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 required for this position

Position Description: 

The Imperiled Species Education and Outreach Program Coordinator will connect with local teachers and other community organizations (e.g., YMCA, Lansing Department of Parks and Recreation) to refine and implement an education and outreach program focused on endangered species and conservation career awareness, targeted to grade and/or middle school students in the Lansing, MI area.  They will develop outreach materials concerning Michigan’s endangered species that highlight the economic benefits and ecosystem services these species provide. Some experience working with the students and the public is preferred. On-site training will be provided.  Service locations include the Lansing area as well as travel statewide.  Most travel will be day travel but overnight or weekend travel may be necessary. While most of the work will be done in an office or a public school setting, fieldwork may involve walking over uneven terrain, wading in streams or rivers, and working outdoors (e.g., the potential for inclement weather and biting insects).   

The USFWS is offering an opportunity for an internship position at the Michigan Field Office in East Lansing. This position will continue to develop and implement education and outreach programs focused on endangered species and conservation career awareness targeted to grade and/or middle school students in the Lansing, Michigan area and around other areas of the state.  

A large portion of the project will be working with local schools, libraries, and other organizations in the Lansing area to continue to refine and implement programming that meets the needs of students and teachers as well as the broader Lansing community focused on endangered species while also hitting key conservation and career awareness messages.  At least a portion of the intern's time will be spent implementing the Mussel Outreach Program (MOP) with at least three local schools and/or community groups.  Although facing water quality issues, the Grand River is home to the best remaining populations of the endangered snuffbox mussel (among many other imperiled species). This program provides an opportunity to raise awareness for conservation-related careers and therefore may serve as a model for how natural resource agencies can better help ensure that future conservation professionals reflect the diversity of the entire U.S. population.

In addition to the MOP program, the intern would work to implement and more fully develop other educational programs and outreach efforts including the newly developed Butterfly Outreach Program (BOP). The intern will develop outreach materials concerning Michigan's endangered species that highlight the economic and ecosystem services that they provide. Outreach materials (e.g., brochures, fact sheets, videos, social media posts, etc.) are needed to help people understand all the different ways species conservation matters. The members will work with organizations, such as local zoos, libraries, conservation organizations, and other community groups to increase awareness of endangered species and conservation careers.  

The intern will also provide assistance on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative programs working to recover the endangered piping plover. This work may include preparing outreach materials, compiling data/reports, and assisting with field surveys.      

The successful applicant should have an education instruction background or other outreach experience, and a strong interest in natural resource conservation. The intern should be able to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and have the ability to work independently. The intern may be required to complete tasks in the field (both urban and rural) in a variety of adverse weather and terrain conditions. Preference will be given to candidates with excellent written and verbal communication skills. Hands-on experience with developing educational programs for schools and engaging partners is preferred.  

The mentor/ supervisor will work with the intern to become oriented with the USFWS and the work within the Michigan Field Office. The mentor will ensure that the intern has all the background information necessary to be able to successfully implement the goals of the program by developing and delivering outreach programming. The mentor will be available to the intern to ask questions and seek guidance as needed.  The mentor will also provide introductions to the other biologists in the office to ensure the intern has a network of folks they feel comfortable coordinating and collaborating with. The intern will be included in all staff and threatened and endangered species staff meetings to ensure they are fully immersed in the work we do and feel a part of our team.

Learning Goals:

 Skills that I hope the intern will build include: developing professional skills that equip the intern to work in an office environment including communication skills regarding schedule, tasks, and project questions;  building background knowledge and confidence to work independently at times and balance that with seeking guidance about project goals; developing team mentality and importance of spirit of collaboration; and developing understanding of the importance of the work we do here in MI on conservation of T and E species. 

Work Products: The final work products will include:  

• Communicate with local teachers to implement an in-school educational program that highlights the importance of the Grand River for imperiled species conservation and raises awareness of conservation careers;

• Communicate with local organizations such as the YMCA as well as Lansing Parks and Recreation to implement educational programs that highlight the importance of the Grand River for imperiled species conservation and raise awareness of conservation careers;

• Present other educational and outreach programs and events.

Implement the Butterfly Outreach Program

• Connect with local teachers to implement the newly developed educational program that highlights the importance of pollinators in general and specifically highlights imperiled butterfly conservation and raises awareness of conservation careers; 

• Communicate with local organizations such as the YMCA as well as Lansing Parks and Recreation to implement the newly developed educational program that highlights the importance of pollinators in general and specifically highlights imperiled butterfly conservation and raises awareness of conservation careers; 

Present other educational and outreach programs and events. 

• Improve endangered species outreach materials;

• Develop improved outreach messages for key endangered and threatened species that speak to broader audiences (e.g., the value of bats eating crop pest insects);

• Complete several new outreach tools (fact sheets, short videos, and potentially social media materials) that could be used to convey this important information.

Participate in imperiled species habitat improvement projects or surveys. 

• Interact with conservation partners on their imperiled wildlife and plant survey efforts (e.g., imperiled butterflies and other pollinators, piping plover, mussel surveys, etc.);

• Serve with conservation partners on endangered species habitat improvement projects (e.g., controlling invasive plants, improving nesting habitat for piping plovers, collecting native plant seeds, etc.).

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree

• Commitment to conserving Michigan’s imperiled species through educational and outreach efforts 

Physical/Natural Environment:

The intern will primarily work in an office while preparing for events and then spend the rest of their time presenting at events.  A small percentage of time might be spent helping with fieldwork.

Work Environment:

Most of the intern work will be conducted in the office to prepare for events and prepare materials.  Events will be in a variety of locations including schools, libraries, festivals, and other public venues.  Any fieldwork that the intern participates in will be in Michigan and can be within variable environments depending on the work. 

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.