Southern Utah Internship Success

Representatives of Southern Utah University (SUU), the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Parks, and University students gathered at the Southern Utah University Mountain Center on September 24th to celebrate the successful development of a public lands and parks, and university internship cooperative over the past two years.

The partnership was originally envisioned by Superintendent Paul Roelandt of Cedar Breaks National Monument, who proposed and acquired joint funding for development of the program from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share program and Southern Utah University. Two years ago a steering committee was formed, with representation from each of the seven land management agency partners and led by Superintendent Roelandt, Anne Smith of the SUU Outdoor Center and Professor Briget Eastep of the SUU Outdoor Recreation Program. The committee developed the framework of the program initially titled the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative or “I.I.C.”. The intent of the program was to create volunteer, paid intern, and seasonal employment opportunities and potential career development for SUU students. Anne Smith, was later hired part time as the Cooperative’s first coordinator of the Cooperative to further spearhead its development. Other Steering Committee members have included: Brian Cottam SUU Regional Services, Susan Linder – SUU Career Services, Steve Robinson – Dixie National Forest, Daniel Cloud – Bryce Canyon National Park, John Hiscock – Pipe Spring National Monument, Larry Gray - Utah State Parks, Lawrence Twitchell - Utah State Parks, Sherry Roche - Bureau of Land Management, Marc Neidig – Zion National Park, and Dan Ng – Bryce Canyon National Park. Many other agency and University staff have helped in innumerable ways.

In 2008, 38 SUU students were placed as volunteers, interns and seasonal employees with agencies and sites such as Bryce Canyon National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Zion National Park, Pipe Spring National Monument, the Dixie National Forest, Sand Hollow Reservoir State Park, Fremont Indian State Park and other locations. They worked in such diverse areas as wildlife inventories, archeological surveys, visitor management, interpretation, maintenance, and ranger dispatch. Several of the student participants were on hand on the 24th to highlight their experience in the program.

Now, the program enters a new phase. The groundwork is laid for an ongoing cooperative partnership between public land and park agencies and SUU. Superintendent Roelandt recently successfully acquired additional National Park Service funding, which will be matched by SUU Regional Services funding for the program. A new full time National Park Service position has been advertised and will soon be filled to coordinate agency needs with SUU student recruitment. Professor Eastep and Ms. Smith have also successfully developed and received University sanctioning of creditable practicum courses and internships. The program looks forward to additional growth, student participation and career development.

Photo caption: Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative Steering Committee – L to R – John Hiscock - Superintendent, Pipe Spring National Monument, Marc Neidig – Interpretive Supervisor, Zion National Park, Daniel Cloud – Facility Manager, Bryce Canyon National Park, Briget Eastep – Professor of Outdoor Recreation, SUU, Steve Robinson – Outdoor Recreation Specialist, Dixie National Forest, Lawrence Twitchell - Utah State Parks, Susan Linder – Career Services, SUU, Anne Smith - Cooperative Coordinator, SUU, Larry Gray – Region Manager, Utah State Parks.

• Plan Your Visit From early June to mid-October, the visitor center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visitor facilities are CLOSED from mid-October through late May. For more information on Cedar Breaks National Monument click here.