The Visitor Services and Public Affairs Intern will work in a dynamic combination of office, visitor center, beach, field, and community settings throughout Virgin Islands National Park. The position provides a balance between public-facing visitor services, digital communications, environmental outreach, and hands-on exposure to natural resource monitoring.
The intern may spend time staffing the Visitor Center, engaging with visitors at park beaches, assisting with community events, gathering photographs and video for social media content, and joining field excursions with the Youth Conservation Corps program. The intern will also have opportunities to work alongside other park divisions and learn about natural and cultural resource stewardship throughout the park.
Fieldwork takes place in a tropical environment where conditions are often hot, sunny, and humid. Interns should be comfortable working outdoors, walking on beaches and uneven terrain, interacting with visitors, and participating in field activities while following appropriate heat and sun-safety practices.
The Visitor Services and Public Affairs Intern will work primarily with the park’s Visitor Services team, which serves as a frontline connection between Virgin Islands National Park and the public. The intern will gain hands-on experience welcoming visitors, supporting tours and school programs, assisting with volunteer service activities, contributing to special community events, and developing public-facing educational and digital content.
A major component of the internship will involve supporting the park’s Mineral-Based Sunscreen Program. Through outreach at park beaches, the intern will engage with visitors and community members and provide educational information about mineral-based sunscreen and its use in the marine environment.
The intern will also develop a public information webpage for publication on the Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument websites. This project will provide practical experience in research, plain-language writing, website content development, and public communication.
In addition, the intern will have opportunities to work alongside the park’s Natural Resources Division and assist with several ongoing environmental monitoring programs.
Primary responsibilities may include:
Through this combination of responsibilities, the intern will gain a broad understanding of how visitor engagement, public communication, community programs, and natural resource stewardship work together within a national park.
The internship provides practical experience in visitor services, public speaking, environmental education, digital communications, public affairs, website content development, community outreach, and natural resource monitoring.
Through direct engagement with visitors, the intern will strengthen customer service, communication, and public speaking skills. By developing digital content and a public information webpage, the intern will gain experience translating technical or educational information into clear, accessible language for public audiences.
The intern will also gain introductory experience with environmental monitoring through participation in water-quality, air-quality, and rainwater-quality programs. Working alongside park professionals will provide exposure to careers in interpretation, communications, marine biology, natural resource management, environmental science, public affairs, and other areas of the National Park Service.
By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will have developed a versatile combination of communication, technical, public engagement, digital media, and field experience.
The Visitor Services and Public Affairs Intern will receive mentorship from the park’s Visitor Services and Natural Resources program leads throughout the 20-week internship.
The intern will work directly with experienced National Park Service professionals while receiving guidance in visitor engagement, public speaking, community outreach, environmental education, digital communications, website content development, and natural resource monitoring.
Because the internship crosses multiple areas of park operations, the intern will have opportunities to interact with staff from different divisions and levels of park leadership. These experiences will provide a broader understanding of how a complex National Park Service unit operates and how different professional disciplines work together to serve visitors, protect park resources, and support the surrounding community.
Through regular guidance, hands-on learning, and cross-divisional exposure, the intern will be able to explore potential career paths while making a meaningful contribution to a small island community with a significant tourism economy.
Strong candidates should demonstrate:
Relevant fields of study may include:
Go beyond Virgin Islands National Park’s stunning white-sand beaches. Hike to historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island. Visit the Indigenous Taino’s ancient petroglyphs. Snorkel coral reefs to discover hidden marine life. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is national park, making it a unique destination for visitors.
Stipend: $17.20/Hour
Duration: 20 Weeks (Full-Time)
Location: 274 River Road
Beach Lake, PA 18405
Virgin Islands National Park is located primarily on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The park protects thousands of acres of tropical forest, beaches, coral reefs, historic landscapes, and marine environments while welcoming visitors from around the world.
The internship is based in Cruz Bay, the primary town and transportation hub on St. John. The Visitor Center is located near the ferry dock, while park housing and additional office space are situated approximately half a mile away on a hill overlooking the ocean. The housing area offers expansive views of the surrounding island and coastal landscape.
Several grocery stores and other essential services are located within approximately a 15-minute walk of the Visitor Center and about a 30-minute walk from park housing. St. John has one medical clinic, while hospital facilities are available on nearby St. Thomas, approximately a 30-minute ferry ride away.
The climate is tropical, with warm temperatures throughout the year and particularly hot and humid conditions during July and August. Interns should be prepared for strong sun, heat, humidity, and changing tropical weather conditions.
Park housing is available.
A valid driver’s license is required.
