Internships

Curious how you can experience what a career in preservation, scientific study, or conservation would be like?
Come and see the variety of partnerships and organizations that could provide the experience of a lifetime.

 

Current Internship Opportunities

Interpretation Individual Placements - 8 Positions

The Division of Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers in Potomac, MD; Williamsport, MD; or Cumberland, MD. Interns will support park staff and volunteers providing in-person interpretation and customer service efforts during the "peak season" at the park.

• May 2024 - November 2024: 4 opportunities in Potomac, MD. View announcement to apply.
• May 2024 - November 2024: 4 opportunities in Williamsport, MD or Cumberland, MD. View announcement to apply.

Digital Interpretation Individual Placement - 1 Position

The Digital Interpretation Individual Placements will help connect to these visitors and expand the parks reach through creative content, adding accessibility features to existing content, as well as support some in-person interpretation efforts during the "peak season" at the park.

• May 2024 - April 2025: 1 opportunity in Williamsport, MD. View the announcement to apply.

Visual Information Individual Placement - 2 Positions

The Visual Information Individual Placements will assist with creating visual products that tell the layered history of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The primary duties of these positions are to help design outdoor interpretive displays, create visually appealing informational graphics, and assist in creating branded resources.

• July 2024 - June 2025: 2 opportunities in DC Metro Region (Part-Time Remote Eligible). View the announcement to apply.

 

Other NPS Internships

The National Park Service collaborates with other organizations to create internship opportunities. Several national internship programs are listed below. See more at Work With Us.

21st Century Conservation Service Corps

21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) includes Public Land Corps (PLC), which is a work and education program for young people and veterans. The National Park Service works in collaboration with service corps and other organizations to provide conservation work, and educational and training opportunities. Many of these organizations are members of The Corps Network.

Community Volunteer Ambassadors Program

The CVA program combines the strength of a national leader in conservation service with the National Park Service in order to train a diverse group of emerging leaders to assist park units in building lasting connections to local communities.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship

TheHistorically Black Colleges and Universities Internship Program (HBCUI) is designed to motivate program participants to get involved in protecting the natural and cultural resources in their communities and beyond. The program also enhances program participants’ understanding and appreciation of African-Americans’ important contributions to the United States’ development and progress while gaining exposure to the gamut of career opportunities in the National Park Service related to public land management.

Historic Preservation Training Center Traditional Trades Advancement Program

The National Park Service and private industry need workers with specialized skills to preserve and maintain the buildings and structures in our national parks and historic communities. To help meet this need, the NPS Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) was created.

Latino Heritage Internship Program

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP), created by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered in partnership between the Hispanic Access Foundation, and Environment for the Americas, is designed to provide internship opportunities to young adults in diverse professional fields in the National Park Service. The program helps raise awareness of our national parks and historic sites, their accessibility and the need for the Latino community’s involvement in their preservation.

Scientists in Parks

Every year, the Scientists in Parks work experience program places hundreds of aspiring professionals across the National Park System to work on natural resource management needs. Past projects have mapped sand dunes at Fire Island National Seashore, surveyed towering cacti at Saguaro National Park, and protected nesting sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore. Others assessed pika populations at Rocky Mountain National Park, measured soils beneath the mangrove forests of Everglades National Park, and restored colorful corals beneath the waves at the National Park of American Samoa.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

C&O Canal NHP has many volunteer opportunities for a variety of interests and ages. Whether you like biking, hiking, or chatting with visitors about the park - there is a place for you to serve in the C&O Canal. Our park Partners offer diverse opportunities for you to help your park and fellow visitors, as well.

 

Student Conservation Association (SCA) Intern, Raisa Barrera, working in the field preparing to repair a trail bridge during her internship. SCA is an affiliated partner of the National Park Service.

NPS Photo

Tips and Advice from Interns

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Do you like learning about historical sites? Consider working with the National Park Service one day! Be prepared and read some tips and advice from current interns at the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Find more resources and links to different opportunities. Get some quick tips on resumes, cover letters, while you're in the field, and more!