Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2011 Internships

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 2011 Internship
POSITION TITLE: Resource Education Intern
Fall and Winter/Spring Positions (Sugarlands Visitor Center)
LENGTH OF APPOINTMENT: 12 weeks
STIPEND: $125 per week + housing

Great Smoky Mountains National Park interns in Resource Education acquire experience and training in presenting thematic naturalist and cultural programs, become familiar with operations at a visitor center in a large national park, and gain knowledge on a variety of topics including wildlife biology, botany, forest ecology, geology, Native American culture, history, and park management. In addition, there are many recreational opportunities either in Park or the surrounding area to hike, bike, backpack, canoe, kayak, raft, fish, rock climb, and observe wildlife.

Qualifications: Applicants must be high school graduates with a solid academic background or college students in a declared major field of study such as natural or physical sciences, history, education, communications, natural science interpretation, or recreation and resource management. An interest or experience in interpretation or environmental education, natural or cultural history would be helpful, but is not required. Applicants should have the ability to communicate ideas effectively, and enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with others.

Duties and Responsibilities: Resource education/ interpretation interns deal directly with park visitors. After completing a training session, the work involves answering questions at visitor centers and providing trip planning help at an information desk, researching, preparing, and presenting short guided walks and talks, leading children’s programs, providing information to individuals you may encounter on trails or overlooks, providing roving interpretation in the field, assisting with traffic/visitor management around wildlife, assisting other park operations in the field, and completing a wide variety of special projects. The intern wears a volunteer in parks (VIP) hat and or shirt to be identifiable to the visiting public and act as a representative of the National Park Service.

Benefits: Interns selected for the program will participate in all training and orientation normally attended by the resource education staff, and will receive rent-free housing, a stipend of $125 per week for a 12 week assignment and a uniform. Interns will receive two stipend payments, one at the mid-term of the assignment and one at the completion of the assignment. Travel to and from the park is at the intern’s personal expense. Personal vehicles are encouraged to facilitate off duty use since public transportation is limited in the area.
Application Procedures: Submit a detailed resume which lists education, work experience, hobbies and other interests, and at least three references. College students or graduates should also include a college transcript. Applicants should specify their subject matter interests and can seek information on park programs by reviewing information on the park’s website at www.nps/gov/grsm.

Send Application materials to:
Caitlin Worth
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park Headquarters Road
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-1263
caitlin_worth@nps.gov