As wildfire frequency and intensity continue to rise across Southern California, Crystal Cove Conservancy is helping the next generation meet the challenge head-on. In partnership with California State Parks, Irvine Ranch Conservancy and the University of California, Irvine, The Conservancy is now accepting applications for their annual Fire Ecology High School Internship Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
The fire ecology internship is one of the few programs in the region that offers high school students the opportunity to dig deep into the science of fire and its lasting impact on Orange County’s landscapes. Throughout the program, students work alongside scientists and land managers to study how wildfires shape ecosystems – from vegetation regrowth and wildlife habitats to the hidden world beneath our feet: soil microbes. Interns collect data at multiple burn sites across Orange County, analyze soil samples in the lab and explore how fire frequency affects microbe communities.
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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy…