Internship - Visitor Services and Program Planning

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Internship Description:
Interns work with the Interpretation and Education Division who’s responsibility is to provide the public with a cohesive and memorable experience inside and outside of the preserve. Interns will work with park rangers and preserve staff during the summer by working in the visitor center, creating field programs for swamp walks, boardwalks, and for in the canoes/kayaks.

Trips into the preserve involve hiking into cypress strands, prairies and pinelands. Hiking in these conditions can be physically demanding as it involves long periods of standing, walking through knee to thigh deep water, heat and humidity, mosquitoes, uneven footing and other swamp creature! A normal workday will be from 8-4:30, four days out of the week.

Interns may assist with special events and festivals, workshops, social media campaigns, requested outreach programs such as wet walks, canoe trips and bike rides, work on special projects, develop new activities for other programs, assist with general upkeep and maintenance and ensuring that equipment is functional, work in the native plant garden or do job-related exploration and training.

Requirements:
Each volunteer works a minimum of 32 hours each week. Typically, these hours will be fulfilled by working four, 8-hour days. We ask that interns be flexible, as the days assigned may change from week to week depending on programs. The workdays will normally be between Monday and Friday with occasional weekend work for special events and festivals.

Must have own personal vehicle besides RV. The duty station to report to is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center. VIPs must have a valid driver’s license and will drive a government vehicle if traveling to a special event or outreach program.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist other divisions with special projects, visit other agencies in the area and have many other training opportunities.

Selection Priority is given to those volunteers that commit to at least two months.

Qualifications:

Must have enthusiasm!!! Must enjoy working with people of all ages and have a passion for the environment. Knowledge of natural science (or willingness to learn), good communication skills, flexibility, ability to work well as a team member, are things that the Big Cypress Interpretation team values highly. This internship is available for people ages 18-25.

Compensation:

Free housing is offered as compensation for this unpaid internship. We will provide a furnished bedroom in a shared house in exchange for a minimum of 32 hours of work. Laundry facilities, pool and weight room are also available.