Minidoka National Historic Site – Interpretation, Education, and Facilities Management Internship

Position Summary: The National Park Service is recruiting two summer interns beginning May through September 2025 at Minidoka National Historic Site (MIIN). The interns will serve jointly with the Interpretation and Education team and the Facilities and Management team. The purpose of this position is to supplement the permanent Interpretation, Education, and Facilities Management workforce by assisting in managing the visitor center, welcoming visitors, maintaining facilities, and inviting public engagement with difficult histories.

Northwest Youth Corps (NYC):

Northwest Youth Corps was created in 1984 to offer teenagers and young adults an education-based work experience modeled after the historic Civilian jobshiringnearme.org Corps of the 1930’s. Today, we serve over 1,000 youth and young adults each year across a four-state region who restore critical habitat, build trails, lead volunteers, educate youth, and respond to local and national disasters.

Minidoka National Historic Site (MIIN):

During World War II, approximately 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated without due process of law. Although little remains of the barbed-wire fences and tar-papered barracks, the Minidoka concentration camp once held over 13,000 Japanese Americans in the Idaho desert. Established in 2001, Minidoka National Historic Site preserves their legacy and teaches the importance of civil liberties. More information at www.nps.gov/miin

Duties and Responsibilities: Major duties are related to learning and working alongside personnel in Interpretation and Education (70%) and Facilities Management (30%) teams at Minidoka National Historic Site in Jerome, Idaho. The intern will communicate with the public about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII; staff the visitor center; maintain trails and facilities; and provide information about MIIN and the National Park Service including recreational opportunities and park regulations. NPS will provide appropriate PPE for tasks assigned in this position. 

Specific activities include: 

• Staffing visitor center front desk. Tasks include visitor services, gift shop duties, cleaning of center.
• Researching and preserving the natural and cultural resources of MIIN.
• Roving trails, contacting visitors, and build skills to provide guided tours to visitors.
• Conducting routine site custodial and maintenance work. PPE will be provided.
• Developing and collaborating on a digital media project with an intern cohort.

Required Qualifications: 

• Ability to work outdoors, hike, and assist the public in remote settings and inclement weather on uneven ground.
• Ability to give direction and talk to the public.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• A positive attitude and cultural competency to interpret difficult and traumatic histories.

Desired Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of US History or College level coursework in the humanities or English.
• Experience in presenting informational or educational talks to the public.
• Basic understanding of cleaning and grounds maintenance.
• Attention to details, time management skills, and ability to work independently; self-motivated to complete tasks and problem solve.

Duty Location: 

Duties are performed at Minidoka National Historic Site in Jerome, ID. Interns will be required to make their own housing arrangements in the local southern Idaho area. Housing reimbursement may be available upon request.

Terms of Employment: 

• Intern will complete the 16-week program from mid-May to early September. The intern will average 40 hours of labor per week, minus holidays.
• The internship schedule will be Wednesday – Sunday (9a-5p). Friday, Saturday, and Sunday availability is a must – July 11h weekend will be a mandatory work weekend.
• Intern will work 2 days with Facilities Management and 3 days with Interpretation and Education during the work week.
• The intern will use computer programs such as word processing software to complete tasks. Laptop will not be provided.
• Interns are responsible for providing their own housing and food. Personal transportation needed.

Program Benefits:

• Interns will earn $8,960 total living allowance, prorated monthly throughout the 16-week term of service. The living allowance is taxable.
• Hours count towards earning Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority. (PLC Personnel Bulletin 21-09)
• While housing is not provided, housing assistance fund may be available upon request.