Internship Announcement
Ochoco National Forest &
Crooked River National Grassland
Special Uses Resource Assistant
Please Respond By January 10, 2020
Location: Prineville, OR 97754
The Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) in partnership with the Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland will be advertising a Special Uses Resources Assistant (RA). This is a 9 month, full-time work experience from approximately mid-February to mid-November 2020. Created in 1984, and modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s, NYC is a non-profit job training and experiential education program for youth and young adults to learn and work in the field of natural resource management. NYC will recruit and hire the selected RA candidate providing personnel and Human Resources (HR) needs during the placement. www.nwyouthcorps.org
If you have questions about the Special Uses Resources Assistant Internship, please reach Northwest Youth Corps Internship Coordinator Andrew Tagge, andrewt@nwyouthcorps.org 541-357-8210 or Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grassland Special Uses Program Manager Heidi Scott, Heidi.scott@usda.gov or 541-416- 6623.
The Position
The Resource Assistance Program is a rigorous, immersive work and learning experience that provides developmental and training opportunities for individuals interested in learning more about Forest Service careers, and allows for meaningful contribution to the agency’s mission.
The position will assist United States Forest Service (USFS) staff in the area of special use administration. Special uses includes land use such as commercial filming, utility lines, outfitter/guiding, and recreation events. Specific tasks include documentation in hard files and electronic files, billing support, corresponding with permit holders, database entry and clean up, inspection and monitoring, creation of authorization documents and becoming knowledgeable in the related directives. As skills progress, the position will be expected to carry simple permits from start to finish.
Program Benefits
∙NYC will provide RA a stipend of $15,517.30, prorated into monthly payments, a $1,250 relocation, travel, and training allowance, health care coverage, workers compensation, and FICA/Medicare.
∙RA will have special Federal Government hiring authority upon completion of 960 hours of service.
∙The RA is responsible for the cost of housing.
Position Requirements
∙Valid state driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle.
∙Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
∙Comfortable engaging and talking with the public and permittees.
∙Strong organizational skills.
∙Proficient at using a computer as work will involve databases, Microsoft Word and other software.
∙Ability to work independently and with others.
∙Work environment conditions range from working inside an office setting and in the field to inspect permit activities.
∙Physical activity and exposure to weather elements on occasion. It involves walking over varied or sometimes rough terrain.
∙Government vehicles are available for work-related travel.
∙Government-sponsored housing is available on this unit at the Historic Ochoco Ranger Station.
∙RA’s are responsible for travel to and from duty station.
About the Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National Grasslands
The Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River Grasslands Headquarters office, located in Prineville, Oregon, is a single Forest Service administrative unit combining both supervisor’s office and ranger district responsibilities. The Ochoco National Forest covers more than 850,000 acres of public lands, and includes 36,200 acres of designated wilderness, distributed among 3 wilderness areas.
The Crooked River National Grasslands is most associated with the nearby Ochoco National Forest, which is part of the old Blue Mountain Forest Reserve, established in 1906 by President Roosevelt. The Reserve was divided into four smaller units in 1908 – the Deschutes, Malheur, Whitman and Umatilla National Forests. In 1911 the Ochoco National Forest was established from parts of the Malheur and Deschutes National Forests. In 1960 Congress created the Crooked River National Grassland, which today is administered by the Ochoco National Forest.
The Ochoco National Forest and Crooked River National Grasslands has a complex special uses program, with over 150 permits capturing a diverse use of National Forest System lands. Recreation uses includes, outfitter and guide permits, recreation events and commercial filming. Lands permits includes, utilities such as power, fiber optics, phone and water transmission lines, research studies, road easements, dams, communication sites and much more.
More information https://www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco
PRINEVILLE, OREGON:
The City of Prineville is located 35 miles northeast of Bend and 30 miles southeast of Madras.
The major highway through town is US highway 26. The population is around 10,000 in the city with approximately 17,000 living in the surrounding area. There are numerous parks in and adjacent to town; a public library; full service medical and dental facilities; shopping centers; a country club, two golf courses and numerous denominations of churches.
SCHOOLS:
The Crook County School System in Prineville consists of four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) in Bend offers two-year programs as well as four-year degrees through Oregon State University and the University of Oregon. There are several private schools in town and there is also an active home- school program in both counties.
HEALTH CARE:
Prineville has one major hospital and two clinics.
HOUSING:
Rental apartments and houses are available. The approximate range for the monthly cost of rentals is $700-800 for a two
bedroom, one bath unit and around $900 for a three bedroom unit in either duplexes or apartments. The monthly rental cost for a three bedroom single-family house runs $1,000 and up. Prineville is a rapidly growing community with many new subdivisions. The average price for a home in Prineville is $175,000 and on rural property $250,000 and up depending on the availability of water.
Central Oregon is “High Desert” which means the climate is semi-arid and has four distinct seasons. Summer brings warm, sunny days with temperatures in the high 80’s to 90’s. There can be a few days in August where the temperature will reach the low 100’s. Fall is pleasant and mild with average high temperatures of 75 degrees, and nighttime lows sometimes dipping into the 20’s. Winter is relatively mild with the snowfall in the neighborhood of 8-10 inches, but it usually melts quickly. Temperatures are normally in the low to mid 20’s and 30’s. January can bring a week or two of sub-zero temperatures. Spring is usually sunny, but cool. The growing season is relatively short as the elevation of Redmond is 3,077, Bend is 3,623 and Prineville is 3,033 feet. Madras, with an elevation of 2,242 feet, enjoys a longer growing season. The average yearly precipitation in Central Oregon ranges from 8.64 to 12 inches.
More detailed information about Central Oregon may be obtained from the following websites: http://www.ohwy.com/or/p/prinevil.htm.
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