For over a decade, Audubon Great Lakes has trained young adults for careers in conservation through our Audubon Wings Internship program. Annually, Audubon hires, trains, and supervises Restoration Interns, who work on lands managed by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and Chicago Park District, respectively.
The Audubon Habitat Restoration Internship is a 16-20 week program focusing on ecological restoration and land stewardship. Interns are seasonal, full-time (40 hour/week) employees and provided competitive hourly salary. Interns work outside in various extreme weather conditions and must be able to commit to a flexible schedule throughout the program, as weather determines the workday. Previous experience in habitat restoration is not required, but interns are expected to complete necessary trainings and certifications in order to complete assigned projects in the field. During the program, interns will carry-out work orders to remove invasive vegetation, collect and distribute native seeds, plant native plugs, and participate in prescribed burns.
Certifications and Training include:
- IL Department of Agriculture Herbicide Applicator License
- National Safety Council First Aid/AED/CPR
- Brushcutter Use and Maintenance
- Brushpile Burn Boss & Building
- Work Day Leader Courses (Group Leadership, Managing Invasives, Practical Herbicide)
- Native and Invasive Plant, Shrub and Tree Identification
- If applicable: Chainsaw Feller I and Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescribed Burn Certification
The internship also provides professional development and project management skills training, as the interns will attend and participate in educational field seminars, professional conference(s), and workdays with partnering organizations, as well as collect and report field data, and carry out administrative tasks required for the internship program.
The Habitat Restoration Internship Program has a strong network of program alumni with 80% of our interns since 2014 moving into jobs in conservation-related and green fields immediately following their time at Audubon.
Local conservation organizations and companies that have hired Audubon Alumni include:
- Forest Preserves of Cook County
- Chicago Park District
- Lake County Forest Preserves
- National Park Service
- Citizens for Conservation
- The Nature Conservancy
- Openlands
- Friends of the Forest Preserves
- The Morton Arboretum
- Pizzo & Associates
- Stantec Consulting
- Applied Ecological Services
- Davey Tree Expert Company
- McGinty Bros., Inc.
The internships are available through Audubon's Wings internship program and post to the Audubon Career Portal in March.
For additional information on the Audubon Restoration Internships contact: Kayla Lindsay Fisher, Senior Associate, Stewardship at Kayla.lindsayfisher@audubon.org
Downloadable Resources
Great Lakes Restoration Efforts
Audubon’s Restoration Internships set birds and interns up for long-term success
Celebrating its 15th-year Anniversary, Audubon's Restoration Internships provide crucial job training for emerging professionals and restore crucial habitat for the benefit of birds and people.
Restoring Habitat at Powderhorn Lake Forest Preserve
Connecting two lakes to reestablish more than 100 acres of vital marsh habitat that marsh birds rely on.
Audubon’s State of the Grasslands Report a Turning Point for Grassland Bird Conservation in Illinois
By Daniel Suarez and Stephanie Beilke
Ways You Can Help
Join A Chapter
Audubon chapters create a culture of conservation in local communities through education and advocacy, focusing on the conservation of birds and conservation of important habitats.
Donate to Audubon
Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
