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Summer Internships at Gettysburg

 

Gettysburg National Military Park offers summer internships to college-level students who are self-motivated, enthusiastic, and interested in history. We prefer people who seek to share their talents while gaining valuable work experience. Internships are typically offered in the summer months when the park is busiest, lasting roughly twelve weeks from mid-May through mid-August. Positions are unpaid, although the park provides free housing and a cost of living stipend. Interns work forty hours each week and weekend work can be expected. There are two main types of internship opportunities: 1) Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services, and 2) Office of the Visual Information Specialist.

We usually begin accepting applications in the fall of each year for the following summer. We will update this page and post to our social media sites when we begin the open application window.

 

A summer intern presents a program to a group of visitors.

NPS Photo

Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services
There are a limited number of internships available in the Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services at Gettysburg National Military Park. Duties will include working with the public, preparation of interpretive programs, historical research, and provide assistance to visitors at the park information desk.

 

A Visual Information Specialist intern pauses for a photograph on Little Round Top.

NPS Photo

Office of the Visual Information Specialist (VIS)

There are two positions available in the Office of the Visual Information Specialist (VIS); one for a photographer and one for a videographer.

• Please email our Visual Information Specialist for more information on possible spring or fall semester as well as summer of 2023 opportunities.
• Note: All summer 2022 positions have been filled.

Duties include photography and video projects throughout the battlefield (and at Eisenhower National Historic Site), covering the annual Battle Anniversary for web and social media coverage, additional web, social media, and live-stream responsibilities will be expected as projects arise. For further information about these internships and how to apply, email our Visual Information Specialist.

Please Note: It is HIGHLY recommended that any interested photography or videography students establish and build out a portfolio website, such as Wordpress, Wix, etc., in order to showcase your projects.

 

A group of five Eisenhower National Historic Site interns stand next to the  Park Headquarter sign.

NPS Photo

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Eisenhower National Historic Site also offers summer internships in Interpretation and Museum Services. For further information, visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site web site.

 

Licensed Battlefield Guides

 

Licensed Battlefield Guide Examination

The Licensed Battlefield Guide exam was given on December 2, 2017. Information on future test dates will be made available here as needed.

 

Early Licensed Battlefield Guides At West End Guide Station

NPS Photo

 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Licensed Battlefield Guide (LBG) at Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP). The following information provides details about the multi-tiered LBG Examination Process. The Licensed Battlefield Guides serve as a vital cornerstone of the visitors’ experience and will continue to play a key role in the Park’s mission.

Under the leadership of the Supervisory Park Ranger a diverse committee of six veteran LBGs, representing over 100 years of collective guiding experience, continually review, revise, and implement best practices based on feedback from GNMP staff, veteran LBGs, the visiting public, and past successful and unsuccessful examinees. The resulting product is a multi-tiered examination process approved by the GNMP Superintendent that is transparent, open, comprehensive, thorough, focused, dynamic, and challenging.

The objective of the multi-tiered LBG Examination Process is to license the most qualified, knowledgeable, skilled, and professional individuals as Licensed Battlefield Guides at Gettysburg National Military Park. Each guide is expected and required to uphold a century-old tradition of mastering relevant core knowledge about the Battle of Gettysburg within the context of causes and consequences of the American Civil War in order to interpret and communicate that knowledge to the visiting public in an engaging manner.

If you wish to earn the Gettysburg LBG license (permission to enter GNMP and provide a personalized tour for compensation)—a privilege, not an inherent right—you are required to successfully complete each tier of the multi-tiered process in sequence within one examination cycle, which includes:

Tier 1 Written Examination
Tier 2 Panel Interview
Tier 3 Field Practicum
Tier 4 Oral Battlefield Examination
Tier 5 Post-Licensing Orientation

Each tier of the process will be scored according to a specific rubric developed and approved by Gettysburg National Military Park and the testing committee. You must successfully complete the requirements of each tier in the process to advance to the next tier to earn the license to serve as an LBG at Gettysburg. Failure to successfully complete any of the tiers means a failure of the entire examination process. In the event this occurs, however, you may attempt to earn your license the next time GNMP offers the full examination process to prospective LBGs. More information about future exams will be made available as needed.

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The schedule of rates approved for Licensed Battlefield Guides, effective January, 2017 is as follows:

Rate Paid to Licensed Battlefield Guide for 2 hour tour.

1-6 Visitors (car): $63
7-15 Visitors (van): $83
Group: 16+ Visitors (Bus) $132

Guides must be paid using the current Schedule of Approved Rates prescribed for a two-hour tour by the director of the National Park Service. Guides shall be paid a pro-rated fee, based on the Schedule of Rates, for tours lasting longer than two hours. Guides will not demand more than the authorized fees established by the schedule of of Approved Rates. They may, at their own discretion, charge less.

 

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