Environment for the Americas

Start/End Dates: May 11, 2026 - July 31, 2026
Compensation: $640 per week + housing
Application Due: February 1, 2026

Fish and Feathers Internship Program seeks to engage young professionals in
natural resource careers.
You must (additional requirements):

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

*A personal vehicle is required for this position. 

Position Description: 

Fish and Feathers is a program funded by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered by Environment for the Americas. Our goal is to provide our national park partners with talented interns who are eager to learn and to engage with local communities. The intern will focus on supporting, implementing, and leading community outreach programs that focus on fishing and birding activities. The overall goal is to increase diverse community engagement with NPS partners during the program and in years to come.

Responsibilities:

• Reach out to local communities through outreach and educational activities to increase engagement in fishing and birdwatching

• Create new materials (i.e., social media, educational games/activities, signage, etc.) to provide visitors with information about fish and birds at the NPS site

• Understand regulations regarding fishing and ethical birding and communicate this information to participants

• Establish or build upon fishing and birding programs at the NPS site

• Manage and maintain program equipment

• Host World MIgratory Bird Day Event

• Meet deadlines for Environment for the Americas program requirements. 

Qualifications:

• Ability to hike and conduct field operations as part of a team and/or independently in an outdoor setting.
• Experience giving presentations and ability to learn new skills and transfer the knowledge to participants.
• Interest in learning fishing regulations and bird identification for program development and implementation.
• Ability to learn methods employed in fish and wildlife management.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, listening, and written communication skills.
• Interest in learning new skills such as rafting, canoeing, and kayaking.

Major studies relevant to this position: 

Successful candidates will have a background and/or coursework in the following areas or a strong interest in the outdoors with experience fishing and/or birdwatching.

• Biology
• Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
• Ecology
• Aquaculture
• Communications/Marketing
• Environmental Science
• Recreation
• Interpretation/Education

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About this Site: 

Summers in the Ozarks are typically hot and humid, with temperatures often reaching the upper 80s to mid-90s. Afternoon thunderstorms are common. Much of the intern’s work will take place outdoors, including programming on gravel bars along the river, so comfort working in summer conditions is essential.

Basic amenities are available in Marshall, Arkansas, located approximately 25 minutes from park housing. Marshall offers a grocery store, banks, gas stations, and a small selection of restaurants. Additional services, including medical care, a wider variety of grocery stores, dining options, and retail shopping, are available in Harrison, Arkansas, about a 45-minute drive from park housing.

The communities surrounding Buffalo National River provide excellent access to outdoor recreation. Within a 30-minute drive, interns can enjoy hiking, camping, and paddling opportunities along America’s first national river. Buffalo National River protects 135 miles of free-flowing river and more than 90,000 acres of land. Nearby U.S. Forest Service lands and several state parks further expand recreational opportunities.

For those seeking urban amenities, the Northwest Arkansas cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, and Bentonville, as well as Branson, Missouri, are within a two-hour drive and offer a variety of shopping, dining, arts, and entertainment options.

This internship includes a balanced mix of office and field work, with approximately 50% of time spent in each setting. The intern must be able to commute independently to and from the duty station. No other interns will be assigned to this location, though seasonal park employees may report to the duty station. A government vehicle will be available for official travel within the park during work hours.

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Interns in this program will receive 480 hours towards Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below on information about:

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.