What is the ambitious goal of this project?
Join the Intermountain Bird Observatory team to help restore habitat around a new channel of the Boise River, while working to monitor the plants and wildlife that call this ecosystem home.
Experience Gained
Experiences are varied and can be tailored to student career interests, including:
- Habitat restoration
- Biological monitoring
- Community outreach
- Working with non-profits, state and federal wildlife agencies
- Leadership and community involvement
- Plant identification
- Insect identification
- Bird Identification
- Data management
- Trail building and habitat management
- Signage and brochure design
- K-12 education opportunities available (depending on student interest)
Methodologies and/or Technologies used to achieve project goals
- early childhood education
- fieldwork
- instructional design
- K-12 outreach and collaboration
- nonprofit management
- qualitative research methods
- quantitative research methods
Preferred Preparation
No preparation needed for 200 level.
At the 400 level, completion of the 200 level VIP on same project, or ecology or similar upper division biol course needed for habitat restoration work; options available for non-biology majors including construction, graphic design, and K-12 education.
Majors or Interests Needed
- Anthropology
- Art
- Biological Sciences
- Communication
- Construction Management
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundation Studies
- Early and Special Education
- Environmental Studies Program
- Gaming and Interactive Mobile Media (GIMM)
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Teacher Education
- Urban Studies & Community Development
VIP Coach Information
Heidi W. Carlisle is the Education Director at the Intermountain Bird Observatory. You can reach her at HeidiWare@boisestate.edu
Greg Kaltenecker is the Executive Director of the Intermountain Bird Observatory. You can reach Mr. Kaltenecker at gregorykaltenecker@boisestate.edu.
Course Information
VIP 200, VIP 400 or VIP 500
Full semester course. Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters available. Choose to enroll in 1 credit (40 hours) or 2 credits (80 hours).
Fall 2025 meetings will be on-site at the Diane Moore Nature Center, Friday afternoons, 1 pm to 4 pm.
Interested in joining this team?
For more information and to request a permission number to register contact Heidi Carlisle at HeidiWare@boisestate.edu OR complete this interest form and we will follow up with you. Check out this page for tips on contacting a professor.
To register, search by Subject: Vertically Integrated Projects, read the project description to find the right section of VIP 200, 400, or 500.
Here are instructions for using permission numbers Add with a permission number