COMMUNICATIONS INTERN: 

Climate Change Communication Paid Internship in the Washington D.C. metro area, Summer 2021

Do you love the outdoors? Are you passionate about climate change activism? Do you want to work for the NPS and creatively explore those interests? If so, then this internship is the perfect fit for you!  

This position pays a minimum of $350 per week on biweekly pay schedule. 

Deadline: Friday, January 15th, 2021

Description 

This internship is a partnership between the National Park Service and George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication. The National Park Service (NPS) works to protect and preserve America’s cultural and natural resources, presenting the opportunity to observe changes caused by global warming. The National Capital Region (NCR) of the NPS spans across areas of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. and is home to national monuments, battlefields, and diverse natural landscapes. George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication (4C) researches climate change public engagement strategies. The partnership between NPS and 4C creates a unique platform to educate and engage park visitors with climate change impacts and solutions.  

Up to ten interns (including three multimedia interns) will have the opportunity to work with 4C, the NPS, park staff, and the NPS’s Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance to develop climate change communication materials for National Capital Region Parks (greater Washington, D.C. area). In the past, the products developed during the internship have ranged from interpretive resources for park rangers to videos to digital and print brochures and maps.  

Summaries of previous year’s projects can be found at http://climatechangecommunication.org/internship_program/ 

Qualifications 

The 10-week internships are open to master’s students, exceptional rising junior and senior undergraduate students, or recent graduates. Ideal applicants will have a strong interest in National Parks and a positive attitude and interest in learning, thinking creatively, and working as a member of an interdisciplinary communication team. Previous interns have come from degrees in Biology, Climate Science, Communications, Environmental Studies, Journalism, Natural Resource Management, Psychology, Public Health, Sustainability, and Zoology. Applicants must be attending (or have just graduated from) a U.S. accredited college or university and must be legally allowed to work in the U.S. Interns may be required to pass a Federal government background check. 

Please indicate in your resume and cover letter your knowledge, skills, abilities, and interest in the following: 

● Translating scientific information for non-experts 

● Writing stories, narratives, and other interpretive materials to share information about natural and cultural resources 

● Public engagement, or campaign development  

● Interest in learning more about local climate impacts, NPS and environmental communication 

● Interdisciplinary collaboration, working with clients and meeting client needs, and articulate, professional demeanor 

● Experience with representing organizations on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter 

Expectations include: 

● Strong experience or interest in science, natural resources, or cultural communication 

● Ability to develop communication materials in a 10-week period and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously 

● Strong creativity skills and ability to generate new ideas 

● Proven ability to develop effective communication products with minimal editing; strong attention to detail 

● Excellent written and oral communication skills 

● Familiarity with cloud-based computing, collaborative document editing, and diligence in updating task lists on productivity software 

● Ability to self-direct work 

Dates, Duration, and Location 

Internships are full time (40 hours per week) for ten weeks, running from Tuesday, June 1st through Friday, August 6th. All work will take place in the Washington, DC metro area OR will be done remotely depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Housing is not provided. Having a personal vehicle is ideal for traveling to National Parks, but not required, as interns are strongly encouraged to carpool to park sites. 

How to Apply 

Applicants should submit the following materials (combined as ONE PDF file with applicant’s name as the file name) to nps4c@gmu.edu with “NPS4C – [Applicant Name]” as the subject line: 

(1) Resume or CV 

(2) Undergraduate and/or graduate transcript (unofficial is acceptable) 

(3) A one page cover letter discussing your specific interest in the internship and highlighting your qualifications. 

(4) A one page writing sample on any topic (can be an excerpt from previous work including class papers or projects)

(5) At least two references with: 

a) name, 

b) contact information (email & phone number), and 

c) nature of the relationship (e.g., professor, employer)  

*Letters of recommendation are not required

Please Note: Only COMPLETE applications will be reviewed. 

Inquiries regarding this internship may be directed to nps4c@gmu.edu 

Deadline for completed applications: Friday, January 15th, 2021

Diversity 

The NPS and 4C seek a diverse cohort of interns. Applicants with diverse backgrounds from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.