There are many opportunities for youth and young adults 15-30 years old and veterans 35 years old and younger to work with the National Park Service. Many of these developmental opportunities and jobs are filled at the park level—so contact the park that interests you—but others opportunities are advertised and recruited nationally by the National Park Service or in partnership with youth and veteran serving organizations. We welcome the interest and engagement of the next generation of stewards who will care for our nation’s natural and cultural resources and preserve our rich legacy.
Are you ready to get started? Opportunities include jobs, internships, and volunteering.
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Young people age 30 and younger and veterans 35 and younger are invited to discover internship opportunities in national parks. YOU could be the next generation to preserve and protect these great places! Learn more about National Park Service Youth Programs in the list below.
Jobs
Whether you are looking for part-time work during the school year, a summer job, or are beginning a full-time career, check USAJobs for current openings. Additional there are opportunities for teens, young adults and veterans, including students and recent graduates listed below.
Youth Conservation Corps Opportunities
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Who can apply: Ages 15–18
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Schedule: summer 8–10 weeks, non-residential (except at Yellowstone and Yosemite)
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Interest areas: conservation work projects and environmental education programs
- Application period: apply to the park that interests you or check out your state's YCC program
- Contact: NPS Youth Programs at 202-513-7177 or via e-mail
Pathways for Students and Recent Graduates
The Pathways Program offers federal internship and employment opportunities for current students, recent graduates and those with an advanced degree. There are three different paths available:
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Who can apply: Current students seeking degrees or certificates from accredited institutions (i.e., high schools; vocational and technical schools; and associate, bachelor, graduate, or professional schools) and recent graduates
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Interest areas: All
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Stipend: Salary
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Application period: Year-round
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Schedule: Year-round or summer
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Contact: NPS/Office of Human Resources via e-mail
Internships
Whether you’re in high school or college or have graduated within the past two years, internships are a way to acquire hands-on work experience while helping preserve and protect the nation’s natural and cultural heritage. The National Park Service collaborates with other organizations to create internship opportunities. Many of our national internship programs are listed below. However, we also recommend that you contact a park of interest directly to ensure that you know all the opportunities available.
21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) includes Public Land Corps (PLC) 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 The Corps Network.
Who can apply:
Ages 16–30
Veterans up to age 35 years old and younger
Opportunities includes internships and crew based work
Schedule: Summer or Year-round
Interest areas: All
Stipend: Varies
Partner: National Park Service Youth Service Corps Partner Listing are good places to begin your search for PLC program opportunities. You can search for jobs and internships with other public land management agencies at Jobs at Corps.
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 The Corps Network.
Who can apply:
Ages 16–30
Veterans up to age 35 years old and younger
Opportunities includes internships and crew based work
Schedule: Summer or Year-round
Interest areas: All
Stipend: Varies
Partner: National Park Service Youth Service Corps Partner Listing are good places to begin your search for PLC program opportunities. You can search for jobs and internships with other public land management agencies at Jobs at Corps.
The National Park Service partners with national service members to provide special skills training and offer a path into Federal service. Individuals who meet specific requirements may be eligible for noncompetitive appoinment to Federal jobs upon successful completion of the program.
Public Land Corps (PLC): A work and education program that engages the Nation's conservation and service corps on public lands. Read Personnel Bulletin 17-03 for more information.
Direct Hire Authority for Resource Assistant Internships (DHA-RAI): Rigorous internships in a career field necessary for the effective management of public lands and resources. See Personnel Bulletin 12-15 for more information.
AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps consists of three programs - Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), State & National, National Civilian Community Corps. Individuals who complete their service may be eligible for noncompetitive eligibility. Visit americorps.gov to learn about these programs and search for opportunities.
Contact: NPS Youth Porgrams at 202-513-7157 or 202-513-7146 or via e-mail
Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Opportunities
Who can apply: Native American youth in high school or older
Schedule: Summer, Year-round
Interest areas: Historic preservation, traditional agriculture, interpretation, conservation, trail construction
Stipend: Varies
Partner: Conservation Legacy
Contact: NPS Youth Programs at 202-513-7146 or via e-mail
Community Assistance Fellows Program Opportunities
Who can apply: Graduate students and recent grads, and outstanding undergraduates; under age 30
Schedule: Generally January to November; Full-time, 47 weeks
Interest areas: Community planning, outdoor recreation planning
Stipend: Variable, but totals approx. $26,000; includes health insurance and a $2,500 Professional Development allowance
Who can apply: Graduate students and recent grads, and outstanding undergraduates; under age 30
Schedule: Generally January to November; Full-time, 47 weeks
Interest areas: Community planning, outdoor recreation planning
Stipend: Variable, but totals approx. $26,000; includes health insurance and a $2,500 Professional Development allowance
Partners: Conservation Legacy , Hispanic Access Foundation and Greening Youth Foundation
Contact: NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, Stephan Nofield, Career Experience Coordinator, at 202-354-6322 or e-mail us
Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program Opportunities
Who can apply: Diverse undergraduate and graduate students
Schedule: Summer
Interest areas: Historic preservation and cultural resources
Stipend: $480 per week plus housing and travel stipend
Partner: American Conservation Experience
Contact: NPS/Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, Paloma Bolasny, Youth Program Coordinator, at 202-354-2174 or via e-mail
Scientists in Parks Program
Who can apply: U.S. citizens 30 years of age or younger (or a veteran up to age 35). Individual project eligibility will vary.
Schedule: Year-round, 12-52 weeks. Most commonly occur in the summer.
Interest areas: Field and office-based internships focused on interdisciplinary natural resource management needs in the biological sciences, social sciences, and communication and education fields.
Stipend: $400-$500/week. If park housing is not available, intern will receive a higher stipend of $525/week.
Partners: Stewards Individual Placement Program, Environment for the Americas, Ecological Society of America, The Geological Society of America
Application period:
Summer Internships (May-September): December– January
Winter Internships: (October-April): May-June
Apply here
Contact: e-mail or Scientists_in_Parks@nps.gov
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship Program
Who can apply: Undergraduate and graduate students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Who can apply: Undergraduate and graduate students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Schedule: Summer program with a possibility to extend the internship through the school year. Program includes career workshop in August for program participants.
Interest areas: Historians, communication, business, archeologists, architects, curators, planners, archivists and more
Stipend: Starting from $4,200 or $5,500 for 10-week and 11 weeks positions, plus travel, and park provided housing, or offsite housing, or a housing allowance,
Partner: Greening Youth Foundation
Application periods:
Winter: mid-December - early February
Apply here
Contact: NPS Youth Programs at 202-513-7146 or 202-513-7157 or via e-mail
National Council for Preservation Education Opportunities
Who can apply: Undergraduate and graduate students, and veterans
Schedule: Year-round or summer
Interest areas: Historians, archeologists, architects, curators, planners, and archivists
Stipend: $6,000-$18,000 depending on length of internships, which range from 10 weeks to 6 months
Partner: National Council for Preservation Education
Contact: NPS/Cultural Resources Office of Interpretation and Education, Paloma Bolasny, Youth Program Coordinator, at 202-354-2174 or via e-mail
Historic Sites and Structures Documentation Internship Opportunities
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students
Schedule: Summer
Interest areas: Architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, history, on-site field work and preparation of measured and interpretive drawings and written historical reports
Stipend: $6,000–$11,000
Contact: NPS/Heritage Documentation Programs, contact Catherine Lavoie at 202-354-2185, or via e-mail
Historic Preservation Training Center Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program (HPTC) Opportunities
Who can apply: 18-30 years old and veteran up to 35 years old or younger
Schedule: Seasonal, 20 weeks
Interest area: Hands-on trade skills, carpentry, masonry, Historic Preservation
Stipend: Living stipend, plus travel expenses for training
Partners: American Conservation Experience, Conservation Legacy, Greening Youth Foundation and Groundwork USA
Contact: HPTC Team at e-mail us
Latino Heritage Internship Program Opportunities
Additional NPS progam information
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students with a focus on Latinos attending Hispanic Serving institutions
Schedule: Summer, 10 or 11 weeks with a possibility to extend the internship through the school year.
Interest areas: Natural and cultural resource management, interpretation, public affairs
Stipend: $420 to $500 a week plus travel and housing stipend
Partners:Environment for the Americas
Application period:
Spring/Summer Internships: mid-December – early-February
Apply here
Contact: Ernestine White, National Youth Employment Coordinator, at 202-513-7157 or e-mail
Maritime Documentation Internship Opportunities
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students
Schedule: Summer
Interest areas: Architecture, engineering, or history, maritime preservation, on-site field work and preparation of measured and interpretive drawings and written historical reports
Stipend: $7,000
Partner: Council of American Maritime Museums
Contact: NPS/Historic American Engineering Record, Todd Croteau, Internship Coordinator, at 202-354-2167 or via e-mail
Mosaics in Science Diversity Internship Opportunities
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students, 18–35 years old with focus on hiring students under-represented in natural resource (STEM) fields
Who can apply: Undergraduate or graduate students, 18–35 years old with focus on hiring students under-represented in natural resource (STEM) fields
Schedule: Summer; 12- week program includes career workshop in August for program participants
Interest areas: Field and office based internships focused on research, inventory and monitoring, curation of park resources, and interpretation and education projects. Mosaics in Science is part of the NPS Scientists in Parks Program.
Stipend: $420-500/week, plus travel expenses and park-provided or offsite housing.
Partners: Environment for the Americas
Application period:
December – late January
Apply here
Contact: e-mail
National Park Business Plan and Consulting Internship Opportunities
Who can apply: Graduate students (MBA, MPA, MPP, environmental and/or public lands management)
Schedule: Summer
Interest areas: Management consulting, park management, strategic and operational planning, commercial services, public-private partnerships
Stipend: $725 per week, plus housing and travel
Partner: Inspiring Capital
Contact: NPS Business Management Group
New Leaders in Conservation Community Assistance Opportunities
Who can apply: Graduate students (MBA, MPA, MPP, environmental and/or public lands management)
Schedule: Summer
Interest areas: Management consulting, park management, strategic and operational planning, commercial services, public-private partnerships
Stipend: $725 per week, plus housing and travel
Partner: Inspiring Capital
Contact: NPS Business Management Group
ProRanger Philadelphia Program Opportunities
Who can apply: Undergraduate students starting their senior year
Who can apply: Undergraduate students starting their senior year
Schedule: Summer
Interest area: Law Enforcement
Stipend: $400 a week plus travel and housing
Partner: Temple University
Contact: ProRanger Program Manager, Adrian Fernandez, 215-597-1744 or via email
HABS/Society of Architectural Historians Tompkins Fellowship Opportunities
Who can apply: Graduate student in architectural history or related fields
Who can apply: Graduate student in architectural history or related fields
Schedule: Summer
Interest area: research in architectural history or related field
Stipend: $12,000
Partner: Society of Architectural Historians
Contact: NPS/Historic American Buildings Survey, Lisa Davidson, Fellowship Coordinator, at 202-354-2179 or via e-mail
Urban Archeology Corps Opportunities
Who can apply: Ages 15–26
Schedule: Year-round
Who can apply: Ages 15–26
Schedule: Year-round
Interest area: Archeology
Stipend: Varies
Contact: NPS Archaeology Program, Teresa Moyer, at 202-354-2124 or via email
Volunteer
There are many opportunities at parks and programs across the country to donate your time and services, whether it's for a few hours or year-round. To learn more about volunteering with the National Park Service and to get started, visit Volunteer.gov. You can also Find a Park to talk with rangers about current opportunities near you.
Last updated: March 12, 2021