Posted 9/5/98
Each year, Jewel Cave offers a one-year internship in cave resource management. This volunteer position is designed to provide assistance to the cave management program, and also to give the intern relevant training and experience. The position offers no salary, although we provide a place to stay and $100 per week for living expenses. It will last a full year, from January to December, 1999. Applicants need not be enrolled with an educational institution in order to be considered.
Regular duties include: collecting water samples from the cave and nearby springs, analyzing water samples for nitrates and chlorides, monitoring cave temperature and humidity, radon monitoring, computer data entry, bat counts, assisting with photomonitoring and cave inventory programs, cleaning lint accumulations and removing algae from the tour route, helping organize projects involving other cavers, and providing assistance to the interpretive staff.
Other opportunities may be available, depending on the funding we receive to accomplish special projects. In the past, interns have helped with water-quality studies, dye tracing, cave radio locations, cave SAR preplanning, paleontological test digs, geologic mapping, photomonitoring, biologic studies, and prescribed fire. Additionally, the program can be tailored to your specific interests and skills.
Training will be provided! In addition to in-house training, this year’s intern has also attended fire training classes, a Water Resources Forum, and a week-long NCRC cave rescue course. In 1999, the Black Hills Hydrology Conference, the Cave Management Symposium, and NCRC are on the agenda, along with other local opportunities that might come up during the year.
The main requirements are: Caving experience, basic computer skills, and writing/public speaking experience. Additionally, environmental, photographic, programming, GIS, and geological experience or training could also be put to good use.
There will be many opportunities for caving. Those with sufficient desire and ability are welcome to participate in the ongoing exploration of this 118-mile-long cave.
Applications can be obtained from:
Be thorough in documenting your skills and abilities. Be sure to express your special interests! Applications must be received by Friday, November 6, 1998 and each applicant will be notified of the final selection by Monday, November 23, 1998. Actual starting and ending dates are flexible and can be negotiated for your convenience.
If you have any questions, please call me at: (605)673-2061, ext.1226.
My e-mail address is Mike_Wiles@nps.gov.