LHIP Internship: Mammoth Cave National Park/Environmental Education program (PLC) - ONSITE - Environmental Education Intern

Location: Mammoth Cave, KY,None,None

Start/End Dates: May 26, 2025 – August 9, 2025 (11 weeks)
Compensation: $668 per week
Medical Insurance: Not provided
Application Due: February 7, 2025

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) seeks to engage undergraduates and recent graduates ages 18 - 30, and up to 35 for veterans, for this unmatched leadership training program that is focused in the cultural and natural resource management. You must be (additional requirement):

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

*A personal vehicle is required for this position.

Position Description: 

The primary duty of the participant will be to assist the Environmental Education (EE) department in delivering program services. During most of the summer, the intern will support six one-week summer camps for local students. Three of these week-long camps will be for 4th-grade students, with the remaining three camps serving middle school students. These day camps introduce STEM concepts to local students within the park setting.

The participant will gain exposure to a variety of environmental education programs and, after training, will assist with and lead both on-site (in the park) and off-site (in classrooms) programs, including cave tours. These programs are tailored for students ranging from early primary through college age in local communities.

The intern will learn educational principles and how to integrate environmental education and interpretive techniques into their programs. The participant will work with students from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with varied educational abilities. The intern will collaborate closely with EE staff and always work with a partner or two rangers, as the park requires two staff members for all on-site EE group activities.

Additionally, the participant will contribute ideas and suggestions to improve the Environmental Education Program and help achieve program goals through cooperation with supervisors, fellow employees, and management.

Responsibilities:

• Ability or willingness to learn how to conduct effective educational programs tailored to teacher requests and needs.

• Ability or willingness to learn public speaking.

• Ability to conduct engaging presentations for students.

• Ability to write reports, compile data, and produce written lesson plans and materials as required.

• Coursework in sciences, natural or cultural history, teaching, communications, or related fields is helpful.

Qualifications:

• Coursework in sciences, natural or cultural history, teaching, communications, or related fields is beneficial.

• Certifications in environmental education curricula, such as Project WET or Project WILD, are helpful but not mandatory.

• Candidates should enjoy working with students, as campers will be on-site from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM most of the summer.

• Participants must be comfortable spending extended periods in a cave environment.

These camps are highly rewarding. Two weeks of camp will involve inner-city students, many of whom have never visited a park or participated in activities such as fishing or hiking.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours towards Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below on 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.

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