Internships

2022 Dr. Nina S. Roberts Academic Internship Celebration

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy/Miriam Manda

 

Currently Recruiting:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area offers paid internships through the park and partner organizations for students and emerging professionals interested in public lands, parks, and community engagement. These internships provide hands-on experience in one of the most iconic and ecologically diverse urban national parks in the country.

Interns support a wide range of park operations—from education and interpretation to natural and cultural resource stewardship, communications, and youth programming. Opportunities vary in length and focus, but all emphasize professional development, mentorship, and meaningful contributions to park projects.

Check out opportunities available now below.

Alum Research & Engagement Participant Internship

• # of Positions: 3
• Location: San Francisco, California, United States
• Duration: November 3, 2025 - May 17, 2026

• Hours: 32 hours a week

• Description:

  We are looking for a highly organized and persuasive individual to identify, contact, and recruit alumni from 2020 and prior of the Urban Trailblazers, Inspiring Young Emerging Leaders, and Academic Internship programs to participate in a longitudinal research project exploring education and career paths of youth and intern program alum. The Alum Research & Engagement Individual Placement will serve as the representative of the UTB, I-YEL, and AIP alums. This position will perform a variety of tasks that include attending online training, participating in monthly calls with project leaders, obtaining contact information for potential program alumni, maintaining the contact lists, collecting and analyzing resumes from participating alumni, and collecting data with the goal of response from at least 40% of the alumni.

  In addition to research and data collection, this position will work closely with the Senior Program Manager for Youth Programs to develop a calendar of alumni engagement activities that will take place at different park locations and virtually that may include picnic BBQs, guided hikes, campfires, and other programmatic or networking events. In 2026, the Crissy Field Center will be celebrating its 25th year anniversary and will be hosting various celebratory events including events for youth program alum. Duties will include creating and sending out communications to alum, inviting alum to take an active role in engagement opportunities, event planning, coordinating with alum to implement engagement activities, and potential mentoring opportunities for an alumni network.

• Compensation: Living allowance - $640/week
• Housing Available: No

• Learn More and Apply Here: Career Site

Education and Interpretation Members

• # of Positions: 4
• Location: Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, CA

• Duration: January 13, 2026 - May 30, 2026

• Hours: 40 hours week

• Description:

  You will work side-by-side with National Park Service Rangers to deliver K-12 education programs that involve students in meaningful and engaging learning opportunities in the sciences and social studies at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Selected members will be stationed throughout different sites at Golden Gate such as Alcatraz Island, Fort Point National Historic Site, Marin Headlands, Presidio of San Francisco, and Muir Woods National Monument.

  As an Education Intern with the National Park Service, you will:

  • Co-deliver classroom lessons that prepare students for field sessions
  • Facilitate field programs with other park staff and volunteers
  • Help create lessons and field activities for outdoor programs
  • Guide general park visitors with orientation and information
  • Administrative support for program scheduling and website content

 

• Compensation: Living allowance - $550/week
• Housing Available: Yes
• Learn More and Apply Here: Education and Interpretation Members - SF, CA - American Conservation Experience - EPIC Jobs

 

Enterprise for Youth High School Climate Career Corp Interns at Muir Woods

NPS Photo

The Golden Gate Park Internship Experience (GOGA PIE) at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, and Muir Woods National Monument is a partnership program of the National Park Service (NPS) and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (GGNPC). It is a cornerstone park program, providing professional development and career pathway opportunities for youth and young adults, while supporting real needs of park management. A wide range of positions are available, including those working with business management, education and youth programs, volunteer program management, communications and media, natural and cultural resources, historical interpretation, public affairs, park planning, and more. Internships vary in length and can be part-time to full-time. They incorporate specialized training, professional skill building, and career development. Internships are immersive experiences, where interns learn by working with staff mentors to support critical park projects, while also bringing new ideas and a renewed energy to our park and staff. Together with our partners we are fostering a passion for our parks and open space, investing in our community, and cultivating our future work force.

Program Goals

1. Create immersive opportunities for young people to gain work and leadership skills through practical experience, interactive learning, essential skill building, and specialized training.
2. Engage local audiences and broaden our community outreach, especially to youth from communities that have not traditionally been engaged in parks.
3. Offer transformative experiences that build deep connections to our public lands.
4. Encourage and provide a ladder of learning and career pathways from interns to staff.
5. Cultivate our future workforce and next generation of leaders.
6. Provide support to meet real needs of park programs, management, and staff.

 

Environment for the Americas Interns at an Allies for Inclusion Program on Alcatraz Island

NPS Photo

Partnerships

The National Park Service collaborates with a selection of youth partner organizations to create internship opportunities. Our youth partners provide the backbone support so that the National Park Service staff are able to provide the "in-the-field" mentorship to all our interns.

Current youth partner organizations at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Point National Historic Site, and Muir Woods National Monument include (and are not limited to):

• American Conservation Experience
• Conservation Legacy
• CPI Foundation (The Concrete Preservation Insitute)
• Enterprise for Youth
• Environment for the Americas
• The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
• The Student Conservation Association
• Urban American Outdoors

 

2022 Enterprise for Youth Interns at Black Point Gardens in Fort Mason

Enterprise for Youth

 

Who is Eligible?

Due to the diversity of our communities and partners, we strive to create opportunities that can be available to all. To that end, we partner with many local, regional, and national youth serving organizations who have different eligibility requirements. Check with each individual youth partner and position for these requirements.

 

Presidio Trust Staff and Academic Interns on a play structure in the Presidio Tunnel Tops

Presidio Trust

Programs and Timelines:

Each year the park partners with these following organizations to offer signature internship programs unique to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

• American Conservation Experience Internships: ACE and NPS has partnered to offer multiple education and interpretation internships beginning January thru Summer.

  • Internship dates: mid-January thru Summer/Fall
  • Part and full-time opportunities available with living allowance

• Dr. Nina S. Roberts Academic Internships: Through this program, local cohorts of college youth are engaged in immersive park experiences to enhance classroom learning. Internships are open to all enrolled students and majors from San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, and College of Marin. Interns receive a $500 weekly living allowance and an opportunity for academic credit.

  • Positions expected to open in March 1st 2025
  • Internships will run May 2025 - August 2025 for 11 weeks
  • APPLY NOW: https://www.parksconservancy.org/internships/academic-internship-program

• Enterprise for Youth: Youth Career Corps: Enterprise for Youth is a San Francisco based workforce development non-profit that the Golden Gate National Recreation Area has partnered with to provide high school aged youth opportunities to intern with the park.

  • Job Readiness training is REQUIRED to intern with us (participants receive a $125 stipend for completing the training)
  • Interns are paid $20/hour
  • Program runs for 5-6 weeks in the summer (June/July)

• Environment for the Americas Internships: Environment for the Americas has partnered with the National Park Service to offer year-long internship opportunities for young adults at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

  • Positions are year-round starting in November
  • Full-time $520 per week living allowance with housing

 

Connect with us:

Questions or comments about internships: e-mail us!