Environment for the Americas

Start/End Dates: May 25, 2026 – August 10, 2026 (11 weeks)
Compensation: $688 per week
Medical Insurance: Not provided
Application Due: March 1st, 2026

The Latino Heritage Internship Program seeks to engage young professionals in natural resource careers. Applicants must meet the following additional requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
  
• Be between the ages of 18 and 30, or up to 35 if a veteran
  
• Be willing to undergo a background check upon hiring
  
• Have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record
  

Note: A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

Position Description

This internship will support Greenbelt Park’s efforts to strengthen interpretation and community engagement. The park is an urban forest near Washington, D.C., visited frequently by local families. Limited staffing constrains the number of programs offered, participation in community events, and development of materials that can last beyond one season. The intern will help fill these gaps through program development, outreach, youth engagement, and volunteer support.

The intern will learn the park’s natural and cultural stories through observation and training with staff. They will develop and deliver interpretive programs highlighting local history, stewardship, and America 250 themes. Responsibilities include assisting with youth and family programs in the campground and day-use areas, creating simple materials such as handouts, flyers, signage text, and digital content, planning and staffing outreach events, and visiting churches, schools, and community centers during “park in the community” activities. The intern will also support the volunteer program by recruiting volunteers and building basic tools to organize their work. Additionally, they will identify America 250 storylines and create at least one interpretive product for ongoing park use.

By the end of the internship, the intern will:

• Complete three or more interpretive programs
• Create one America 250 product (e.g., program outline, display idea, or short digital feature)
• Create one youth engagement product, such as a Junior Ranger activity
• Write a short community outreach plan listing key audiences and gathering places
• Develop simple volunteer tools, such as an interest form and basic tracking sheet
• Present a short written report and an in-person presentation to park staff

Responsibilities

• Learn and interpret the park’s natural and cultural stories through observation and training
• Develop and deliver interpretive programs highlighting local history, stewardship, and America 250 themes
• Lead youth and family programs in campground and day-use areas
• Create educational and interpretive materials, including handouts, flyers, signage text, and digital content
• Plan, staff, and participate in outreach events at schools, churches, and community centers (“park in the community”)
• Support the park’s volunteer program, including recruiting volunteers and creating basic organizational tools
• Identify America 250 storylines and develop at least one interpretive product for long-term park use
• Develop at least one youth engagement product, such as a Junior Ranger activity
• Draft a short community outreach plan identifying key audiences and gathering places
• Complete a final written report and present outcomes to park staff

Qualifications

• Relevant majors: Environmental Science, Park and Recreation Management, Education, Sociology, Social Work, History, Hispanic/Latino or Latin American Studies, Communications, or related disciplines
• Undergraduate or graduate student (or recent graduate within the past year), ages 18–30 (up to 35 for veterans)
• Fluent in Spanish and English (speaking, reading, and writing)
• Interest in working with Hispanic/Latino communities in Prince George’s County
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Comfortable engaging with visitors of all ages and public speaking in both Spanish and English
• Experience with youth, families, interpretation, environmental education, community outreach, or customer service is a plus
• Ability to work outdoors in summer conditions (heat, humidity, insects) and walk short distances on trails
• Able to assist with setting up program spaces (tables, signage, materials)
• Basic computer skills: email, word processing, simple document/graphic layout, social media familiarity
• Strengths: reliability, cultural humility, willingness to learn, organization, and teamwork
• Valid driver’s license preferred
• Weekend and evening availability preferred for supporting programs and outreach

Learning Goals

Through this internship, the LHIP intern will:

• Build practical skills and gain a clearer understanding of career paths in parks and recreation
• Plan and deliver bilingual interpretive programs, adjusting style for families, youth, and first-time park users
• Practice youth engagement and education techniques through Junior Ranger and family programs
• Learn the basics of community outreach and partnership work by supporting events and helping shape an outreach plan for Hispanic/Latino audiences
• Create flyers, handouts, and short digital content to strengthen communication and basic graphic/layout skills
• Gain direct exposure to NPS operations in an urban park, including interpretation, community engagement, and volunteer coordination
• Participate in check-ins, shadowing opportunities, and career conversations to learn federal hiring pathways and how to translate the internship into future applications
• Begin building a professional network with park staff, partners, and national-level contacts

About the Site

Greenbelt Park is a 1,100-acre urban forest in Prince George’s County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. The park features wooded trails, open fields, and a year-round campground, with administrative offices and visitor contact areas on site. Summer weather is typically hot, humid, and occasionally stormy; spring and fall are milder. Interns should expect regular outdoor work in variable conditions.

The park is close to everyday services. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential shops in Greenbelt and College Park are 5–10 minutes away by car or transit. Several hospitals and urgent care centers are within a reasonable driving radius in the D.C. metro area.

Greenbelt is part of a diverse suburban region with strong Hispanic/Latino communities nearby, particularly in Hyattsville, Langley Park, Adelphi, Riverdale, and parts of College Park. These neighborhoods include families who frequently use Greenbelt Park for picnics, gatherings, and informal recreation, making the park an important and accessible green space for local Hispanic/Latino residents.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours toward Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below for more information.

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.gov and 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 employmentand 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.