Last updated: September 5, 2024
Article
Intern Spotlight: Valeria Hernandez
Photo courtesy of Valeria Hernandez
How did you find yourself at the National Park Service?
When I was back home in Houston, I was looking for new career opportunities in wildlife and community-based conservation. However, I found living in a big industrial city made it challenging to find jobs related to this field. I had previously worked at a zoo, as a sea turtle research assistant and at a wildlife rehabilitation center, so I am very passionate about working in wildlife conservation. I also really enjoy being outdoors with people and organizing events through Latino Outdoors Houston, so I was trying to find a job where I could engage people in nature. Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park have been places I have longed to visit for a while. To my surprise, the Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) through Environment for the Americas (EFTA) posted a paid Science Communication internship at the park for the summer. I applied, and the rest of the story continues here!
Photo courtesy of Valeria Hernandez
What has been the highlight of your experience as an intern with the National Park Service?
There are many highlights! As a Science Communication intern with the Continental Divide Research Learning Center, I get to learn about research and document work happening at the park. For example, I accompanied a wildlife technician working in the Raptor Monitoring Program on a hike to look for a Peregrine Falcon nest, which had three chicks! I also love being surrounded by nature every day. I get to live at McGraw Ranch, which is a historic site that houses researchers. We have views of the mountains, Cow Creek, and a large meadow. I have seen lots of wildlife, such as chipmunks, hummingbirds, elk, deer, moose, and even a bear!
What is it like cultivating a community as a National Park Service intern?
It has been really neat connecting with other park interns and staff who have similar interests in the outdoors. As different as our backgrounds may be, a love for nature and wildlife brings people together. There is not a big sense of competitiveness that I have experienced in other jobs, so everybody I have interacted with is very friendly and supportive of interns coming into the National Park Service. Seeing the diversity that internships like LHIP create is very encouraging and helps me feel like I belong here.
Photo courtesy of Valeria Hernandez
What projects have you been involved in so far?
As the Science Communication intern, I document work happening at the park. I have gone out with different work groups in the Resource Stewardship Division to do raptor monitoring and tadpole reintroductions. I also get to read a lot of the research being done at the park, especially on wildfire impacts. I write short articles about the fire research that will eventually build up to a larger Resource Brief about wildfires in the park. I will share it out with park staff and the public.
What have you learned that you will take forward in your career?
I have worked on becoming a better science communicator by strengthening my science literacy so that I can write engaging and accessible content for non-scientific audiences. I have also strengthened my networking skills by connecting with other park staff to learn about the work they do and learn about different types of positions I could apply to in the future. Being exposed to the different opportunities in the National Park Service has been motivating and has inspired me to further pursue a career with the bureau.
Photo courtesy of Valeria Hernandez
What are you doing now and what are your goals after your internship at an NPS site?
I am currently working on a video for Latino Conservation Week spotlighting a few of the Latino park staff at Rocky. After my internship, I would love to get a wildlife or education/interpretation position in a national park. I would love to work in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest, but I would also love to come back to Rocky! I love the mountains and the weather in these areas, so I hope to continue exploring this part of the U.S.
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