Internships
The Oregon Maple Project offers internships for dedicated high school and college students interested in learning the art Bigleaf Maple sugaring and assisting with all aspects of our operations at Camp Colton. This is a unique opportunity for those who love the outdoors, hands-on work, local food, teaching, and community ventures.
We select volunteer interns to collaborate with us for a full year, learning about Bigleaf Maples throughout the seasons. Interns should be prepared to work for one full day per month, often on weekends, and will need to provide their own transportation to our location in Colton, Oregon. Responsibilities will include: tapping trees, chopping wood, setting up sap collection lines, maintaining the sugar shack, harvesting sap, firing the evaporator, cleaning equipment, maintaining trails, hosting visitors, designing outreach efforts, and developing curriculum.
To apply, please send a letter of interest to Eliza. You may also email Eliza with questions about the internship.
Current Interns
John Campbell
I have lived my whole life in Oregon, where I attend Mountainside High School. I always enjoy helping others, so when my mother told me about the opportunity to be an intern at the Oregon Maple Project, I jumped at the chance. Whenever I am free from the binds of school, I enjoy hiking, fishing, archery, small operation farming, adventuring, and reading. Currently I am enjoying Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. I was never one to just sit down; if there's something to be done, I ought to be doing it.
Amy Henrikson
As I have grown up, I’ve always had a love for the outdoors, fostered by my parents and siblings. After moving to Portland in elementary school and spending many summers in the Northeast, I’ve had the chance to explore both the East and West Coasts through hiking, camping, biking, and backpacking. Since joining the Oregon Maple Project as an intern in May 2021, I’ve learned so much about the unique art of maple sugaring, something I would never experience elsewhere. For me, sugaring has been an exceptional way to connect with the land and forests of the Pacific Northwest. Outside of the Oregon Maple Project and outdoor adventures, I am a graduate of Lincoln High School, a climate activist, and a dancer.
Chloe La Rochelle
Some of my earliest memories are of nature, smelling the roses in a park near my house or visiting the botanical gardens in Los Angeles where I lived until I was two. I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether it be camping, rock climbing, swimming, or simply spending time in the sun. I also greatly enjoy maple syrup, and through my internship at the Oregon Maple Project, I am excited to combine my interest in these two things while learning a fascinating new skill.
Bella Lehman
As a kid, I grew up surrounded by nature and developed an early love of the outdoors. For years I have spent my summers hiking, backpacking, camping, and studying the medicinal and natural uses of native plants. Many of my outdoor adventures have taken place in the maple forests of New Hampshire, which led me to join the Oregon Maple Project. In my free time, I enjoy being a member of the Lincoln Dance Team, reading, and cooking with my family.