CSFS Salida Field Office Intern

The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is a service and outreach agency of the Warner College of Natural Resources (WCNR). The CSFS provides technical forestry assistance, wildfire mitigation expertise, and outreach and education to help landowners and communities achieve their forest management goals. Our mission is to achieve stewardship of Colorado’s diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations.

The Colorado State Forest Service partnered with the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU) in 2018 to develop the CSFS Internship Program that offers paid summer internships to undergraduate students. Intern positions provide students with in-depth learning and work experiences in natural resources. Internships include a 15-85% split between training for the student and hourly work for the CSFS, as defined below under “Duties and Responsibilities”. Student interns prepare 2 written documents throughout their internship period to advance professional writing skills and encourage self-reflection. They also receive one-on-one mentoring and evaluations from their CSFS supervisor(s). A small professional development stipend will be made available to support costs/fees associated with trainings, workshops, conferences, and other applicable opportunities during the internship period. A housing stipend will be offered to interns to mitigate the cost of living in Colorado. There may be dorm-style housing available through Colorado Firecamp that is significantly cheaper than other options.

The position title of this internship is CSFS Salida Field Office Internship. This intern will be based out of the Salida Field Office (Salida, CO) in the CSFS Southwest Area and is directly supervised by Kellie Solis (Forester). The Salida Field Office is one of 18 field offices of the CSFS, and serves Lake and Chaffee counties. The CSFS office in Leadville is a satellite office of the Salida Field Office. This office is staffed by three Foresters, two Lead Foresters, a Supervisory Forester, a Seasonal Forester, an Accounting Technician, and the Southwest Area Manager. We are seeking student interns who are professional, self-directed, innovative, and energetic. Of special interest are applicants that demonstrate a capacity to learn new skills, think critically, and serve as effective team members.

o Attend initial site visits with private landowners to gauge their interest and offer treatment options.

o Develop maps in ArcPro for the inventory.

o Collect inventory data using tools such as a compass, laser range finder, tablet, diameter tape, clinometer, increment borer, and calipers.

o Data acquisition and management in Excel, Access and FVS (Forest Vegetation Simulator).

o Write a forest management plan using the condensed RCPP template.

o Paint trees for removal where necessary (i.e. ponderosa pine stand).

o Lay out unit boundaries for harvest.

o Attend weekly and monthly staff calls, as well as bi-weekly and monthly calls with partners in the area such as NFF, USFS, and NRCS.

o Utilize GPS, tablets and phones to map and rate wildfire risk on occupied lots.

o Public interaction with landowners on factors affecting Home Ignition Zone by modifying the Defensible Space ( 100 ft around a home or building that has been treated to lower the fire risk).

o Assist adjacent field offices with project work.

o Attend monthly Tree Board meetings.

o Assist with projects other than RCPP (site visits, layout, administration).

o Assist with Lake County projects. This will introduce interns to forest management in lodgepole pine stands that are not as widespread in Chaffee County.

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

Please submit applications by11:59 pm MST on Friday, February 6, 2026. You must submit a separate application for each position you are interested in being considered for, but can use the same cover letter for all applications (see specific information required in the cover letter below). Include the following information in your application packet:

1. Cover letter

The cover letter must include the following information:

a. The CSFS internship position(s) you are applying for (indicate each specific position title listed in the overview). The above position description is for CSFS Salida Field Office Intern.

b. Your interest in and qualifications for each of the positions for which you are applying. Please provide at least 2-3 sentences for each position explaining why you are applying for that position.

2. Resume

3. Unofficial undergraduate transcripts

4. Names and contact information for 3 professional references.

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

o Attend initial site visits with private landowners to gauge their interest and offer treatment options.

o Develop maps in ArcPro for the inventory.

o Collect inventory data using tools such as a compass, laser range finder, tablet, diameter tape, clinometer, increment borer, and calipers.

o Data acquisition and management in Excel, Access and FVS (Forest Vegetation Simulator).

o Write a forest management plan using the condensed RCPP template.

o Paint trees for removal where necessary (i.e. ponderosa pine stand).

o Lay out unit boundaries for harvest.

o Attend weekly and monthly staff calls, as well as bi-weekly and monthly calls with partners in the area such as NFF, USFS, and NRCS.

o Utilize GPS, tablets and phones to map and rate wildfire risk on occupied lots.

o Public interaction with landowners on factors affecting Home Ignition Zone by modifying the Defensible Space ( 100 ft around a home or building that has been treated to lower the fire risk).

o Assist adjacent field offices with project work.

o Attend monthly Tree Board meetings.

o Assist with projects other than RCPP (site visits, layout, administration).

o Assist with Lake County projects. This will introduce interns to forest management in lodgepole pine stands that are not as widespread in Chaffee County.