Programs Help Students Gain Experience/Careers in Idaho BLM
Tricia Miller enjoys her job. For the past year, Tricia has been working as a Fisheries Biologist in the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Tricia works for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Salmon Field Office in Salmon, Idaho while she attends the University of Idaho via online classes; she is working towards her certificate in Restoration Ecology. She speaks fondly about her position as a SCEP student and her pleasant voice describes what she does for work as enjoyable.
Tricia working in the mountains near Salmon
“My work experience has helped me in school,” Tricia says. “I am more of a hands-on learner, so this position has really helped me both with school and in gaining valuable experience in my field of work,” she adds.
As BLM employees, SCEP students work while attending school in offices throughout the nation. Under the program, they have an established support system of mentors and supervisors who guide them through the program. Students work in the BLM positions that most closely match their academic majors, which vary from natural resources and information technology to recreation and law enforcement.
Idaho BLM currently employs 12 SCEP students throughout its four districts and the State Office. The Student Temporary Experience Program (STEP) also provides 102 Idaho students with career experience while attending college. The major difference between the two programs lies in the fact that STEP students are considered to be temporary employees and employment ends once they graduate, while SCEP students can be non-competitively placed in a permanent position upon graduation.
Studying fish and stream health
While she was working for the Salmon Field Office as a seasonal fisheries technician, Tricia was selected for a SCEP position and gladly took the opportunity to continue her education towards becoming a Fisheries Biologist. As Tricia works towards her Restoration Ecology certificate, she may even end up getting her masters in Natural Resources if needed to fulfill the requirements for her to become a full-fledged Fisheries Biologist.
Tricia rides horseback to work in remote country
On an average field season day, Tricia may be songbird banding, supervising youth, monitoring range allotments, or riding a horse into remote country to assess stream health for local fish species. In the winter months, she’s inputting data and working on NEPA documents, but her favorite aspect of her position involves stream monitoring.
“It’s really interesting, because I get to deploy thermographs, which monitor the temperature of individual streams. By examining the data from the thermographs, we can tell whether the streams are at the right temperature for the healthy migration, spawning or rearing of anadromous fish,” Tricia explains. “I’m actually helping to maintain the health of our streams, and that’s important,” she adds.
Shanin Van Buskirk is also a SCEP student located in Burley, Idaho. She’s currently working as a Range Clerk for the Burley Field Office, and hopes to become a career-employee through the SCEP program. While attending the College of Southern Idaho to obtain her degree in business, Shanin works in the field office in range monitoring programs and performs administrative duties, such as assisting with billing and permits, as well as processing travel for fellow employees.
She excitedly talks about how the SCEP program has encouraged her to accomplish educational goals that she might not have pursued otherwise. Because of the SCEP program, she says she will complete her college education in order to advance her BLM career. The SCEP mentoring program has also guided her through the waters of her career goals.
“Everyone at the BLM has been really willing to train me,” says Shanin. “They will show you the door, and if you’re willing to walk through, then you can run with it and there are a lot of career opportunities out there,” she adds.
Shanin admits that working and going to school is not easy, but it’s rewarding. She works 40 hours a week for BLM and attends her classes as well.
“I would encourage anyone who has an interest in working as a professional for the BLM to become part of the SCEP program,” says Shanin. “The SCEP has opened a lot of doors for me, and I’m very grateful.”
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