Fish and Feathers Internship Program - ONSITE - Fort Washington Park

Environment for the Americas

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Fish and Feathers Internship Program seeks to engage young professionals in natural resource careers. Fish and Feathers is a program funded by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered by Environment for the Americas. Our goal is to provide our national park partners with talented interns who are eager to learn and to engage with local communities. The intern will focus on supporting, implementing, and leading community outreach programs that focus on fishing and birding activities. The overall goal is to increase diverse community engagement with NPS partners during the program and in years to come. The intern will be based at Fort Washington Park in Fort Washington, Maryland, with additional programming at Piscataway Park’s Accokeek Creek Boardwalk. Both sites are located along the Potomac River in a suburban setting just outside of Washington, D.C. The area experiences hot, humid summers with occasional thunderstorms. Terrain includes open fields, wooded areas, and river shoreline, but all fishing program locations are very close to parking and do not require long walks or strenuous hiking. Interns should be prepared for outdoor work in variable weather and around insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. The park is located in a suburban area with grocery stores, pharmacies, medical services, and other amenities within a short drive. Affordable housing options are available in nearby communities such as: Alexandria, VA Oxon Hill, MD Forest Heights, MD The park is an easy drive from Washington, D.C., which offers free museums, cultural events, and outdoor recreation—ideal for the intern’s days off. Interns in this program will receive 480 hours towards Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
Have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
Ability to hike and conduct field operations as part of a team and/or independently in an outdoor setting.
Experience giving presentations and ability to learn new skills and transfer the knowledge to participants.
Interest in learning fishing regulations and bird identification for program development and implementation.
Ability to learn methods employed in fish and wildlife management.
Strong interpersonal, oral, listening, and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
Interest in learning new skills such as rafting, canoeing, and kayaking.
Successful candidates will have a background and/or coursework in the following areas or a strong interest in the outdoors with experience fishing and/or birdwatching.
Biology
Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
Ecology
Aquaculture
Communications/Marketing
Environmental Science
Recreation
Interpretation/Education

Responsibilities

Reach out to local communities through outreach and educational activities to increase engagement in fishing and birdwatching
Create new materials (i.e., social media, educational games/activities, signage, etc.) to provide visitors with information about fish and birds at the NPS site
Understand regulations regarding fishing and ethical birding and communicate this information to participants
Establish or build upon fishing and birding programs at the NPS site
Manage and maintain program equipment
Host World MIgratory Bird Day Event
Meet deadlines for Environment for the Americas program requirements.