National Park Service Youth & Young Adult Programs

06/11/2026

The National Park Service Structural Fire Internship Program through the Student Conservation Association is excited to kick off its fifteenth consecutive summer placing 🧯 structural fire protection interns across the country to assist parks with their structural fire protection and prevention needs!

The program, which began in 2012, brings students who are studying fire protection. They learn how to perform annual fire and life safety inspections, revise structural fire management plans, track and inspect portable fire extinguishers, and help train other staff on the use of portable fire extinguishers and general fire safety.

Combined, these interns will be contributing nearly 3,600 hours of structural fire assistance to 18 parks, supplying their unique knowledge and skill set and devoting full-time attention over the next 10 weeks. Each intern accomplishes an amazing amount of vital work. Follow along throughout the summer for updates on what this cohort is up to! Thanks to the National Park Foundation for additional support.

Learn more about the program ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/articles/structural-fire-protection-internships.htm

📸 NPS

05/25/2026

On 🇺🇸 Memorial Day, we pay tribute to, remember, honor, and recognize all those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. Military.

Many memorials and monuments in national parks allow reflection on military service and sacrifice throughout our nation's history. It is also traditionally a time to reflect on American values and visit historic places ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/memorial-day.htm

📸 NPS - Flag placed on grave of soldier in observance of Memorial Day at Chalmette National Cemetary in Chalmette, Louisiana, a part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

05/22/2026

A month ago, the National Park Service Youth & Young Adult Programs team headed to the annual National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC to participate in the Youth Expo, where more than 300 youth represented 39 states. Two interns from the National Mall and Memorial Parks also joined through the Youth Empowerment Stewards Program and partner Conservation Legacy. A number of students were excited to learn how they could get involved with the National Park Service, including through paid internships and volunteering. This was the first time many of them had learned what the National Park Service is all about.

That afternoon, 14 of the college-aged 4-H students from 9 states gave a briefing to NPS and Department of Interior staff on creative ideas for engaging park visitors both in person and virtually, including highlighting parks as experiences, the NPS App, partnerships, community engagement, and more. They were grateful for the chance to be heard and also got a special building tour of the Stewart Udall Building. Many were eager to return and look forward to staying connected with national parks.

📸 NPS

Photo 1: Banner for the National 4-H Conference

Photo 2: NPS staff engage with 4-H students visiting the table

Photo 3: 4-H students presented a briefing at the Stewart Udall Building of the U.S. Department of the Interior and took a photo with NPS staff on the rooftop

Photo 4: 4-H students from the briefing at the closing ceremony

Photo 5: 4-H students presenting their briefing

The Corps Network

05/15/2026

🇺🇸 “In Valor There Is Hope” - Cornelius Tacitus

Today is . We give thanks to the thousands of permanent and seasonal law enforcement officers who serve with us today across all of the U.S. Department of the Interior bureaus. To those who have died in the line of duty since the Department's founding in 1849, we pay special tribute. Many were officers of the National Park Service.

Take a moment to watch a commemorative video of just some of our NPS law enforcement rangers, a special agent, and United States Park Police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty this ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/police-week.htm

📸 NPS - Part of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, this is one of four lion sculptures that each have a different engraving. This one reads: “In Valor There Is Hope” - Tacitus

05/13/2026

🛠 Join the Traditional Trades Advancement Program as an intern at Andersonville National Historic Site!

Learn more ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/traditional-trades-apprenticeship-program.htm

Looking for hands on experience in the trades while making a difference at a national park site? Andersonville National Historic Site is now accepting applications for the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP)!

This opportunity provides paid training and mentorship in traditional trades while working alongside preservation professionals at the park. No experience is required.

Apply now and learn more through the QR code below!

05/02/2026

CHOO CHOO! Climb aboard the Junior Ranger 🚋 train and become a Railroad Explorer!

Did you know people had to travel by ship or wagon around South America before the railroad was created? The creation allowed for people, 🌽 agriculture, clothing, and other goods to be transported faster. Learn more fun facts like this in the Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer booklet, which will teach you about the transcontinental railroad, the people who constructed the railroad, and how it was built through fun games and 🧩 puzzles.

When you complete the booklet, show it to a ranger, a teacher, or an adult. Become a Railroad Explorer when you fill out the pledge in the back of the book.

Learn more about the booklet ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/articles/junior-ranger-railroad-explorer.htm

Check out some of the railroads and train history in your national parks ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/subjects/transportation/railroads.htm

📸 NPS – A graphic of the Railroad Explorer Junior Ranger booklet

05/01/2026

👋 Meet intern Aries Harris through , who is gaining hands-on experience in ecological restoration through a year-long internship at .

A key part of his job is 🌱 invasive plant removal. Key species include Bermuda buttercup, Himalayan blackberry, and Cape ivy, which spread aggressively and reduce habitat for native plants. Restoration work follows with native plantings grown in the Presidio Native Plant Nursery.

Fort Funston is a key restoration site. Between January and February, Aries contributed to approximately 800 native plantings and the release of about 110 variable checkerspot 🐛 caterpillars. The plants included seaside daisy, coastal buckwheat, California poppy, sticky monkeyflower, and other coastal species.

Read more in his blog ➡️ https://environmentamericas.org/author/a-harris/

04/30/2026

Live near Bering Land Bridge National Preserve? Become an Interpretive 🤠 Park Ranger and apply by May 5th!

See details ➡️ https://www.usajobs.gov/job/867111300

Alaska National Parks

🌟Join our Team! 🌟
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is seeking up to two local hire GS‑07 Park Rangers (Interpretation) for the upcoming June – December season.
📌Location: Nome, Alaska
📌Salary: $27.34 - $35.54 per hour (plus additional 3% cost of living allowance)
📌Application period: April 29 - May 5

DUTIES:
✔️Interpretation: Develop and deliver a range of programs for the public and community—youth programs, cruise ship talks, guided hikes—using core interpretive principles. Prepare written outlines for all programs.
✔️Visitor Services: Welcome and assist visitors at the Bering Land Bridge Heritage Center; provide informal interpretation and help with brochure inventories, AV equipment, phone and email inquiries, and basic administrative tasks.
✔️Operations: Collaborate with team members and partners; support smooth daily operations using standard software and office equipment.
✔️Education: Create and present environmental education programs for classrooms, both in person and virtually.

ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY: Any U.S. citizen who has lived or worked in or near the park advertising the position for a long enough period of time to acquire special knowledge or expertise of the natural or cultural resources of the area. To be eligible, applicants must have lived or worked in or near the area long enough to encounter and become familiar with the full range of typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished. Applicant resumes should reflect periods of time having lived or worked within the area of consideration.
Areas considered “near” Bering Land Bridge National Preserve are the communities of Nome, Shishmaref, Wales, Brevig Mission, Teller, White Mountain, Golovin, Koyuk, Stebbins, St. Michael, Unalakleet, Gambell, Savoonga, Little Diomede, Elim, Shaktoolik, Deering, Buckland and Kotzebue.

Find out more at: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/867111300

04/26/2026

Looking to support park research and 💦 river safety? Join Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River’s Wear It Watcher program! It is an easy, fun opportunity to volunteer with a friend at your local national park site this summer.

📋 The Wear It Watchers program is conducted in partnership with the US Coast Guard and is designed to observe, record, and report visitor life jacket usage during the peak summer months. The data collected by volunteers is used to enhance river safety initiatives locally, while data is also used to track the national life jacket wear rate. In addition to data tracking, volunteers may also educate visitors, answer questions about water safety and life jacket usage.
This volunteer position will be active on weekends from May through August. Anyone is encouraged to volunteer; however, minors must be accompanied by an adult. All supplies are provided and on-site training will be held at the start of the season at Zane Grey Museum in Lackawaxen, PA

Learn more ➡️ https://www.nps.gov/upde/learn/news/2025-wear-it-watcher-volunteer.htm or contact [email protected]

04/21/2026

Do you have experience or interest in 🏡 real estate, land management, and planning? The NPS Land Resources Division is seeking a Realty intern through American Conservation Experience!

This position is through the Build Up Technical Internship Program and provides professional experience to students and recent graduates. In this role, the intern will be responsible for a broad range of responsibilities including organizing, preparing, and researching documents and reports related to land acquisition.

This is a year long remote position and includes a living allowance and training.

Apply now ➡️ https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1291310

📸 NPS/Bob Trinnes - Canal Exploration Center at Cuyahoga Valley National Park