Environment for the Americas

Start Date: May 2025  – October 2025 (26 weeks, start date is flexible).

Compensation: $680 per week, housing available (if needed), assistance with travel costs to site, and ability to qualify for Public Lands Corp non-competitive hiring authority upon completion of the internship.

Application Due: Applications reviewed as received

Environment for the Americas' Internship Program seeks to engage  young professionals in natural resource careers. Additional requirements:

• A valid driver’s license to drive a government vehicle.
• Be authorized to work in the U.S
• Be able to pass a federal background check.

*A personal vehicle is recommended for this position

Position Description: 

The Visitor Services intern will support existing refuge staff by assisting with interpretation and environmental education programs both on and off the refuge. The intern will help our station provide quality wildlife-dependent recreation and education opportunities while facilitating partnerships and cooperative projects to engage other conservation agencies, volunteers, friends, and partners.

This position will assist with the development, planning, and implementation of environmental education programs, interpretive programs, and special events on the refuge. The intern will help coordinate and lead volunteer workdays, focusing on pollinator habitat establishment and maintenance. Additionally, the intern will assist with the daily care and operation of the Visitor Contact Station and will be involved in other Visitor Services projects, such as interpretive sign design, brochure distribution, data management, and volunteer coordination. When time allows, the intern will support refuge staff with other station programs, including resource protection, maintenance, habitat management, biological projects, and safety initiatives. Training will be provided to help the intern develop skills as a natural resource interpreter, environmental educator, and naturalist.

The primary mentor will oversee the administrative and overall needs of the internship, while the secondary mentor will provide day-to-day guidance. Both mentors will actively engage in offering enriching opportunities and support for the intern.

The intern will collaborate with refuge staff, volunteers, our Friends group, partners, school groups, and the public.

Learning Goals:

Remember this is an internship! What skills will the intern gain during the experience? We pride ourselves on offering a well-rounded internship. Our intern will have the opportunity to gain exposure and experience to other refuge programs (biology, forestry, maintenance, management) as well as have the chance to pick up new training (UTV/ATV, Motorboat Operator Certification Course, First Aid/CPR, etc.). We want to know what unique interests our interns have and try to pair them up with professionals for shadows that can help provide insight into those career paths.

Work Products: The final work products will include:  

• Design and develop interpretive signage
• Environmental education lesson planning 
• Management of the refuge's official website and social media pages
• Schedule/calendar and coordination of volunteer workdays.

Qualifications: 

Applicants must have or be working towards a degree in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Education, or a related field.

• Comfortable and capable of working independently 
• Able to work outside in all weather conditions
• Previous experience working with the public is desirable
• Good at networking and creating partnerships
• Is comfortable and competent in public speaking
• Is proficient in written communication
• Able, with instruction, to teach environmental education and interpretation programs
• Has excellent customer/visitor service skills
• Graphic design experience
• Knows social media platforms and video editing programs

Physical/Natural Environment:
The refuge spans 6,800 acres of oak savanna, bottomland hardwood forests, and a mosaic of wetlands. There are several hiking opportunities in the region.

Work Environment:
The intern will have an office space in the Visitor Contact Station on the refuge. They will assist with programming at the Outdoor Wonders Learning Center and offsite at schools in the surrounding area. The typical work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off. Work varies between time in the office, outdoor activities on the refuge, and offsite programming. The refuge staff consists of approximately five people.

Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority (PLC)
The Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority is a special hiring authority available to qualifying interns. The intern must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, inclusive, or a veteran up to age 35 and complete 640 hours of work on an appropriate conservation project to be eligible for this hiring authority. Upon successful completion of the PLC project(s), the intern is eligible for two years to be hired non-competitively into a federal seasonal, term, or permanent position. The applicant must apply to a PLC-eligible position advertised on USAJobs.govand be selected off a non-competitive certificate of eligibility. For more information, see DOI Personnel Bulletins 11-02, 12-13, and 17-03.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.