Habitat Restoration Internship Program

For over twenty years, Audubon Great Lakes has trained young adults for careers in conservation through our Habitat Restoration Internship program. Spanning 16-20 weeks each summer, the program focuses on ecological restoration and land stewardship, and provides young adults with hands-on experience restoring habitat for birds and people.

During the program, across lands managed by the Forest Preserves of Cook County and Chicago Park District, interns carry out a variety of restoration tasks. These include removing invasive vegetation, collecting and distributing native seeds, planting native plugs, and participating in prescribed burns. Interns also have the chance to develop skills in project management and build professional connections; opportunities include attending and participating in educational field seminars, professional conference(s), and workdays with partnering organizations, and collecting and reporting field data. 

Future Conservation Leaders

The Habitat Restoration Internship Program has a strong network of program alumni. Since 2014, 80% of our interns transitioned into jobs in conservation-related and green fields immediately following their time at Audubon! 

Local conservation organizations and companies that have hired Audubon Habitat Restoration Internship 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.

Certifications and Training Opportunities: 

• 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

To Apply

Internship applications are available through the Audubon Career Portal. 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. 

For additional information on the Audubon Restoration Internships contact: Kayla Lindsay Fisher, Senior Associate, Stewardship at kayla.lindsayfisher@audubon.org.