Yosemite Leadership Program Internships

Yosemite Leadership Program intern working on a vegetation and ecological restoration project.

Change yourself. Change the park.

The mountains of Yosemite are the setting for the Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship (YLPSI), a summer of leadership, professional development, and stewardship.

Learn job skills working alongside rangers in one of a variety of specialties. Previous years’ interns have worked with either engineering, wilderness, restoration, compliance, IT, education, interpretation, or safety, among others.

Build networks and develop your leadership style during weekly seminars hosting leaders from the Yosemite National Park community.

Explore the park and learn outdoor skills during structured hikes and backpack trips.

Strengthen Yosemite. Each summer the park hosts UC Merced student interns; these interns bring life experience, insights and perspectives that always enrich Yosemite’s workforce, greatly benefiting the park and the public we serve.

This internship provides direct pathways to employment. Upon successful completion of the YLPSI program and college graduation, participants are eligible for non-competitive Direct Hire Authority (DHA) with the federal government for two years. Please note, you must be enrolled in college at the time of the internship. Recent graduates are welcome to apply but will not be eligible for DHA.

Life in Yosemite

• A stipend of $150 per week is included in each internship. Educational award of $6,000 upon successful completion of the program.

• Housing is provided at no cost by the Yosemite Conservancy and is located in El Portal, CA (first two weeks interns will reside in Wawona). Rooms are shared.

• Shopping is available 45 minutes away.

• Free shared backpacking and outdoor equipment is available to check-out.

• Vehicles are available for work-use only.

Timeline

• February 15, 2026: Application period closes

• End of February-Early March: Interviews take place

• Mid March: Pre-internship meeting

• May 18: Interns arrive at the park for orientation

• August 5: Interns present at a YLPSI symposium

• August 7: Interns check out of housing

How to Apply

Determine if you qualify. Currently enrolled UC Merced students, and previous participants in any Youth in Yosemite programs such as Youth Conservation Corps, NatureBridge, WildLink, Adventure Risk Challenge, Parks in Focus, Youth Conservation Corps, and Youth Ancesteral Stewards are eligible.

Read through the position descriptions for 2026.

To apply to the Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship (YLPSI) please submit the following to [e-mail] with subject line “YLPSI 2026 Application – Your Name:" Application documents are due by February 15, 2026.

1. YLPSI 2026 Application [190 kb PDF]
2. Resume
3. Written application responses in a separate document
4. Proof of Academic good standing in a transcript or grade report
5. Optional, but encouraged, letter of recommendation

Questions may be sent via email.