Internships
The organizations below are listed by "theme" to help you organize your search, not to define the organizations. Review the "About Us," "Mission," or "What We Do" pages within each organization's site to learn about the full range of its interests and activities. Visit their "Jobs" or "Careers" pages to see if they have any available internship or volunteer opportunities.
Many ENSP students also benefit from participating in the UMD Federal and Global Fellows Programs, which combines a fall seminar course and a spring internship opportunity in areas ranging from public health, science diplomacy, and energy and environmental policy.
As always, make sure you check the ENSP Advising Blog for current opportunities!
Agriculture and Plant Sciences
- Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State/NC A&T Research Farm, Goldsboro, NC.
- House-in-the-Woods Organic Farm, Adamstown, MD
- Moon Valley Farm, Cockeysville, MD
- National Family Farm Coalition, Washington, DC
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Washington, DC
- Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center Farm, Reisterstown, MD
- Red Wiggler Community Farm, Clarksburg, MD
- USDA - Student Intern Programs, Beltsville, MD
- US EPA - Student Internship Programs, Washington, DC
- Sustainable farming internships, nationwide
- Sustainable living and farming, nationwide
- WWOOF - World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
- Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), Takoma Park, MD
- Climate Institute, Washington, DC
Economics
- Center for Economic and Policy Research, Washington, DC
- Competitive Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC
- Democracy Collaborative, Takoma Park, MD
- Global Fairness Initiative, Washington, DC
- USDA - Economic Research Service, Washington, DC - apply via the USA Jobs - Pathways program.
Energy & Sustainability
- Alliance for Green Heat, Takoma Park, MD
- American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Washington, DC
- Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Washington, DC
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington, DC
- Green America, Washington, DC
- National Hydropower Association, Washington, DC
- Solar Energy Industries Association, Washington, DC
- UM Office of Sustainability, campus
- US Department of Energy - DOE Scholars, nationwide
Environmental Education
- Anacostia Watershed Society, Riverdale, MD
- Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, Millersville, MD
- BackdoorJobs.com - a national database of seasonal environmental & outdoor education jobs
- Calleva, Poolesville, MD
- Chesapeake Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD
- Echo Hill Outdoor School, Worton, MD
- Fairfax (VA) County Parks, Fairfax, VA
- Idealist.org - a national database of service-oriented internships; you can search by state, ZIPCODE, interest area, etc.
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD
- Marshy Point Nature Center, Baltimore, MD
- Maryland State Parks - a new, searchable database
- Nature Camps, Inc., Monkton, MD
- Phillips Wharf Environmental Center, Tilghman MD
- Summer Camps - a national database for ACA-accredited camps
- theSCA.org - over 400 national parks internships each summer; use "visitor education" as a search term; or do a geographical search to travel
Geology and Soil Sciences
- Anacostia Watershed Society, Riverdale, MD
- Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State/NC A&T Research Farm, Goldsboro, NC.
- Earthworks, Washington, DC (formerly the Mineral Policy Center)
- Geoscientists in the Parks - National Geological Society (geology internships in national parks, national forests, and BLM lands - summer applications due in January)
- Maryland Geological Survey, Baltimore, MD
- NASA - One Stop Shopping for Internships (OSSI), Greenbelt, MD
- theSCA.org - look for national parks and national monuments in the American Southwest, or search for "geology"
- RESESS - Research experiences for students in solid earth sciences, Boulder, CO
- USDA - Student Intern Programs, Beltsville, MD
- US EPA - Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) - Washington, DC
Government & Politics - Federal, State, Local
- Center for American Politics and Citizenship - sponsored by UMD's College of BSOS - there are several internship programs here open to all students
- Federal Fellows - open to all students, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies
- GoGovernment.org - internships & entry-level jobs
- HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities - national internship program
- MD State Government & Non-profits - coordinated by the Shriver Center, UMBC
- Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, DC
- US EPA - Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) - Washington, DC
- USA Jobs - Pathways - for students and recent grads
International
- Amazon Conservation Association, Washington, DC
- Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC
- Chemonics, Washington, DC
- Conservation International, Arlington, VA (be sure to search using the keyword "internship")
- Global Fellows in DC - open to all students, sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Studies
Land Conservation & Planning
- American Chestnut Land Trust, Prince Frederick, MD
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Annapolis, MD
- Parks and People Foundation - Baltimore, MD
- Piedmont Environmental Council, Warrenton, Virginia - offers 12 fellowships each summer in a 7-week land conservation and planning program.
- Pinchot Institute for Conservation, Washington, DC
- Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Washington, DC
- Student Conservation Association (SCA) - offers over 400 national park internships annually, Baltimore, MD
Marine & Coastal Management
- Anacostia Watershed Society, Riverdale, MD
- Arundel Rivers Foundation, Edgewater, MD
- Assateague Coastal Trust, Berlin, MD
- Assateague Island National Seashore, MD/VA <--- Current opportunities are listed at www.volunteer.gov/gov - use "Assateague" as your key word.
- Chester River Association, Chestertown, MD
- Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague, VA
- Coastal Bays Program, Berlin, MD
- Delaware Center for the Inland Bays, Rehoboth Beach, DE
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD
- Maryland Sea Grant, College Park, MD
- Maryland State Parks - new, searchable database
- MATE At-Sea Internships, UNOLS summer program
- National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
- NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
- NOAA - Chesapeake Bay Office, Annapolis, MD
- NOAA - National Marine Sanctuaries Office, Silver Spring, MD
- OceanCareers.com, marine-related internships (national)
- Oceana, Washington, DC
- Patuxent Riverkeeper, Upper Marlboro, MD
- Sassafrass River Association, Georgetown, MD
- Sea Grant Guide to Internships, Volunteer Opportunities, etc. <-- excellent
- SERC - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD
- theSCA.org - look for national parks and seashores like Cape Cod (MA) National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Channel Islands (CA) National Park, or others like them!
- Wildlife and fisheries - Texas A&M - lists positions nationally <-- excellent
- Zoos, aquaria & marine mammals (UVM) - nationwide listings <-- excellent
Natural Resources, Biodiversity, Conservation and Wildlife
- American Hiking Society, Silver Spring, MD
- American Rivers, Washington, DC
- Anacostia Watershed Society, Riverdale, MD
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Harpers Ferry, WV
- Assateague Island National Seashore, MD/VA <--- Current opportunities are listed at www.volunteer.gov/gov - use "Assateague" as your key word.
- Baltimore Zoo, Baltimore, MD
- Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, Thurmont, MD
- Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague, VA
- City Wildlife, Washington, DC
- Conservation International, Washington, DC
- Earthjustice, Washington, DC
- Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC
- Fairfax (VA) County Parks, Fairfax, VA
- Friends of Jug Bay
- Humane Society of the United States, several local opportunities
- Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD
- Maryland DNR - Seasonal positions, throughout Maryland
- Maryland State Parks - new, searchable database
- Mountain Institute, Washington, DC
- National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
- National Audubon Society (use "Internships/Fellowships" in the Category box) - Washington, DC
- National Parks nationwide (the SCA) - over 400 national parks internships each summer
- National Zoo, Washington, DC - these are highly selective; try these after accumulating previous experience and plan well ahead of time.
- NOAA - Chesapeake Bay Office, Annapolis, MD
- Owl Moon Raptor Rehabilitation Center, Boyds, MD
- Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, Laurel/Bowie, MD
- Save America's Forests, Washington, DC
- Second Chance Wildlife Center, Gaithersburg, MD
- Smithsonian Gardens, Washington, DC
- SERC - Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD
- theSCA.org - use "wildlife," "natural resources," "restoration," or "GIS" as a search term; or do a geographical search to travel!
- Texas A&M Job Board - nationwide listing of field assistantships <-- excellent
- World Resources Institute, Washington, DC
- World Wildlife Fund (use "internship" in the search box) - Washington, DC
- Wildlife Habitat Council, Silver Spring, MD
- Wilderness Society, Washington, DC
Science Policy & Science Writing
- AGI Geoscience & Public Policy Internships, Washington, DC
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington, DC
- Island Press, Washington, DC
- National Geographic, Washington, DC
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- USA Jobs - Pathways - for students and recent grads
- US EPA - Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) - Washington, DC
- Wildlife Society, Bethesda, MD
Lots more!
- BSOS blogs: ANTH, GEOG, GVPT, ECON websites for ENSP-related internships!
- Careers4Terps - a database of jobs, part-time jobs, and internships; maintained by the University Career Center.
- Idealist.org - a national database of service-oriented internships; you can search by state, ZIPCODE, interest area, etc.
- theSCA.org - a national database of national parks opportunities; search for an area of interest or do a geographic search to travel!
- USA Jobs - Pathways - for students and recent grads looking for internships in the federal government.
Out-of-State
Finding an internship near home (or far away!) is do-able when you begin preparing over Winter and Spring Breaks, e.g.,
- Prepare a resume
- Think about what kind of experience you want: inside/office work? outside/field work? science or library research? environmental education?
- Talk to family and friends who may have suggestions, connections, or ideas
Explore search engines:
- BackdoorJobs.com - seasonal, environmental & outdoor education jobs here and overseas
- Coolworks.com - anything you can think of, anywhere!
- EcoJobs.com - national listings, all kinds of internships
- Idealist.org - especially good for non-profit organizations; you can search by state and ZIP code.
- Student Conservation Association (SCA) - over 400 national parks internships each summer.
Generate your own list of possible sites:
- Explore the websites of nearby colleges and universities -- especially career center pages or departmental websites (Biology; Government and Politics; Geography; Environmental Science, etc.)
- Visit the websites of local environmental organizations and/or government offices.
- Don't be afraid to approach organizations directly. Be able to explain why their organization is of interest to you, e.g., you are an Environmental Science and Policy major interested in learning more about _______________ (fill in the blank) or developing your knowledge and skills in ______________ (fill in the blank). Ask if they have projects that you could work on and/or whether they would be open to having an intern.
Or try these possibilities (organized: north --> south --> Chicago --> west):
- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps
- Maine & New England - Bates College
- Boston area - Brandeis University
- Connecticut - Dept of Environmental Protection
- City of New York - Parks and Recreation
- NYC.gov - New York City
- New York - Dept of Environmental Conservation
- NJ Division of Parks & Forestry
- NJEL - lists NJ environmental organizations
- NJ Environmental Library - lists NJ environmental organizations
- Delaware State Parks
- Philadelphia Zoo - Philadelphia, PA
- Pittsburgh area internship links - University of Pittsburgh
- Chicagoland Environmental Network
- Oregon and Northwestern US - University of Oregon
- Internships.com - best for internships in metro areas
- Google: "environmental internships" + (Your state) or "environmental organizations" + (Your state).
Multicultural Experiences
Multi-cultural students bring diverse approaches and contributions to environmental science and policy. Take advantage of opportunities that encourage and support you as you explore your place in this dynamic career field!
Career Discovery Internships - US Fish and Wildlife Service
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) has partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide over 50 summer Career Discovery Internships for first- and second-year students from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds. Internships take place in US FWS field stations from Alaska to Alabama to Maine; and include positions in natural resources management, visitor services, and refuge management. Internships range from 10-12 weeks over the summer months; and are a great way to explore a career in the US FWS.
Mosaics in Science Internships - National Park Service
The Mosaics in Science Internship program, developed by the US National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the Geological Society of America (GSA), aims to increase the diversity among those who seek STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers within the National Park Service. The Mosaics in Science program offers 26 students paid, short-term STEM positions in some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world—National Park Service sites throughout the United States of America. Selected participants will spend 11 weeks working on a park STEM project and, after completing their projects, will travel to Washington, DC, to participate in a career workshop that provides opportunities to present their work and meet with various members of NPS staff and management.
Doris Duke Conservation Scholars
The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program is an 8-week, two-summer experience immersing students in the practice of inclusive conservation. Conservation Scholars have all travel, food and lodging paid during their 8-week summer program, and will receive a weekly stipend of $500.
Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)
The APAICS Summer Internship Program is an eight-week program that provides select undergraduate students the opportunity to work in Washington, DC and experience American politics and public policy. APAICS interns are placed in U.S. Congressional offices, federal agencies, or partner Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) non-profit organizations. The program develops leadership and professional skills, encourages political and civic engagement, and fosters a strong interest in public service careers. APAICS Summer Internship Program provides a stipend of $2,000. Application deadline: January 30, 2017.
HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
Bienvenido and welcome! Thank you for taking the first step towards joining the thousands of other individuals who have participated in the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP). Our nation's economic and social success rests on the level of skills and knowledge attained by Hispanics, now the nation's largest minority population. Education is indisputably the key. Our program's mantra is "Opening Doors of Opportunity," because we want HNIP to be the avenue through which you can grow, both personally and professionally. Internship placements include the National Park Service.
RESESS - Research Experiences for Students in Solid Earth Sciences
The RESESS Internship is a multi-summer research experience located in Boulder, CO, that is dedicated to increasing diversity in the geosciences. RESESS encourages applications from individuals who are members of a group that is historically under-represented in the Earth or environmental sciences, and from students who can demonstrate experience working towards raising awareness about the importance of the geosciences among broad or diverse segments of the population. RESESS is largely funded by the NSF, but (unlike the REUs) can be a multi-summer experience beginning as early as sophomore year summer. Approximately 15 students participate each summer. Students majoring in geology, physical geography, or closely related topics are encouraged to apply. Selected students receive:
- Salary for eleven weeks
- Round-trip airfare to Boulder, CO (the program's location)
- A shared furnished apartment at no cost
- A research experience in the geosciences/physics of the Earth/geomorphology/etc.
- A writing course with training in presentation skills
- Participation in a national science meeting
- Scholarship money during the school year
The application deadline is February 1 -- Go here for more information and to apply!
