Park Summer Youth Internship (PLC) – ONSITE – Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, Hampton National Historic Site, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Park

Start/End Dates: May 26, 2025 – August 9, 2025 (11 weeks)
Compensation: $688 per week
Medical Insurance: Not provided
Application Due: February 7, 2025

The Latino Heritage Internship Program seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers.

Eligibility Requirement: 

• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Driver’s license is required for this position.

Position Description: 

This position will support the overall interpretation and visitor services operations of the parks. The incumbent will learn and present interpretation programs, participate in living history projects, and staff the front desk. The goal of this internship is to learn about the inner workings of a National Park. The incumbent will also represent the park and participate in activities that occur offsite (e.g., career fairs, community festivals, and trail activities). This position will also lead an outreach activity aimed at creating a program to bring more diverse communities to the park. The incumbent will work closely with the Assistant Superintendent and the Supervisory Interpretive Ranger on planning and program implementation.

During the first two weeks of the internship, the incumbent will accomplish the following tasks:

• Learn and develop an understanding of the sites and their stories:
• FOMC (Battle of Baltimore and the Flag)
• HAMP (Enslavement and the History of Maryland)
• STSP (War in the Chesapeake)
• Learn about interpretation.

During weeks three and four, the incumbent will accomplish the following tasks:

• Develop their own talks:
• Shadow other interpreters.
• Create an outline.
• Present their program.

During weeks five and six, the incumbent will accomplish the following tasks:

• Develop a strategy to create a park event:
• Work with the Supervisory Interpretive Ranger and Assistant Superintendent to conduct outreach activities.
• Plan the activities and logistics involved in inviting groups to the park.
• Work with the VIS team to create flyers and social media content to publicize the event.

During weeks seven and eight, the incumbent will accomplish the following tasks:

• Implement the program at the site(s).

Responsibilities:

• Have experience working with the community through civic activities.
• Demonstrate a desire and willingness to conduct programs that engage visitors of diverse backgrounds in exploring challenging issues and discussions.

Qualifications:

A positive attitude, a high degree of initiative, and a strong work ethic are essential for the position. In addition, a successful candidate will:

• Have excellent oral communication skills.
• Feel comfortable speaking in front of groups and generating visitor participation.
• Be pursuing a degree in History, History/Education (with interest in the following eras: Progressive Era, Great Migration Era, Civil Rights Era, and the connection of fraternal groups to the Civil Rights Movement), Business, Education, Museum Studies, African American History, Art History/Education, Historic Preservation, Communications, Biology, Anthropology, or Web Design (preferred but not required).
• Have experience working with the community through civic activities.
• Be articulate, enthusiastic, engaging, and willing to learn.
• Be willing to become actively involved in the programs of the site.
• Demonstrate a desire and willingness to conduct programs that engage visitors of diverse backgrounds in exploring challenging issues and discussions.
• Exhibit experience as a leader in the community and at your institution for at least one year.
• Have your own transportation.

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

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 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.