Conservation Internship Program
The Conservation Internship Program is designed to provide hands on training and experience to those interested in pursuing employment with land and water resource management agencies, and other outdoor careers. The program is a cooperative effort designed to address community, environmental, and resource management projects. Through this program, public agencies and community organizations host a Conservation Intern to directly address pressing community resource needs for a three to ten month period. Northwest Youth Corps supports the partnership by supplying placement, administrative, and training support.
Conservation Interns may work on the following types of projects:
• Improve and Restore Public Lands and Waters
• Habitat Restoration & Impact Mitigation
• Invasive Species Inventory and Treatment
• Trail Maintenance and Recreation Infrastructure
• Natural Resource Data Collection
The Internship program is an effective way for Federal, State, and Municipal agencies and Non-profit organizations to harness the passion and energy of interested in natural resources. The program engages the citizen stewards of tomorrow on projects that will help them learn, grow, and gain valuable experience.
Below are the internship positions available with Northwest Youth Corps. We also offer positions through Idaho Conservation Corps, view internships in Idaho here.
OPEN AMERICORPS POSITIONS:
Natural Resource Wildlife Steward
United States Army Corps of Engineers | Junction City, OR
Application Deadline: Friday, April 24th
The Army Corps of Engineers is currently recruiting for one position that will support wildlife, natural resources, and habitat management and restoration at Army Corps Lands in the Willamette Valley Region. This person will assist with management of natural resources at the 13 reservoirs in the Willamette Valley Region, focusing on those closest to the Eugene, OR area. Major duties are related to monitoring and management of wildlife and wildlife habitat.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – USACE Wildlife Steward” when applying.
Outreach and Education Steward - Interpretation
Olympic National Park | Port Angeles, WA
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Two members will work with the Outreach and Education Specialist delivering environmental education programs for school children. The members will also work at various community events staffing the park’s exhibit booth and answering questions about Olympic National Park. Depending on the interests and abilities of the selected candidate there are opportunities to work on various projects – including website work, multi-media presentations, etc.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Olympic Outreach and Education” when applying.
Natural Resources Steward
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park | Astoria, OR
Application Deadline: Friday, March 20th
The National Park Service is recruiting two AmeriCorps members to provide natural resource management assistance at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. With seven sites on both sides of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, the park includes wetlands, upland forests, and coastal dunes and prairies. The members will serve with the park’s restoration team within the Resource Management Division. The team is currently implementing and monitoring projects to actively restore wetlands and temperate forests.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Lewis and Clark Natural Resources” when applying.
Interpretation Steward
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park | Astoria, OR
Application Deadline: Friday, March 20th
The National Park Service is recruiting one summer AmeriCorps member to provide educational and interpretation assistance at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. With seven sites on both sides of the Columbia River in Washington and Oregon, the park includes wetlands, upland forests, and coastal dunes and prairies. The member will serve with the interpretive and education teams within the Visitor Services Division. The park anticipates over 100,000 visitors this summer including two youth camps.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Lewis and Clark Education and Interpretation” when applying.
Trail Crew Steward
Trailkeepers of Oregon | Multiple Locations - Corbett, OR / Zigzag, OR / Brookings, OR
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Trailkeepers of Oregon (TKO), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service (FS) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), is recruiting three summer AmeriCorps members to provide restoration and maintenance assistance on hiking trails through volunteer engagement at three different sites in Oregon. We are seeking candidates interested in pursuing careers in public lands management and have a desire to work outdoors by engaging the public in trail stewardship experiences.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – TKO Trail Steward” when applying.
When applying, please specify which position(s)/reporting location(s) you are interested in within your cover letter. example: Gorge Trails Recovery Steward
OPEN NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ACADEMY POSITIONS:
Started in 2011, the NPS Academy is an internship program for young people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds or marginalized communities that provides an immersive introduction to the National Park Service and its many career paths. NPS Academy interns will have the opportunity to work directly alongside National Park Service staff on a variety of projects, develop valuable connections to park staff and fellow interns, and learn what it takes to live and work in a National Park for a summer.
NPS Academy - Several Duty Areas
Mt. Rainier National Park | Longmire, WA
Application Deadline: April 24, 2020
As a member of the NPS Academy, you will spend your first week in the park learning about the many different jobs in a National Park, exploring themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion on Public Lands, and growing connections with your fellow interns and park staff. Then you will head off to work on assigned tasks for the next 12 weeks, living in National Park housing and working alongside Park staff. Specific internship openings for 2020 are listed below.
- Social Media Internship
- Trails Maintenance Internship
- Aquatic Ecology Internship
- Environmental Education Internship
To apply, please complete the application found at http://bit.ly/NPSAcademy. When applying, please upload a resume and contact information for at least 3 references. Additionally, either provide a cover letter that addresses the following two questions or enter responses for the two supplemental questions listed on the application form:
- Why do you think it is important for the National Park Service to create a space that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion on Public Lands?
- Why are you personally interested in joining a program that is focused on exploring issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in National Parks?
People from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
OPEN INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT POSITIONS:
Visitor Center Interpretation Intern
Seattle Area National Park Sites | Seattle, WA
Application Deadline: March 27, 2020 Priority Deadline
This position is located at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Seattle in Pioneer Square. The intern will be responsible for providing informal and formal interpretive programming as part of the Visitor Center team as well as contribute significantly to the park’s social media presence. Individuals will work with a supervisor and mentor to develop and present an original interpretive product. While the majority of the job is inside, individuals may be needed to attend outdoor activities in conditions varying from warm sunshine to cool wet winter weather.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references and completely fill out the application form found at http://bit.ly/NYCInternApplication. Please select “NYC – Klondike Interpretation” when applying.
Within your cover letter, please discuss any prior knowledge surrounding the sharing of histories from under-represented communities, how this internship will further your career goals, and any experience in representing an organization via social media.
OPEN RESOURCE ASSISTANT POSITIONS:
The Resource Assistants Program is a rigorous, immersive, paid internship program for individuals interested in Forest Service careers. Through direct training, experience, and exposure, Resource Assistants gain the tools to launch their natural and cultural resource careers. Upon completion of a Resource Assistant term, interns are eligible to receive Direct Hire Authority with the United States Forest Service. To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.fs.fed.us/working-with-us/volunteers/resource-assistants-program
Landscape Architect/Sustainable Recreation Planner
United States Forest Service | Several Duty Locations
Applications are not currently being accepted for this position. If interested, please reach out to Brad Cownover, USFS Regional Landscape Architect, at earl.cownover@usda.gov for more information.
The year 2019 marks the centennial of the first landscape architect and recreation professional hired to work for the US Forest Service, Arthur Carhart. In celebration of that milestone and to prepare for the next 100 years, a national effort is underway to utilize the Resource Assistants Program to create a cadre of landscape architecture-sustainable recreation resource assistants (RA) across the country known as the Carhart Centennial Corps. In partnership with the US Forest Service, Northwest Youth Corps is recruiting resource assistant positions to assist forest units across the Pacific Northwest Region in providing landscape architecture, sustainable recreation and scenery management services. It is anticipated that more than one position will be filled and that more than one location in the region will serve as the duty station.