My Park Story: Shanelle Thevarajah

Shanelle holding binoculars at Rocky Mountain National Park

Courtesy of Shanelle Thevarajah

Hi, my name is Shanelle Thevarajah. My parents tell me that as a child, I loved watching wildlife and being outside. The first national park I visited was Everglades National Park, and I have a distinct memory of feeling enamored by the ecosystems there. While I knew from a young age that I loved animals and being immersed in nature, I did not know it could be a potential career path. Like many immigrant children, I did not see a place for me to succeed in the environmental field and did not know many people pursuing this path. I struggled to find my niche in school until I was lucky enough to take a zoology class in high school. In that class, I felt excited to learn about the life history of so many critters – big and small – and I started to imagine a career in the outdoors.

Shanelle at Walden Ponds in Boulder, CO at a World Migratory Bird Day event

Courtesy of Shanelle Thevarajah

I went to the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada where I pursued a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. My program offered students a double minor, as well as classes that taught us how to bridge the gap between science and society. I declared my minors as Zoology and Family/Child Studies, which confused a lot of people when I would mention my unique combination of coursework. I could not imagine a position where I would use both of these minors, but I was determined to find something that aligned! I decided to complete a Master of Science in Environmental Biology at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, which helped me refine my interests and ultimately land me a position with Environment for the Americas (EFTA).

I am currently the Internship Programs Manager for EFTA, a non-profit organization based in Boulder, Colorado, that partners with the National Park Service to provide internship opportunities to hundreds of youth and young adults who get to work with the National Park Service. As a part of my role, I oversee the planning and implementation of our programs with the National Park Service, as well as other federal agencies and organizations.

Shanelle with former Fish & Feathers interns Rafael Santos and Avery Guy at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Courtesy of Shanelle Thevarajah

I began this role after I graduated in 2021. This job has offered me the best balance of both of my minors. The National Park Service does a wonderful job of conserving our public lands, and I love that I can support underrepresented youth and young adults in some of the most beautiful places in the country. When I started my position, I was helping to facilitate the Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship Program and now I manage the Fish & Feathers Internship Program, as well as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Internship Program. EFTA also administers the Latino Heritage Internship Program and the Saguaro National Park Diversity Conservation Corps.

Shanelle with Whitney Wyche, a former Mosaics in Science Diversity intern at Glacier National Park.

Courtesy of Shanelle Thevarajah

EFTA internships provide valuable on-the-ground, natural resource science-based work experience within the National Park System for underrepresented college students and graduates ages 18 through 30 years old and veterans up to 35 years old in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math (STEAM) fields.

I enjoy being able to see our interns in action alongside other EFTA staff through our site visits. These visits always remind me of why I started pursuing this path. My favorite part of my position is being able to see the transformation of these interns before, during, and after these programs, from the initial interview stage to presenting their work at the end of their internship, and beyond. Having the opportunity to mentor so many young adults has brought me such happiness, and I am grateful that I have been able to see the incredible work taking place at National Park Service sites, programs, and offices across the United States.

Shanelle tide pooling with a group of Environment for the Americas (EFTA) interns in Monterey, California

Courtesy of Shanelle Thevarajah

After nearly three years working with EFTA, I have supported over 250 young adults who were placed in paid internship positions with the National Park Service. I love seeing them grow professionally and gain confidence in this somewhat daunting realm. I feel lucky to have crossed paths with such intelligent, enthusiastic, and passionate people – both interns and partners – with the National Park Service. I hope to continue making these connections and help others find a sense of belonging in the environmental field.

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