MADISON BIRCHARD
Tucson
Summary
Environmental Science professional with hands-on fieldwork and outreach experience. Passionate about connecting diverse audiences, especially youth, to the Sonoran Desert. Comfortable managing projects independently and collaborating with diverse teams. Experiences in developing engaging curriculum-based activities, delivering public presentations, and creating visual materials.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Volunteer
Saguaro National Park WEST
01.2026 - Current
- Assists with running and leading programs from ages 1st to high school.
- Education Department
Tea Barista
Transit Tea
Tucson
03.2023 - Current
- Deliver high-quality customer service in a fast-paced environment. Maintain store cleanliness, organization, and visual presentation.
- Build positive relationships with customers.
- Run store as a lead, and co-manage event booths.
Learning Center Employee and Volunteer
Desert Research Learning Center
Tucson
01.2019 - Current
- Interpretation work, creating and hosting educational programs for youth.
- Managed DRLC grounds, including pollinator garden, sustainable foods garden, tortoise enclosure, living stream, and tinaja.
- Conducted fieldwork in many National Parks in the Sonoran District, focusing on the Wildlife Protocol.
- Performed data entry and aided in the scientific process. Created and executed research projects.
- Assisted and led DRLC tours that aimed to educate and inspire.
Paid Internship
Ironwood Tree Experience
Tucson
09.2018 - 12.2020
Hiked through typical canyon tree frog habitats in search of populations of Canyon Tree Frogs.
- Monitored stream speed, water quality, and other factors relating to the well-being of these creatures.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science with an emphasis on Sustainability, leadership, and communications
The University of Arizona
University of Arizona12-2025
Skills
- Group Collaboration
- Public Speaking
- Outdoor Education
- Fieldwork
- Data entry
- Environmental Monitoring
- Project Management
Projects
- Does Smell Cause Inherent Bias in Wildlife Camera Data?, Studied scent-based bias in wildlife camera data near Saguaro National Park East and the Desert Research Learning Center.
- High School Program; Water Quality and Salamander Survival, Curriculum based Interpretive Program set at the DRLC using the natural resources to talk about indicator species and water chemistry.
Certification
- Leave No Trace, 11/01/25
- ArcGIS, 11/01/25
- Train the Trainer, 04/01/26
Volunteer Experience
Saguaro National Park WEST, Education Department, 01/01/26 - Present, Assists with running and leading programs from ages 1st to high school.
References
- Andy Hubbard, Program Manager, Andy_Hubbard@nps.gov, (520) 429-8147
- Jessica Mcgeverly, DRLC Manager & Wildlife Biologist, Jessica_Mcgeverly@nps.gov, (928) 853-4737
- Jace Widdicombe, Transit Tea Management, Jace@transittea.com, (406) 647-2991
Timeline
Volunteer
Saguaro National Park WEST
01.2026 - Current
Tea Barista
Transit Tea
03.2023 - Current
Learning Center Employee and Volunteer
Desert Research Learning Center
01.2019 - Current
Paid Internship
Ironwood Tree Experience
09.2018 - 12.2020
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science with an emphasis on Sustainability, leadership, and communications
The University of Arizona