Orchard Technician (NPS, Capitol Reef National Park)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Capitol Reef National Park (CARE), is recruiting 1 Orchard Technician to participate in assisting the horticulturist and resource management staff with orchard and vegetation management for orchards in the Fruita Rural Historic District in CARE.

Capitol Reef National Park manages the largest NPS orchard in the heart of southern Utah’s red rock country. Mormon pioneers began planting fruit trees in the valley in the 1880s, and today some 2000 trees still exist as part of their legacy. The park manages these trees using historic methods, with the goal of providing fruit harvests for visitors and preserving some of America’s rare fruit varieties for future generations. The orchard program consists of several horticulturists and seasonal employees who manage the irrigation, pruning, harvests, plantings of the 19 individual orchards. We oversee a wide range of apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nuts, and grapevines, and are recruiting for an additional field technician for the 2025 summer season. The position will also have the opportunity to work on the science and management side of the operation, but will be mostly focused on physical work on the orchard grounds.

The technician will receive daily oversight and guidance from CARE’s horticulturist.  Orchard management activities will mostly consist of vegetation removal around trees and irrigation ditches, hand working irrigation, pruning and brush removal, care for young saplings, pest monitoring and control, cover crop management, and other tree care in the field.  The technicians will primarily be field based, helping the other orchard employees with needed tasks in the orchards. This position will also have the opportunity to work with the orchard staff on a landscape replanting project in the fall of 2025, which will involve planting close to 100 trees and shrubs including cottonwoods, mulberry, spruce and walnuts, to mention a few.

The hands-on experience provided by this position will foster an understanding and appreciation for natural and cultural resource management and protection and allow the opportunity to share that with park visitors.  The position will also provide personal and professional development that will contribute new knowledge and perspectives for future application in various science and environmental fields.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct daily irrigation, moving metal dams to direct water and shovels to dig needed ditches, furrows, and keep water moving to new trees every day;
• Assist with keeping orchard irrigation ditches and fruit trees clear of vegetation throughout the season, often using weedwhackers and hand tools;
• Move sprinklers as needed to keep landscape plantings healthy;
• Help with managing rodents and other pests; and
• Assist with U-Pick fruit harvest from the park orchards, interacting with a wide range of visitors.
• Gain experience with horticultural practices such as:
  • Young tree care;
  • Grafting;
  • Cover crop management; and
  • Soil assessment.
• Manage and maintain field gear, tools, and other NPS equipment;
• Ensure compliance with GBI and NPS safety protocols during fieldwork; and
• Learn and apply horticultural and botanical practices in a historical preservation context.

Timeline:

• June-September 2025, 14 weeks with possibility of extension;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and