Park interns work on the "front lines" of history by serving the public and sharing the past with modern visitors. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is looking for interested students and recent graduates to serve the park as interns. The internship program is an excellent opportunity for students and recent graduates to apply knowledge learned in the classroom, gain experience, meet professionals in the field, and often to determine which aspect of their chosen field is of greatest interest.
Take note: Internship applications are accepted on a continuous basis, and interested individuals are encouraged to submit applications early. Interviews and selections for summer internship positions are ongoing in December and January, and after February 1st potential applicants should contact the park to see if positions remain available before submitting an application.
Click here to watch a video about the internship program at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
Click here to watch a video on the park staff you will work with as an intern.
Internships are typically short-term volunteer stints lasting about 2-4 months. Interns usually work 2-5 days per week, and summer interns can expect to work a full 5 days per week. The park also has an active volunteer program, which is designed to be a more long-term commitment, with workdays ranging from one day per week to one day per month. For those who are interested in volunteering from out-of-state, we typically respond by sending information on internships, since a short-term experience seems most likely where their interests may lie.
To apply for an internship please either send as an attachment to e-mail us or print out and fill in the internship form and send to the address below.
See below for position descriptions for the various types of internships available at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania. The vast majority of the internship positions filled at this park are Historical Interpreters - interns assisting park visitors and conducting guided walking tours. Other internship positions may be available at other times depending upon the workload of the supervisors and the suitability of the projects at hand for interns. The park always has a demand for Historical Interpreter interns during the warm weather months, but other internship positions may or may not be available at any given time.
Historical Interpreter positions are available from March through October. Historical Interpreters are needed at three different time periods during that span: 1) March through mid-May; 2) mid-May through mid-August; and 3) mid-August through end of October. The bulk of internships offered are for the mid-May to mid-August range.
Because of our great need for Historical Interpreter interns in the peak visitation period of the summer, park housing is available only for Historical Interpreter interns. When housing is available, it is provided free of charge to interns working full-time. Interns share the houses with seasonal employees and other volunteers, and must participate in housecleaning assignments. Interns can expect to have their own rooms, and the houses include kitchen and laundry facilities and a telephone. A stipend providing meals and mileage reimbursement is offered to Historical Interpreter interns.
Interested parties should submit applications for the summer Historical Interpreter positions by December (preferably in the months of September through November). Interviews are traditionally conducted in December and January, and summer internships are usually filled by the end of January.
Internships are very different from the temporary employees hired primarily over the summer. The job titles utilized in this park for this type of seasonal position are "park guide," and "visitor use assistant." This park typically hires from 6-12 employees in these positions each summer, and the majority of the positions are filled by returning seasonal employees from the prior summer. The park also typically fills one seasonal employee who works in natural resource management.
To apply for seasonal employment, the best method is online at USAjobs.gov to see which parks currently have listings. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania accepts Park Guide and Visitor Use Assistant applications for spring/summer positions during one-week periods over the fall, winter, and spring, but we prefer to fill the positions as early as possible. It is therefore not advisable for candidates to wait until the spring. If relying upon education alone for qualifying experience, you would need to have two years of college by this summer.
Some candidates have successfully utilized their internships as a way to gain the experience needed to qualify for seasonal jobs. It is important, however, to apply for an internship in the same field as the seasonal position, i.e., historical interpreter or natural resource management assistant, since these are the only two fields in which we hire seasonal employees.
If you have any questions, please contact Beth Parnicza. The days of her work week vary, but she can be reached at (540) 786-0605 or by email at e-mail us.
Resumes and cover letters may be sent to Beth Parnicza at: Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22405.
The purpose of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is to commemorate the four Civil war battles fought in the Fredericksburg area. The park staff maintains, preserves, protects, and interprets the historic setting for park visitors and for future generations. There are five types of internships available at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park each of which is explained below. Most available positions are for Historical Interpreters, and other positions are offered occasionally as needed.
Historical Interpreters
The Historical Interpreter internship features duties and responsibilities directly related to the personal services provided to park visitors. Although most people identify the word "interpreter" with someone who translates from one language to another, the historical interpreter acts similarly by helping park visitors appreciate the rather complex historical events in a manner which can be easily understood by the general public.
Historical Interpreters should be interested in the Civil War era and enjoy meeting with the public and talking with people from all over the country. The ability to demonstrate people-oriented skills is important to being successful at this internship.
Historical Interpreters will staff the information desk at one of the park's two visitor centers or work in one of the park's historic structures. Information desk duty includes answering visitor inquiries pertaining to orientation within park and area points of interest, as well as research questions about the Civil War. A key duty of the Historical Interpreter intern is to research, develop, and conduct a 35-minute walking tour over one of the area battlefields.
Internships in excess of 400 hours are assigned to work two duty stations. The Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center assignment includes presenting a conducted walking tour along part of the Confederate battle-line known as the Sunken Road. An assignment at the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center includes guiding a walking tour over the area where Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded in the battle. At the "Stonewall" Jackson Shrine, where the general died eight days after being shot at Chancellorsville, interpreters present a talk on the last days of Jackson and show visitors around the building. Work at Chatham Manor includes guiding visitors through the home and offering tours and information about this historic building which served as a headquarters and a hospital during the Civil War.
The park visitor facilities are open seven days a week. Weekend work may be required. The summer and spring seasons usually offer the best opportunities for internships in this field.
For more information, see the Historical Interpreter page.
Restoration Assistant
Occasionally the park has the need for an intern position of Restoration Assistant. The Restoration Assistant works with the park Restoration Specialist in providing the proper protection and repair of monuments, buildings and other cultural resources. Duties and tasks associated with the position include cleaning of monuments and cemetery headstones, and carpentry and masonry work on historic buildings.
Many projects will require the intern to possess special skills or qualifications related to carpentry or masonry. Internships may be arranged for college students majoring in Historic Preservation or a related field. Projects vary depending upon the skills of the intern, the time commitments, and the amount of college credit being earned.
Education Coordinator Assistant
Occasionally the park has the need for an intern position of Education Coordinator. This position contains a variety of duties and responsibilities enabling teachers and students to learn about the Civil War, the National Park Service and special emphasis programs. The intern works with the park Education Coordinator to develop programs and materials.
Duties of the position include developing and revising teacher packet hand-outs to assist teachers in both classroom activities and field trips to the battlefields. Interns will research, develop lesson plans and conduct programs to school groups either in the classroom or in the park. Topics to be addressed may include Civil War soldier life, one of the area battles, National Park stewardship, Black History, Hispanic History or Women's History.
Interns should have both knowledge of and interest in the Civil War. Internships may be arranged for college students majoring in History or American Studies, who have also taken education course-work.
Most work days should coincide with the work schedule of the Education Coordinator and therefore may require weekend work. Particular projects may have time requirements and assignments will depend upon the amount of college credit to be earned.
Curatorial Assistant
Occasionally the park has the need for the intern position of Curatorial Assistant. The Curatorial Assistant works with the Museum Curator, who works from Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center.
Duties of the position include the computerization of museum records, the inventory of museum objects, cataloging or classifying objects, and transcribing original documents. Although many prospective interns inquire about the feasibility of putting together an exhibit, the park rarely has the need to implement new displays. Potential projects include determining the current value of the collection; identifying items of particular security concern; helping to justify funding requests for any number of curatorial capital projects; and comparing current price lists with items in the park collection, especially those on exhibit, to determine approximate values. Values will also be input into ANCS blocks on catalog records for future reports. Items meeting certain requirements will be added to the controlled property list and will need to be so designated on ANCS as well.
Interns should have both knowledge and interest in the Civil War. Internships may be arranged for college students majoring in History, American Studies, Historic Preservation or a related field.
Work days must coincide with the work schedule of the Museum Curator and therefore may require weekend work. Summer internships need to be arranged around the curator's vacation of up to three weeks. Particular projects may have time requirements and assignments will depend upon the amount of any college credit to be earned.
Internships may be arranged for college students majoring in History, American Studies or a related field. Certain projects may require interns to possess a good working knowledge of the Civil War.
Internships are available on weekdays and particular projects would depend upon time commitments and the amount of college credit to be earned.
