Summer Intern

The Internship position will be based at the South Park Ranger District visitor center, located in Fairplay Colorado, with opportunities to go out with our Wildlife, Recreation, Minerals, Range and Archaeology departments two to four days a week, depending on staffing needs. 

Depending on individual interests, duties vary widely and may include: staffing the visitor center and providing area information to forest users; conducting fish and wildlife surveys and monitoring; staffing special events such as Burro Days and Railroad Day; trail maintenance and monitoring; developing and presenting educational programs on the area; restoration projects; and assisting with public education on rules and regulations.

Assisting different departments within the USFS with various tasks. 

Tasks could include: Public contacts, public education, interpretive programs, event staffing, sign installation, refuse removal from the National Forest, maintaining Forest Service facilities, assisting with range inspections and wildlife monitoring, assisting with minerals program tasks, assisting with archaeological surveys, assisting the recreation department with recreation management duties, trail maintenance and construction, fence/barrier installation and other duties as assigned.

Applicants need to be currently enrolled in a college or university working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree. Majors can include but are not limited to Environmental Sciences, Parks and Recreation, History, Education, Social Sciences, or Biology. We are looking for outgoing students who enjoy working and communicating with adults and children. We’re looking for individuals who are eager to learn and excited to see how the Forest Service works!

The internship positions in 2025 are expected to run mid-May through mid-August. Dates are flexible to accommodate school schedules. Interns work a 40-hour workweek which may include weekends. 

These are volunteer positions that get a daily stipend of $25.00 for each day worked.

Housing is available and is shared by other interns and seasonal staff. The housing is furnished with basic necessities. Bed linens, pillows, blankets, and towels will need to be brought with you. Housing is FREE OF CHARGE, based on volunteer status. All utilities are included. Each housing unit has a full kitchen. Cell Phone service works best with Verizon and AT&T, though other carriers work intermittently in Fairplay.

A driver’s license is required. Daily assignments may include using a government vehicle to drive to various areas within the district. The intern is responsible for travel to and from school/residence and the Forest for the summer season. It is highly recommended, though not required, that the intern has their own vehicle. This is a rural area with lots of opportunities for recreation and exploration within a short drive.

The intern uniform consists of sturdy work pants, a shirt of choice, and sturdy closed toe footwear. As some mornings can be cold and some positions and duties require Forest Service staff to work outdoors, proper outerwear is recommended to be brought. 

For those interested in the Forest Service Internship, please send a resume and two letters of recommendation to the 

Internship Coordinator, Shannon Reedy, by email, mail or through LinkedIn. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applicants will be given first consideration.

An internship with the South Park Ranger District will be an unbelievable opportunity for a student to get experience in the fields of Recreation Management, Wildlife Biology, Minerals, Archaeology and Public Service in the most visited National Forest in Colorado. It will also be a great chance for a student to travel to a unique and stunning region of the country amongst the Rocky Mountains and Pike National Forest. There are plenty of interesting activities that attract visitors to our area including: mountain biking, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, interpretive programs, horseback riding, and camping. 

shannon.reedy@usda.gov

or

South Park Ranger District

 C/O Shannon Reedy

PO Box 219

Fairplay, CO 80440

For more information about the Internship Program, contact Internship Coordinator Shannon Reedy at (719) 836-2031, or email: shannon.reedy@usda.gov