Natural Resource Management Intern – San Mateo County

Estimated Start Date: 11/6/2025
Estimated End Date: 10/30/2026
Stipend: $520/Weekly
Application Deadline: September 19, 2025

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is seeking a motivated intern to support natural resource management projects in San Mateo County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. GGNRA is a destination for both local and international visitors with its sweeping vistas, immense biological diversity, and unique cultural resources. The intern will work with National Park Service staff, partners, and volunteers to support conservation of rare and endangered plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems from coastal prairies to redwood forests. Primary activities for this internship include:

• Habitat restoration and revegetation – mapping, erosion control, seed collection and sowing, container planting
• Invasive plant control – using hand tools, power tools, and herbicide if qualified
• Volunteer or contractor oversight
• Plant identification
• Vegetation mapping and monitoring – plant populations and communities, GIS mapping and analysis
• Wildlife monitoring – California red-legged frog, San Bruno elfin butterfly, mission blue butterfly
• Data collection and quality control
• Tool maintenance
• Vehicle operations, including towing

Work Products: Key deliverables of the internship

• Stewardship – Seeding and container planting, erosion control, invasive plant control
• Data collection and management – Recording, mapping, and updating of monitoring and work performed in GPS/GIS, databases, and spreadsheets.
• Program support – Tool cleaning and maintenance; coordinating schedules and events; attending relevant meetings and trainings regularly.
• Independent project – developed with supervisor according to the intern’s skills and interests, e.g. plant or insect ID guide, GIS, citizen science, observational study, research, etc.

Qualifications

Required:

• An active interest in plants, ecology, and habitat restoration.
• experience working outdoors work in challenging environmental conditions (inclement weather, off-trail, steep slopes, dense vegetation, etc.); ability to carry up to 30 pounds.
• Basic computer literacy, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
• Ability to work well in a team while balancing individual responsibilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be in good physical condition (ability to carry up to 30 pounds).
• A valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Desired:

• education and/or experience in environmental science, ecology, biology, botany, GIS, data science, or photography.
• Experience in technical writing.
• CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Aid

Vehicle/Driver’s License Requirements

Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Housing

Park housing avaialble, dorm-style at Fort Cronkhite, Marin Headlands

Physical/Natural Environment:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The recreation area stretches across three counties in California’s San Francisco Bay Area: Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. In total, the legislative boundary of the park is comprised of more than 80,000 acres of land and ocean waters, with 18,500 acres directly managed by GOGA.

The park is part of the California floristic province which is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. It is also home to many different habitat types and a large diversity of plant and animal species. Many rare species are found within Golden Gate National Recreation Area including 37 federally threatened or endangered species including the mission blue butterfly, northern spotted owl, and California red-legged frog. Golden Gate National Recreation Area also preserves 91 miles of shoreline, and includes the nearshore waters within ¼ mile of the coast.

Weather is Mediterranean and ranges from dry summers (with occasional fog) to wet and cold in the winter. The dorm and field office are located within the Park.  There are no stores or other conveniences within the park, but they are located nearby in the town of Sausalito and City of San Francisco.

Work Environment:

We work year-round, along trails and off trail with exposure to poison oak, ticks, and steep slopes. The work week is Field days are typically 4 per week with a small crew, and can involve carrying tools backpacks and water several miles each day on or off trail through scrub, grassland, wetland, and forested habitats. There is a half-hour commute to work using a government vehicle. Office days are typically 1 per week and involve computer use at a desk.

mentoring:

The intern will work closely with the primary and secondary supervisor on a daily basis for the duration of the internship. On days where the mentor is not accompanying the intern, the mentor will be available via phone or other means of communication.

Learning Goals: 

• Gain natural resource management experience in habitat restoration, vegetation and wildlife monitoring, and invasive plant control.
• Learn about the ecology, flora, and fauna of coastal California.
• Gain experience in digital field data collection, GIS, and databases.
• Participate in professional development and networking through park trainings and work with other park programs.
• Increase skills in time management/planning
• Learn about field safety procedures.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination of any kind. This policy applies to all aspects of employment.