The Community Engagement & Interpretation Intern will work in a combination of office, field, and community-based settings throughout Cuyahoga Valley National Park and surrounding communities in Northeast Ohio. Duties may include staffing exhibits, attending community events, supporting educational programs, and participating in outreach activities in both park and urban environments.
Summer weather in Ohio can be warm and humid, and interns should be prepared for outdoor work that may involve walking on uneven terrain, hiking on unpaved trails, and exposure to natural hazards such as ticks and poison ivy. Some activities require transporting program materials and assisting with exhibit setup and breakdown.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park regularly hosts multiple interns and seasonal employees across various divisions. Interns have opportunities to participate in group trainings, professional development activities, and career exploration experiences together. Park housing consists of shared residences located within walking distance of one another, creating a collaborative and supportive intern community.
The Community Engagement & Interpretation Intern will support public engagement efforts related to several traveling exhibits and community-based programs both within Cuyahoga Valley National Park and throughout surrounding communities.
The intern will assist with exhibit operations, visitor engagement, event logistics, and community outreach activities. Responsibilities include staffing exhibit locations, helping coordinate schedules and transportation of materials, facilitating audience-centered conversations, answering visitor questions, and assisting community organizations with park-related programming.
This position directly supports the park’s efforts to create a more inclusive future by helping diverse audiences connect with the stories, people, and places that make Cuyahoga Valley National Park significant.
The internship will support several major initiatives, including:
A photography-based initiative highlighting people of color enjoying outdoor recreation and public lands. Through exhibits, artist talks, guided hikes, and community partnerships, the project seeks to challenge traditional perceptions of outdoor spaces and encourage broader participation in nature-based experiences. See https://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/nature-includes-you.htm
An interpretive initiative exploring Northeast Ohio’s Black history and connections to sites featured in The Negro Motorist Green Book. The exhibit highlights historic locations, including several directly connected to stories within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See: https://greenbookcleveland.org/
A multimedia exhibit and public programming series celebrating Northeast Ohio’s rich jazz heritage. Through exhibits, performances, storytelling, and partnerships with organizations such as Karamu House, the project explores the connections between music, culture, recreation, and community life throughout the region.
Together, these initiatives help expand public understanding of African American history, jazz history, community identity, and the diverse stories connected to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The intern will gain practical experience in interpretation, community engagement, public speaking, visitor services, and audience-centered communication.
Throughout the internship, the participant will develop a deeper understanding of the National Park Service mission, Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s natural and cultural resources, and the important contributions of African Americans to the region’s recreational, cultural, and musical history.
The intern will strengthen skills in community outreach, partnership development, event coordination, exhibit interpretation, and public engagement while learning how parks connect people to stories, places, and experiences.
The intern will be part of a larger cohort of interns and seasonal employees working across multiple divisions within the park. This cohort model provides opportunities for collaboration, networking, and professional growth.
The site mentor coordinates training sessions, shadowing opportunities, and career exploration experiences designed to help interns better understand the National Park Service and its many career pathways. Interns will have opportunities to work alongside professionals from Interpretation, Resource Management, Maintenance, Law Enforcement, Business Management, and Park Leadership.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park prides itself on fostering a welcoming and supportive work environment where interns, volunteers, and staff are treated as valued members of the team. Staff are committed to helping interns develop professionally while building meaningful connections throughout the park.
Preferred qualifications include:
Successful candidates should be enthusiastic about connecting people with stories, places, and experiences through meaningful engagement and interpretation.
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discovery for visitors. The winding Cuyahoga River gives way to deep forests, rolling hills, and open farmlands. Walk or ride the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio & Erie Canal.
Stipend: $17.20/Hour
Duration: 11 Weeks (Full-Time)
Location: 1558 Boston Mills Road, Peninsula, Ohio 44264
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is uniquely positioned between the metropolitan areas of Cleveland and Akron, offering interns access to both natural landscapes and urban amenities.
Within a 20–30 minute drive, interns can access professional sports, museums, performing arts venues, restaurants, shopping centers, and nationally recognized healthcare facilities. Blossom Music Center, the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra and one of the region’s premier outdoor concert venues, is located within the park itself.
Nearby communities including Peninsula, Cuyahoga Falls, Brecksville, Hudson, and Akron provide grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, and other everyday services.
The region experiences warm summers with average temperatures in the upper 70s to 80s and occasional periods reaching the 90s. Interns can enjoy a unique combination of rural landscapes, suburban communities, and major urban centers while living and working in one of America’s most visited national parks.
Yes, park housing is available.
Yes, a personal vehicle is required, and you must have a valid driver’s license.
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