Science Communications

National Park Service • San Diego, CA

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Semester of Service Program offers students an unpaid, project-based volunteer opportunity to support Federal missions and gain hands-on experience and career-ready skills. This 90-day Spring 2027 assignment at Cabrillo National Monument will support development of a public-facing ArcGIS StoryMap and accompanying 360-degree virtual tour about the monument’s tidepools. The project aims to expand visitor understanding of the intertidal ecosystem, its species and geological features, and ongoing resource protection efforts.

The volunteer will research tidepool ecology, site history, and resource management; organize multimedia assets; develop StoryMap content such as narrative sections, interactive maps, media galleries, and educational segments; and help plan and describe the 360-degree virtual tour. The volunteer will collaborate with park staff to ensure content follows agency messaging, accessibility standards, and science communication best practices, and will participate in regular progress check-ins. The position is unpaid and provides no compensation, stipend, or hiring preference. Volunteers are not Federal employees.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national studying in the United States or abroad.
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational institution beyond high school throughout the 90-day opportunity; the institution must be in the United States.
• Be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
• Students graduating before May 1, 2027, are not eligible.
• Commit to volunteering 8–20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
• Complete required onboarding documentation assigned by the Department of the Interior and the academic institution.
• Agree to volunteer without compensation, stipend, or hiring preference, and understand that volunteers are not Federal employees.
• Not be a current Federal employee.
• Have an interest in science communication, digital media, environmental studies, GIS, or a related field.
• Be able to conduct basic research, synthesize information, and write clearly for public audiences.
• Be willing to participate in fieldwork such as photography, videography, and site documentation; accommodations are available for remote students.
• Have basic comfort using digital tools such as online mapping platforms, media organization tools, or content-creation software.
• Submit a copy of transcripts to verify enrollment and academic standing.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or experience in biology, ecology, environmental science, marine science, geography, digital storytelling, GIS, or multimedia production.
• Experience with photography, videography, or 360-degree media capture.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS StoryMaps or similar web-based storytelling platforms.
• Interest in visitor engagement, interpretive design, or natural resource communication.

Responsibilities

• Conduct background research on tidepool ecology, site history, and resource management topics to ensure scientific accuracy.
• Organize and curate multimedia assets for digital storytelling products.
• Design and build StoryMap components, including narrative sections, interactive maps, media galleries, and educational segments aligned with park interpretive themes.
• Support creation of the 360-degree virtual tour by helping plan shot sequences and drafting descriptive text.
• Collaborate with park staff to align content with agency messaging, accessibility standards, and science communication best practices.
• Participate in regular check-ins to review progress toward milestones and deliverables.

Benefits

• Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision, and Federal mentorship.
• Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
• Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
• Coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act and workers' compensation for service-related injuries.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed