Youth forest Monitoring program
YFMP is a 6-week summer internship for high school students. Participants explore hands-on forest ecology, supplement forest health analysis, engage in stewardship projects, and discover a variety of natural resource careers. The framework includes 1 week of training by forest scientists, 4 weeks of field monitoring and stewardship projects, and 1 week of final research with a written report and oral presentation for forest scientists as a final product.
- June 22 – July 30 2026 (Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm)
- Location: Helena Forest Service Office, Transportation is provided to the field each day.
- Stipend $1,200 (pro-rated/day)
- 3-day field monitoring trip into the Scapegoat Wilderness
To Apply
Email or Postmark the following:
- Contact information – email, address, phone #
- School transcript
- Letter of recommendation from a teacher or adult advisor
- Cover letter describing:
- What you hope to gain by this experience
- Special contributions you can make to this program
Applications are being accepted now, through 11:59 Friday, April 17th 2026.
Call Liz Burke (406) 495-3713 or email elizabeth.a.burke@usda.gov
YFMP Members:
- Spend a summer outdoors learning about forest ecology
- Work cooperatively in a group of peers
- Engage in hands-on learning about natural resource management
- Collect data and present findings to forest scientists, county commissioners, and the public
- Make recommendations that improve forest health
- Gain experience for future employment opportunities
YFMP Teams Include:
- Streams
- Soils/Wildlife
- Vegetation/Forestry
SEND APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
ATTN: Liz Burke
2880 Skyway Dr.
Helena, MT 59602
elizabeth.a.burke@usda.gov