Juan Pablo Esparza Limon: Build Up Technical Internship Program Spotlight

Juan Pablo at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum, where Dinosaur National Monument houses fossils and collections, holding recently completed house for an apatosaurus fossil.

NPS

Juan Pablo Esparza Limon is a participant in the Build Up Technical Internship Program, a National Park Service program training the next generation of facility management professionals while addressing critical maintenance needs in parks and park offices across the country. As a Capacity Action Team Fellow, he provides technical assistance to advance facilities projects and youth partnerships. He works out of the Maintenance Action Team (MAT) office. We caught up with him to hear about his experience in the program, his background, and his work.

What drew you to the Build Up Technical Internship Program?

Previous internships through the Community Volunteer Ambassador and Latino Heritage Internship programs introduced me to the fields of interpretation, education, and volunteer management. The Build Up Internship program appealed to me because it offered the opportunity to continue learning about the National Park Service’s mission and operations through the lens of facility management and historic preservation, two fields that I had limited experience in.

What is something that surprised you about the program?

One of my goals in joining this program was to learn about the kinds of facility, maintenance, and historic preservation projects that my peers complete alongside park rangers. From replacing deteriorating fencing at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park to repairing historic masonry guardrails at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, I was surprised by the wide range of projects they support!

Juan Pablo (left) at CVA National Early Service Training in Seattle with NPS staff and interns.

NPS

What is your proudest accomplishment so far?

My proudest accomplishment so far has been working on developing youth agreements. These agreements are important as they formalize the partnership between parks and service corps organizations to place youth and young adults in park-based project opportunities.

Youth agreements outline the project’s goals, scope of work, timeline, budget, and the responsibilities of both park rangers and the service corps organization in helping the project be successful. This work is especially rewarding because it creates pathways for youth and young adults to explore careers in public land management.

Can you describe your position in 15 words or less?

I support parks with their youth project partnerships, funding, agreements, and communications!

What is one lesson learned you'll carry with you throughout your career?

Assisting Maintenance Action Teams (MATs) taught me the importance of resource sharing among parks, regional and national offices, and partners.

MATs are composed of skilled craftspeople trained in traditional historic restoration and preservation techniques. They travel to national parks to train and work alongside park staff, volunteers, and youth and young adults to complete critical maintenance, rehabilitation, and repair projects efficiently and cost-effectively.

Moving forward in my career, I will carry the MAT model with me as a reminder that collaboration can lead to creative solutions for addressing park needs.

Juan Pablo (right) at Navajo National Monument using a measuring wheel to measure fence length.

NPS

What does it mean to you to know that the work you did will be part of how we commemorate America’s 250th birthday?

Being part of America’s 250th birthday has given me a deeper appreciation for the history of the National Park Service and the effort it takes to manage our nation’s iconic natural and cultural resources. It brings me great pride to know that my work supported parks in preparing for this historic milestone and helped create meaningful experiences for visitors.

Working with youth and young adults has helped me realize that I am part of a broader community of emerging park stewards. It is inspiring to know that the celebration of these treasured places and their stories will continue for future generations.

Tags: maintenance action teams, mat, gaoa, gaoa news, great american outdoors act, build up, my park story