Contracted Student Interns - GIS Trails Planning Intern Fall 2026 (UNPAID)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) seeks applicants for GIS Trails Planning Intern (Unpaid Contracted Student Interns) for the 2026 Fall Semester. This internship is unpaid and designed to support students or recent graduates seeking practical experience in the field. Candidates may be eligible to earn academic credit through their college or university. The DCR Trails & Greenways Program and Office of GIS Services is seeking an unpaid intern to assist with projects focused on improving trail access, visitor information, and GIS-based trail planning. This internship offers an opportunity to apply GIS, web mapping, and data management skills to real-world projects that support outdoor recreation and accessibility across Massachusetts. The position is primarily remote, with occasional in-person meetings with DCR Trails and GIS staff in the Greater Worcester area. For interns interested in gaining field experience, there may also be opportunities to assist with trail data collection using DCR's trail inventory protocols. Candidates located in or near the Greater Worcester, Massachusetts area are encouraged to apply to facilitate occasional in-person meetings and optional fieldwork.

Requirements

Current undergraduate or graduate student in GIS
Experience with ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, or other GIS software.
Familiarity with ESRI applications such as StoryMaps, Field Maps, Survey123, Experience Builder, or Dashboards is preferred.
Interest in outdoor recreation, trail planning, accessibility, conservation, or public lands management.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to communicate technical information in a way that is clear and engaging for a broad audience.
Experience with web accessibility standards (or a willingness to learn) is desirable.
Ability to work independently while collaborating with staff in a remote environment.

Responsibilities

Develop an interactive StoryMap to communicate trail etiquette and responsible recreation practices in a clear, engaging, and accessible format that complies with Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) digital accessibility standards.
Conduct a GIS-based suitability analysis to identify trails that meet established criteria for further evaluation as part of DCR's Trail Access Information program.
Design and develop a field data collection application using ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, SmartSheet, or similar platforms to collect Universal Trail Assessment Process (UTAP) and/or Trail Access Information (TAI) data.
Collaborate with DCR Trails and GIS staff to improve data collection workflows and support trail planning initiatives.
(Optional) Participate in field visits to collect trail inventory and accessibility data using DCR's trail assessment schema.