Bitterroot Wildlife Internship- Student Participant - Summer 2025

2025 Bitterroot Wildlife Internship Program- Student Participant

Application deadline: March 1st, 2025 

Each summer, Ecology Project International (EPI) and MPG Ranch partner to offer a unique internship for high school students that combines ecological education, conservation service work, and hands-on field research at the MPG Ranch — a field laboratory of ecology and conservation science located just outside of Florence, Montana. 

Program Description:

This internship provides students with one-on-one interactions and professional mentorship from research scientists. It's an opportunity to design, complete, and present your own field research project and gain hands-on experience with conservation service work. Students create meaningful relationships with other high school students from around the region who are also passionate about conservation, science, and the outdoors — all while working, playing, living and learning in Montana’s majestic Bitterroot Valley.

Each month-long internship session is comprised of six interns. Students are supervised by two EPI instructors and paired with MPG research mentors to engage in ongoing research projects — past projects have focused on everything from moths and butterflies to invasive species and soil science, from birds and bats to bees. Throughout the program, students gain experience with a variety of field research methods, as well as methods for analyzing the data they collect, in pursuit of answering their research question. The program culminates in an August research symposium, where students present their final research posters to their fellows, researchers, and friends and family.

Students spend Monday through Thursday at MPG Ranch completing conservation service projects (~10 hours/week), conducting ecological research (~16 hours/week), and learning about the Bitterroot Valley’s ecosystem (~6 hours/week) by day. By night, students will camp in provided tents on cots. Conservation projects on the ranch might include invasive weed removal and mapping, fence removal and building, planting for restoration, and native seed gathering.

This program is designed specifically for high school students who live in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming and are interested in conservation and ecology!

Dates:
There are two BWI Sessions scheduled for 2025:

Session 1: June 8th-July 3rd

Session 2: July 13th- August 7th

Schedule:
Both sessions:
Week 1: Sunday @ 4:00pm – Thursday @ 4:00pm
Weeks 2-4: Monday @ 8:00am – Thursday @ 4:00pm

May 7th: Meet-and-Greet event for students, instructors, and research mentors to meet and share about research interests.

August 13th: Mandatory end of season evening research symposium.

*Please note that students are responsible for their own food and lodging from Thursday night through Monday morning each week.

Student Responsibilities:

• Actively & enthusiastically participate in all program activities including: individual research projects, MPG research partner engagement opportunities, service work, and science education curriculum lessons.
• Complete conservation service projects to aid MPG Ranch ecological restoration efforts. These projects are often physically strenuous.
• Follow guidance of a research mentor through development of a scientific research question and completion of a project and research poster. Students will be expected to present project results to EPI staff, MPG staff and fellow interns at the end of their session and the end-of-season research symposium.
• Assist MPG researchers in gathering high-quality data.
• Contribute to a positive group culture on the ranch and in camp, including helping with group responsibilities like meal preparation, camp set-up and maintenance, and vehicle loading/unloading.
• Abide by EPI’s Big Five: No tobacco, drugs, alcohol, coupling, or disruptive behavior.

Intern Qualifications:

Required:

• Must have completed freshman year of high school and not yet entered freshman year in college;
• Must be available to attend all field days for the duration of the internship;
• Willingness to work and camp in inclement conditions including rain, heat, bugs, and rough terrain;
• Understanding of scientific inquiry;
• Desire to engage in conservation service work, research, and outdoor learning.
• Must be available to attend all of the following:
  • Pre-season Mentor Meet and Greet on May 7th
  • All field days for the duration of the program
  • Post-season research symposium on August 13th

Preferred:

• Alumni of Ecology Project International courses;
• Prior outdoor experience including camping and hiking;
• Prior experience with conservation service;
• Prior field experience collecting and working with data.

Compensation:

Students will receive a $630 education award after the successful completion of the program and symposium.

Transportation from EPI’s Missoula office to MPG Ranch on Mondays and back on Thursday evenings will be provided.

All meals, snacks, transportation, and necessary equipment are provided during program.

To Apply:

The application period will open Monday, January 6th and close Saturday, March 1st. Interns will be selected based on the quality of their online application, participation in an in-person or virtual interview, and availability to participate in scheduled internship sessions. Interns are required to attend the pre-season meeting, full sessions, and the research symposium. 

About Ecology Project International:

Ecology Project International (EPI) is a non-profit education and conservation organization that offers experiential educational programs to students in a variety of outdoor settings. Students work alongside professional scientists on applied research projects and actively engage in conservation in national parks, forests, and reserves throughout the western hemisphere. For more information, visit https://www.ecologyproject.org/yellowstone-impacts.

About MPG Ranch:

With over 10,000 acres of conservation property in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, MPG stewards large landscapes for wildlife habitat and the enjoyment of future generations. MPG researchers specialize in restoration and ecology and seek new ways to restore land affected by invasive weeds, herbicides, and management practices. From ranch educational tours to teaching college courses to hiring interns, MPG seeks to inspire and train the next generation of scientists. For more MPG information visit www.mpgranch.com.

Have questions about the internship or the application process?

Contact Carly Innis at carly@ecologyproject.org.