Intern - Naturalist (Summer)

Sdsoybean; Custer (SD); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Game, Fish and Parks in Custer, SD is offering an Intern - Naturalist for the Summer session (May–August). This full-time, 40-hour weekly internship pays $19.09 per hour and runs through the season.

Apply before January 27, 2027. The intern teaches interactive interpretive and environmental education programs to diverse age groups, assists with program development, roving interpretation, visitor-center hosting, and daily operations of facilities and displays.

Qualifications

• Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply.
• By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program.

Responsibilities

• Intern teaches interactive interpretive and environmental education programs to various age-groups from preschool through adult.
• Must be comfortable speaking with large groups of people and will receive guidance in developing and evaluating programs for public presentation.
• Additional duties include roving interpretation, developing programs for year-round use for community and onsite programs.
• Interacting with visitors as host at the visitor centers and assisting in maintaining, opening, closing, and daily operations of the buildings, vehicles, and artifacts.

Job description

Custer, SD | Game, Fish and Parks | Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly

19.09 - 19.09 US per hour

Apply before January 27, 2027

Description

• Session: Summer (May - August)
• Position Title: Intern - Naturalist
• Hiring Manager: Aaron Douglass
• Agency: Department of Game, Fish and Parks
• Location: Custer
• Minimum Salary: $19.09

Position Description

Intern teaches interactive interpretive and environmental education programs to various age-groups from preschool through adult. Must be comfortable speaking with large groups of people. Intern will receive guidance in developing and evaluating programs for public presentation. Intern is also responsible for completing assigned individual projects that contributes to the overall interpretive program within Custer State Park and will provide progress and completion by the end of the season. Additional duties include: roving interpretation, developing programs for year-round use for community and onsite programs, checking, and restocking supplies, interacting with visitors as host at the visitor centers, and assisting in maintaining, opening, closing, and daily operations of the buildings, vehicles, and artifacts utilized for programs and exhibits. A basic understanding and knowledge of natural history is beneficial but not required.

Qualifications

Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program.

All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.