Cultivating Stewards: ICC Crews and Interns Transform Idaho’s Public Lands in 2026

This summer, students with the Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC) completed critical projects on BLM Idaho lands while gaining hands-on experience in land management and becoming stewards of the land. Led by BLM intern Kylie Stear, a graduate student at Boise State University, ICC crews completed a variety of projects, including habitat surveys, fencing maintenance, restoration planting, and trash cleanup.

BLM internships provide students with the opportunity to gain direct experience in their field of study while leading ICC crews in meaningful conservation work. The BLM collaborated with the ICC and Northwest Youth Corps to provide internship opportunities throughout a four-year period from 2024 through 2028. Typical internships last 16 weeks but may be extended as project needs allow.

This year, the BLM Boise District hired three interns to support work across the Snake River Plain, focusing on habitat inventory, exclosure repair, and monitoring for the threatened Slickspot peppergrass (Lepidium papilliferum). Their work benefits a wide variety of plant and wildlife species while supporting restoration efforts and other multiple-use activities throughout the Snake River Plain.

We caught up with Kylie to hear about her internship experience.

What did you enjoy most?

“I enjoyed the mutual confidence-building between myself and the crews. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead people who were interested in and dedicated to making a difference through surveying, conservation, and habitat monitoring. Hands-on work in the sagebrush-steppe fosters an appreciation for semi-arid ecosystems, and many of these crew members came from forest backgrounds, so it was a pleasure to share the value of desert landscapes.”

What skills will you carry forward?

“The ability to plan and organize fieldwork with a team to accomplish a common goal was both rewarding and highly transferable. Learning new information quickly, applying it to projects with short turnaround times, navigating mapping software, and communicating with partners outside the organization all came with a steep learning curve. I’m grateful for the confidence I’ve gained in each of those areas.”

After working with the BLM for a year, how has your perspective on public lands changed?

“I’ve come to value stewardship more than I did before working with the BLM. Proper land management supports not only ecosystems, but culture as well. The value, respect, and pride we have for our home is reflected in how we interact with the landscape. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the responsibility we all share to care for public lands, whether through an organization like the BLM or as individuals. We each have the ability to make a difference, and it’s important that we do.”

What are your plans after your internship?

“I’ll be starting my master’s program at Boise State University in August. During my time with the BLM, I conducted habitat surveys for the rare and endemic Slickspot peppergrass . Now that I’ve spent a year becoming familiar with its habitat, I’ll shift my focus to studying the plant itself and helping develop a breeding program to support its conservation. Working so closely with the land management agency before moving into research has given me a unique perspective that I hope will help make a difference. I’m excited to contribute to the rehabilitation of this species.”

-------

The ICC crews also accomplished an impressive amount of on-the-ground conservation work this season. They planted more than 2,300 sagebrush and bitterbrush seedlings, along with 50 willow seedlings. Crews also completed multiple Slickspot peppergrass surveys and mapped their findings to support future analysis and management.

Beyond their fieldwork, students expanded their knowledge of rangeland management by learning about emerging research and visiting Boise State University’s greenhouse and laboratory facilities.

Through partnerships like the Idaho Conservation Corps and Northwest Youth Corps, the BLM is investing in the next generation of land stewards. Both interns and ICC students gain a deeper appreciation for public land stewardship and learn firsthand about the challenges and benefits of multiple use. They also build real-world experience and develop the skills needed for careers in natural resource management, leaving a lasting impact on Idaho’s landscapes. As this season’s interns and crews move on to new opportunities, the knowledge they’ve gained—and the work they’ve completed—will continue to benefit the Snake River Plain for years to come.