I am a student just graduating from Westlake High School, and I got the amazing privilege this year to intern at Timpanogos Cave National Monument. It was such an incredible experience interning at a national park; it gave me great skills that I could use in my every day life. I got to work one-on-one with students for field trips, I went on my own adventures and was able to go to a nature event with students, and when I worked with the maintenance crew, I got to hike up the trail with them when no one else was up there! Everything I did was such a great experience and I am so happy I got to be involved with Timpanogos cave this winter.
One of my absolute favorite parts of interning was being able to be up the beautiful canyon every single time I interned. It is all so peaceful and so very relaxing; it made doing all the work more fun!
My other favorite part of interning was working with the maintenance crew. Every single one of the employees is so welcoming and so nice to work with. They taught me new things I didn't know how to do before. We did many things to help the park: we went up the trail and closed up everything so it was safe, we put new garbage cans in the concession stands, and we got things ready for this next season. Working with them most the time, it gave me a greater opportunity to hopefully work up there sometime. I know what they want in an employee and what they are expecting.
So you're probably asking what other things did I do to keep myself busy? I have to tell you, sometimes there wasn't anything to do, and that was a time I got to go walk the little nature trail and experience the great park. Yes it was cold, but it was so nice to have some alone time. But when there were things to do, I was always busy.
Sometime I would help Tanja, the administrative assistant. I finished data reports for past couple of years, I did property inventory, and the coolest part of it all… since I officially a park volunteer, I got my own government email!
If you are interested in interning at a national park, ask your teacher what to do. It is such a great experience and it is so rewarding. How great would it look on a resume to be able to put you interned for the national park service? You have to be responsible, responsive, and attentive, and that is what employers are looking for. I am so fortunate that I had this opportunity; it is great to be involved with the national parks.