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Dear Student,
We are sharing an update for changes to BSCI161 and BSCI171. BSCI161 and BSCI171 will no longer be offered and instead will be replaced with a single lab, BSCI180. There are no changes to either lecture course – BSCI170 and BSCI 160. These changes are only for the lab.
In addition to moving to a single introductory lab course, the most significant change is that students will now have to complete one of the associated lecture courses as a prerequisite - prior to enrolling in BSCI180.
The degree requirement for majors that require BSCI171 and/or BSCI161 will be updated soon to reflect either the old series or the new course meeting the requirement. Similarly, subsequent course prerequisites will be updated to reflect either the old series or the new course meeting the prerequisite requirement.
If your degree program does not require BSCI161 or BSCI171 and you are looking for a general education Natural Science Lab course to complete within one semester, you can search the Schedule of classes for programs offering DSNL credit.
For additional information visit the BSCI180 FAQ page. If you have any questions, please reach out to your academic advisor or college student services office to understand how these changes apply to your major and/or academic plans for your Fall 26 schedule.
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Leave No Child Inside Environmental Education Internship
GIS Mapping, Restoration, Conservation and Community Engagement Park Location: Dumbarton Oaks Park, R and 31st NW, Washington, DC
(2 Open Positions Fall 2026) (2 Open Positions Winter/Spring 2027) One semester, with the possibility of a second semester renewal upon review. Part time. Advanced Undergraduate, Juniors and Senior, or Graduate Students.
About Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy (DOPC):
A 27-acre pastoral oasis in the heart of Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks Park (DOP) is the woodland and meadow portion of the original 53-acre Dumbarton Oaks estate. One of the finest garden designs in American landscape history, it is the master work of Beatrix Farrand, America’s first woman landscape architect. In 1940, Mildred and Robert Bliss donated the naturalistic portion of the garden to the American people as a public park overseen by the National Park Service (NPS).
Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, winner of the 2023 DC Sustainability Award, was established in 2010 as a private non-profit organization with the mission to restore, promote, and maintain Dumbarton Oaks Park. The Conservancy and the National Park Service are in a public private partnership, tackling significant conservation and restoration needs of the Park. Leave No Child Inside, the Conservancy’s educational programming, introduces students of all ages to land stewardship through conservation, restoration, land management concepts and the issues that impact urban landscapes. Leave No Child Inside’s mission is to foster education, recreation, and stewardship, at Dumbarton Oaks Park.
Position Description:
This internship is an exciting opportunity to gain outdoor field work experience in data mapping, conservation and restoration. The internship includes a focus on GIS mapping and data collection, native plant ID and invasive plants identification and removal, tree identification, conservation and restoration field work and community engagement. Successful internship candidates will work closely with the Director of Education and Staff Members at Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, being guided through field experiences in the Leave No Child Inside environmental education program. Intern will work on specific projects and programs.
Primary Responsibility:
●Guided by DOPC staff, interns volunteer a minimum of 60 hours or more over the course of one semester. These hours are prescribed in advance with specific program activities.
●GIS Mapping Project: Attend and assist the Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy (DOPC) by participating in the Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy GIS mapping program each week. Working with your internship and fellowship cohort, learn about Dumbarton Oaks Park and how to use mapping instruments and use them to collect and analyze data.
●Community Engagement: Attend and volunteer at all DOPC Community Volunteer Days and Leave No Child Inside events assisting the DOPC staff and other volunteers with the conservation and restoration of Dumbarton Oaks Park. (On select Saturday or Sunday mornings once or twice a month).
●Attend scheduled meetings, lectures and events as needed.
●Learn about invasive plants and plant removal techniques. Learn about the flora and fauna of the designed woodland that is Dumbarton Oaks Park. Completion of specific project/s that advance the mission of the organization and enhance your skills in environmental education and presentation of project/s at the end of tenure.
●Select interns on administrative track will, in addition to the above requirements, work with DOPC staff to learn and assist with the inner workings of an environmentally focused nonprofit.
●Select interns with specific skill sets, in addition to the requirements, may be involved with special projects that highlight their skills.
●Work collaboratively with your cohort to create a presentation for DOPC staff and board members showing the progress of the data mapping project and what you have learned as interns.
Desired Abilities/Qualification:
●Advanced undergraduates, graduate and post-grads, with a declared major in a subject area that relates to environmental science, data mapping, botany, outdoor education, or a related field. Also open to experienced, master naturalists, master gardeners and outdoor educators, who have a particular interest in environmental mapping and conservation work.
●Experience working with others is a plus.
●A passion for the outdoor environment and the desire to make a difference.
●Interest in environmental education, conservation, and stewardship and how it can be interpreted.
●Leadership, public speaking, research and writing skills.
●Organizational and creative skills are a plus.
●Technical mapping skills and environmental studies experience are a plus.
●Interest in learning and being a part of historic land conservation and restoration. Students receive a certificate, letter and award upon completion of internship.
Please note: All programming is held outdoors, in all weather. The candidate must be able to work outdoors in a woodland environment.
For further information and to request an application please contact:
cmmagee@dopark.org
Please include a current resume with your email. Thank you.
Christine Morano Magee, Ed. D. Director of Education, Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy.
Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy is committed to maintaining a workplace where equal access to employment opportunity is assured for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, or disability (physical or mental).
Christine Morano Magee Ed. D.
Director of Education
P.O. Box 32080 | Washington DC 20007
202-333-3547 | www.dopark.org
Recipient of the 2023 DC Sustainability Award.
2026 Spur Local class of critical local nonprofits in the Greater Washington area.
Maryland Tick Research Project
Paid Student Technician Opening
The Fritz Lab and the Mullinax Applied Spatial and Wildlife Ecology Lab (ASWEL) are seeking a dedicated individual to assist with a tick ecology research project beginning April 2026 and continuing into the summer. The project will investigate tick species populations across parks in Prince George’s, Montgomery, and Baltimore Counties, Maryland. Responsibilities will involve tick drags in selected sites, collecting and properly storing tick samples, assisting with pathogen detection assays, and supporting small mammal trapping efforts, particularly white-footed mice (Peromyscus spp). During Spring 2026, the technician will work approximately 20 hours per week, conducting tick drags and organizing collections. In Summer 2026, the technician will work up to 40 hours per week, continuing field collections while expanding into small mammal trapping and laboratory-based tick pathogen testing. There may also be opportunities to contribute to qualitative research components of the project, such as coding focus group data, for those with an interest. The Interested candidate must provide a clean driving record and the ability to comply with University of Maryland field and laboratory protocols.
Applicants must be a current University of Maryland undergraduate student and available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Candidate qualifications include:
● Must be comfortable working early mornings (as early as 4am), some evenings, & long days ● Must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive large pickup trucks on off-road terrain ● Willing to drive or be transported for long periods of time between collection sites ● Able to walk 10+ miles in uneven, off-road terrain, while carrying up to 50 lbs (unassisted) ● Ability to conduct field work during hot and humid conditions with biting insects ● Ability to bend, stoop, and perform repetitive physical field tasks
● Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with the public
● Preference for skills in GPS orienteering and non-GPS orienteering (map and compass) ● Ability to pass a standard background check
This position involves working directly with ticks, which are known vectors of several pathogens. Fieldwork will take place outdoors and requires appropriate attire, including long socks, breathable long pants, and sturdy hiking boots. Protective clothing must be worn at all times to minimize the risk of tick bites, even in hot and humid weather.
For more details, please direct your questions to my email below. To apply, please send a single PDF labeled “Lastname_TickTech” (ex: Owens_TickTech) with your resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcripts to Logan Owens at LLOwens@umd.edu by April 15th, 2026.
