Community Outreach Intern – ON SITE - Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Start/End Dates: May 19, 2025 - September 12, 2025 (16 weeks)
Compensation: $740 per week, health insurance available upon request
Application Due: (Applications reviewed on a rolling basis)

Environment for the Americas’ Program seeks to engage young professionals in natural resource careers.

Additional Requirements:

• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record

* A personal vehicle is required for this position.

Position Description: 

This Community Outreach Intern will lead park efforts to connect local community members from inland Northern California to the park. The intern will foster positive, meaningful, memorable experiences in the park. The intern will be based out of the Interpretation Building at Park Headquarters, with a work team consisting of approximately five other individuals. The intern will also spend substantial time outside of the park driving to and from and meeting with Sacramento Valley communities. Finally, the intern will work outside in the park including on trails and kayak.

While the park’s Supervisory Interpretive Park Ranger will be the primary supervisor and mentor, the intern will also work closely with the Lead Interpretive Park Ranger, Community Volunteer Ambassador,  and Fish & Feathers Interpretive Intern.

Learning Goals:

The intern will gain valuable experience in public speaking, interpretation, community outreach, and safety, while also having the opportunity to explore and shadow various career fields within the National Park Service..

The supervisor/mentor will work closely with the intern throughout the four months. The supervisor/mentor will orient the intern to the park during their first week of employment, go over their job duties, train them in interpretation and conducting interpretive programs, and coach their programs.

Responsibilities:

• In both Spanish and English, research, prepare, drive to, and conduct formal interpretive programs for community organizations (churches, community centers, clubs, school groups, summer camp groups) both outside and inside the park. The goal of these programs is to a) invite these individuals and groups into the park, b) inform them of recreational opportunities available at the park, c) promote responsible recreation in the park, and d) enable them, to gain positive, meaningful, memorable experiences in the park.
• In both Spanish and English, research, prepare, and present informal interpretive programs and provide park information to visitors at the Beach Booth, roving park beaches and trails, tabling outside the Visitor Center, etc.
• With an interpretive park ranger, research, prepare, and conduct kayak tours, stand-up paddleboard tours, and ranger-led hikes for community organizations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Have the ability to work well independently and as part of a team.
• Be detail-oriented, and organized, and demonstrate good time management.
• Have good oral and written communication skills and the ability to follow oral and written directions.
• Maintain a valid state driver's license to operate government-owned or managed vehicles as needed to conduct work.
• Fluency in Spanish and English (speaking, reading, and writing).
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Interest in parks, community outreach, and outdoor recreation.
• Must be a self-starter and must work well with others.

About the Site

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a 42,000-acre park in a scenic mountain and lake-based setting. With its cool, clear, clean water, the 3,200-acre Whiskeytown Lake invites swimming, paddling, picnicking, and fishing in the summertime when air temperatures are hot. The national recreation area is located in the Klamath Mountains of Northwestern California and is just 10 minutes from Redding, a city of 100,000 residents. Other popular activities in the park include hiking, camping, nature study, and mountain biking.

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.