GSMNP Summer Internship Program

GSMNP Summer Internship Program

Funder: Friends of the Smokies and Youth Partnership Program

Overview: A paid summer internship program for high school students interested in learning about Great Smoky Mountains National Park and developing skills in science and conservation. The program provides hands-on experience with National Park Service careers and park management.

Program Details

• Duration: 4-6 weeks (varies by year; recent programs have been 4-6 weeks)
• Schedule:
- Tennessee crew starts early June (approximately June 6) - North Carolina crew starts mid-June (approximately June 13) - Interns work 4 days per week
• Compensation: $125 per week (paid through American Conservation Experience - ACE)
• Housing: Not provided; participants must live within driving distance of the park

Geographic Scope

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee
• Serves high schools near the park in both states

Eligibility

• High school students with interest in:
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Science and environmental fields - National Park Service careers - Conservation and outdoor work
• Must live within driving distance of GSMNP (housing not provided)

Program Content

Interns work on diverse park projects including:
• Fisheries science and native brook trout population surveys
• Dragonfly identification and monitoring
• Hemlock tree treatment and pest management (hemlock woolly adelgid)
• Trail maintenance and restoration
• Vegetation management
• Wildlife conservation
• Forest and stream ecology
• Botany
• Search and rescue skills
• Fire management and wildfire recovery
• Aquatic macroinvertebrate collection
• Informal park interpretation and visitor education
• Resource and forest management

Benefits

• Exposure to diverse NPS careers and job opportunities
• Understanding of park management practices
• Valuable career experience and professional development
• Potential pathway to future ranger and park service positions
• Development of teamwork and outdoor skills
• Molecular genetic and scientific research experience

Funding

• FOTS Support: FOTS has supported the program for 16+ years. Initially provided intern salaries; now funds program staff salaries
• Partner: American Conservation Experience (ACE) administers the program
• Sponsorships: Additional support from organizations like Asheville Greenworks

Recurrence

• Annual program, typically running June through July/August