FIA Experience

Join the adventure! Spend time outdoors while making a difference for the natural world as a part of the FIA team.

Embark on a thrilling journey with the Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) program. The Colorado State Forest Service routinely hires FIA crew leaders and crew members in the winter and spring to work out of offices across Colorado. You’ll play a key role in conducting forest inventory fieldwork across multiple states, contributing to a comprehensive inventory of forests in the United States.

Most FIA positions provide year-round employment with benefits and paid travel expenses.

Hear what team members love about their work.

One of the most common questions I get from landowners is, ‘Why is there a forest inventory plot on my land?’ The answer comes down to sampling methodology and statistics.

Typical timber sale cruise plots involve accurate tree measurements and several can be done in a day. FIA plots measure the same tree biometrics, but also require identifying trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses, fuel loading, and land use changes. Though we average about one FIA plot per day, it is an adventure!

The FIA Program is an excellent opportunity for college graduates to gain extensive field and leadership experience. Your friends and family will be amazed and jealous when seeing photos of your outdoor ‘office.'

FIA is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I’m contributing to research by collecting data, and I’m also getting a workout both physically and mentally. The satisfaction after finishing a hard hike is unmatched!

I enjoy FIA because it is both challenging and rewarding. FIA requires thorough logistical planning to be safe and efficient, while allowing my crew to see natural areas that few others get to see. I love having the opportunity to share my outdoor experiences and the health of our forests with people.

Q&A with FIA crew member Maggie G.

What does a typical day (during the April-December field season) look like for you?

A typical day for me starts and ends in the truck. We drive to plot, hike in, hug some trees, hike back out, and either drive home or to the hotel. We spend a lot of time driving, sometimes more than we spend hiking and collecting data. But getting to crawl around on the forest floor and dig in the dirt makes up for it. I measure fuels, canopy, and duff and litter pits along my transects, then I go take the diameter of the trees on plot. I literally give trees a hug to measure them!

What types of tools and gear do you use for your job?

Most of the gear that I use is some sort of measuring device. A compass, a six-inch ruler, a carpenter’s tape, and a logger’s tape are a few of the main things that I use. I use a hatchet for a variety of things as well, including sounding dead trees, nailing trees, and taking duff and litter measurements. Pencils, lumber crayons, lasers, and clinometers also come in handy. But my favorite piece of gear is my bright orange vest. It carries everything so I don’t have to put anything in my pockets!

How do you prepare for backcountry trips?

Most of my gear is usually ready to go and just needs to be packed. Food takes up the majority of my preparation time. I make sure I’ve got at least 2000 calories for each day, even if I don’t eat it all. The other things I always take time preparing are the clothes that I’ll need. I check the weather and always bring an extra layer or two just in case.

What are your favorite places to work in Colorado and Wyoming?

My favorite place to work in Colorado is probably North Park. I recreate in that area as well, so it feels most like home. The valley is surrounded by mountains, and it has a low population density, so driving through there is easy. Plus, there are a lot of moose, which is always fun to see.

My favorite place to work in Wyoming is the south end of Yellowstone National Park. I have some good memories of working in that area. Especially Lewis Lake.

What projects have you done in the data collection "off-season"?

During the off-season, I try to pick up as much as I can. My first year, I helped the USFS with a quality control project for condition changes. I also counted bugs for the Forest Health team. My second year has been similar. I am counting bugs again and doing some quality control work as well. This time for the monitoring team. I’m also helping a bit with the S&D Byte that will go along with the CSFS Forest Health Report.

What are your favorite aspects of your job responsibilities?

My favorite thing about my job is how many places I get to see or hike to that no one else has been to in years. There are so many pockets of forest that are absolutely beautiful, and you would never know about it unless you went off the beaten path. It makes every day feel like a new adventure!