Odom. 2001-2002. B.S. in Biology, Georgia Southwestern State University.
Brandon T. Rutledge. 2001-2003. M.S. in Biology, University of Memphis.
Lynne T. Boyd. 2003-2004. Dual M.S. in Forestry and Environmental Management, Duke University.
Cory D. Drennan.2003-2004. B.S. in Forest Resources, Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia.
Rebecca Cantey Thomas. 2005-2006. B.S. in Wildlife Biology, Clemson University.
Alex V. “Lex” Tyson. 2005-2007. B.S. in Biology, Georgia Southern University.
David S. Dyson. 2006-2007. BS./B.A. in Forestry and French Studies, University of the South.
Bryant R. Williamson. 2007-2009. B.S. in Forest Resources, University of Georgia.
Cathryn "Cat" Eddins. 2008-present. A.A. in Wildlife Technology, Abraham Baldwin College.