Contracted Student Interns - Resource Management Plan Intern (UNPAID)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•United States, Massachusetts, 10 Park Plaza, MA

About The Position

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking an unpaid contracted student intern for the 2027 winter semester. The internship is housed in DCR’s Resource Management Plan Program within the Bureau of Planning, Design & Resource Protection. The program prepares statewide Resource Management Plans for DCR parks, forests, and reservations. These plans define key natural, cultural, and recreational resources, provide direction for future land use, and identify priority recommendations for addressing conflicts among recreation, resource protection, and sustainable forest management. The intern will primarily complete a special research project to advance agency policy or management practices and may support routine Resource Management Plan work as time permits. Projects will be selected based on the candidate’s qualifications and interests. The internship is unpaid and intended to provide practical experience to students or recent graduates; interns may be eligible to earn academic credit through their college or university. The internship runs from January 19, 2027, through April 2, 2027, for 22.5 hours per week. The selected candidate will report to the assigned office location one to two days per week, with occasional site visits accompanied by a supervisor or manager.

Nice To Haves

Coursework leading toward an advanced degree in environmental policy, historic preservation, landscape architecture, parks and recreation management, urban or regional planning, or public history.
Strong research skills using academic and primary source materials.
Experience with the Office 365 suite, including Word, Excel, and Teams.
Collaborative problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team environment.

Responsibilities

Research and synthesize best practices for preventing unauthorized trail construction on public lands, and prepare management activities and policy options for use in Resource Management Plans.
Research, synthesize, and prepare program guidance concerning public ownership and access to lakes and ponds in Massachusetts.
Review lakes and ponds within DCR parks to determine agency ownership and stewardship responsibilities.
Research and prepare a biography and design philosophy of agency landscape architect Egbert Hans, and create a checklist of surviving parks associated with his work.
Research park histories and land records.
Identify park management threats and opportunities from social media.
Compile and collate staff survey responses.
Keep public meeting minutes.