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.
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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 Ella. You may also email Ella with questions about the internship.
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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.
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Melanie Douville
Graduate Intern
I am an environmental science/art educator and an interdisciplinary artist interested in cultivating connection between people and the natural world. Nature has always been my greatest source of inspiration, as it continues to complicate, deepen, and gradiate our understanding of the world and of ourselves. I grew up in rural Oregon, with many farm animals and pets and consider it a privilege to have had a nourishing and positive relationship with the environment throughout my youth. My educational philosophy revolves around non-formal, outdoor education, with a strong emphasis on hands-on projects that bridge the gap between ecological science and the arts. My work is driven by a commitment to environmental and social justice, building community climate resilience, and providing equitable and accessible opportunities for children and young adults to experience outdoor spaces in ways that are unique and meaningful to them. I hold a B.S. in Anthropology & Biology from Western Oregon University and a M.A. in Arts & Humanities from Oregon State University.
Amy Henrikson
​As I grew up, I always had a love for the outdoors. After moving to Portland and spending many summers in the Northeast, I’ve had the chance to explore both the East and West Coasts while hiking, camping, climbing, biking, and backpacking. Since joining the Oregon Maple Project community as an intern in 2021, I’ve both learned about and taught the art of maple sugaring. 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 currently attending Colorado College.
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.