The U. S. National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region (NCR), Office of Natural Resources and Science (NRS) is seeking to fill paid internship positions. Interns will work closely with the NPS Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance’s Science Education Coordinator.
UERLA is a National Park Service Research Learning Center that serves 16 parks in National Capital Region. They translate complex research results into readily understandable information, providing research, education, and technical assistance for parks. UERLA also provides science communication outreach to park managers and external audiences via websites, workshops, and publications. UERLA maintains research and education partnerships with universities, not-for- profit, education, and other federal agencies. The education activities of UERLA include providing training opportunities for NPS staff and partners, participating in science education programs, and building external partnerships that support science education in parks. Within the Natural Resources and Science Office, other science programs, such as botany, wildlife, geology, air resources, and inventory and monitoring, aquatic ecology work with the Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance on interdisciplinary projects.
Students must be enrolled in a degree program at the University of Maryland. The positions are University of Maryland paid internships. Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine if they can also receive academic credit for their internship.
This position is currently open:
Science Lesson Plans (In-person & Virtual) Internship (Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled)
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region (NCR), Office of Natural Resources and Science (NRS) Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance (UERLA) is seeking a graduate student or an upper-level undergraduate student with interest in Teaching, Science Education, Formal Educational Settings, Developing Science Education Methods, and/or related fields. Science topics will include Climate Change Science. The Science Lesson Plans (In-person & Virtual) Intern will evaluate existing lesson plans for President’s Park and the White House Visitor Center educational programs. Programs will be updated to reflect most recent standards and current relevant scientific data. Intern will adapt lesson plans from in-person to virtual settings. Professional development experience for the intern will include networking, with NPS educational staff and scientific subject matter experts, and developing familiarity with online systems such as ViewSonic Board, Plickers, Kahoots to identify support lessons already on the platforms. Intern will distribute updated and approved lessons from the Park to approved online sites. The intern will provide at least one presentation to instruct staff on the best practices for instruction using the updated lessons including for a remote audience. Lessons will center on Park mission, goals, and engagement priorities at President’s Park.
The intern will work closely with the Educational Team at President’s Park and the White House Visitor Center, and the NPS Urban Ecology Research Learning Alliance’s Science Education Coordinator. We anticipate that the internship will begin in mid-summer of 2022 and continue through December of 2023. Start and end dates are negotiable. Hours are part-time not to exceed 480 hours. The bulk of work is on site at the White House Visitor Center and occasional teleworking.