Public Lands Internship Program
About us
Sanoma Boynton, Public Lands Internship Coordinator can be reached at plip@nau.edu or 928-523-5626
Dr. Scot Raab, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in CEFNS is the NAU lead for PLIP. Dr. Raab can be reached at scot.raab@nau.edu or 928-523-9059.
Dr. Todd Chaudhry is the NPS Research Coordinator for the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit and an adjunct professor in the NAU School of Forestry. He serves as the federal lead for PLIP and can be reached at todd_chaudhry@nps.gov or 720-556-9678.
Welcome to the Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP)
The Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP) is a partnership between Northern Arizona University (NAU) and various land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS). The goal is to provide interns a meaningful experience where they acquire leadership and educational skills. Student interns will have the opportunity to grow in environments that complement their educational goals and ultimately prepare them for careers in land management, natural and cultural resources, and the sciences.
PLIP was initiated in the Spring of 2020, securing an initial cooperative agreement of $38,944 from NPS and placing a Fire Effects Monitor Intern at Grand Canyon National Park in May of 2021. As of October, 2021 the cooperative agreement has grown to $200,000 and offers 10 internship opportunities. PLIP strives to create an outstanding network of educational and land management partners serving northern Arizona.
Current paid internship opportunities
Opportunities for internships are available at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; Flagstaff Area, Aztec Ruins, and Montezuma Castle National Monuments; and Grand Canyon National Park.
Flagstaff Area National Monuments: Wupatki, Sunset Crater and Walnut Canyon Accordion Closed
Position title: Cultural Resources Intern
Start date: January 2022
Applications are currently being accepted
Details:
In the early stages of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments internship, the intern will work closely with an NPS archeologist to learn the cultural history and Tribal consultation of Wupatki National Monument (WUPA) and to design an independent field research project focused on monitoring the condition of archeological sites in the monument. The goal of this internship is to train students in archeological field methods and data management and to present research findings at the NAU Undergraduate Expo and Symposium, usually held in April.
Expectation
Jan–May 2022: 5 hours/week x 18 weeks (90 hours). Duties include receiving training from FLAG NPS archeology staff on FLAG cultural history and Tribal consultation, archeology data entry, monitoring field training, and designing an independent archeological site monitoring project.
Jun–Aug 2022: 40 hours/week x 12 weeks (480 hours). Duties include independently conducting field monitoring of at least 60 archeological sites at WUPA.
Sept–Dec 2022: 10 hours/week x 12 weeks (120 hours). Duties include WUPA archeological site monitoring data entry and report writing.
Jan–Apr 2023: 5 hours/week x 12 weeks (60 hours). Duties include preparing for April NAU Undergraduate Expo and Symposium.
Aztec Ruins National Monument Accordion Closed
Position title: Education Specialist Intern
Start date: Spring/Summer 2022
Applications are currently being accepted
Estimated time commitment: 20+ hours per week on site
Details:
The Aztec Ruins National Monument (AZRU) internship located in New Mexico, is focused on assessing and updating the park’s current education program, developing a plan moving forward, and providing programming to a diverse audience with an interdisciplinary approach. The intern will have a variety of programs in place that can be presented at the park and in the classroom. The programs available to the intern will cover a variety of topics and park themes, including, but not limited to, archeological, anthropology, geology, and ecology. The intern’s role will be to plan, develop, coordinate, present and evaluate formal educational activities that support the park’s mission. While programs are primarily presented to elementary and middle school ages, some high school, college, and adult education programs can occur. Management of the program includes scheduling, publicizing, promoting, and maintaining the reservation system, as well as training and mentoring interns and other staff members in providing education programs. The intern participates in division-wide planning, coordinates with the lead interpretive ranger to arrange supporting staff for education programs, and plays a key role in developing and maintaining good working relationships and collaboration with park partners and the education community. The incumbent may also conduct other interpretive programs, help plan park special events, and work at the visitor center front desk giving orientations and answering questions. A degree in education is preferred, but candidates with experience teaching students will also be considered. A housing stipend is available to offset costs of rentals near Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Grand Canyon National Park Accordion Closed
Position title: Biological Science Technician
Start date: May 2022
Application are currently being accepted
Estimated time commitment: 20+ hours per week on site
Details:
This Internship is Celebrating Women in Science. The main purpose of this position is to support the park’s herbarium and provide park education programs to the public with an interdisciplinary approach. This position will work with the park’s Science and Resource Management Division and the Division of Interpretation and Resource Education. The incumbent will collect plant voucher specimens, catalog specimens in the herbarium, prepare and present ranger programs and write an article on their experience for publication. The position will highlight the work of botanist Rose Eudora Collom, an influential woman in science, and recognize women who are currently working in science and resource stewardship for the National Park Service. The incumbent will share the work that Ms. Collom contributed to the park’s scientific records and follow in her footsteps by collecting voucher plant specimens. The position requires travel to remote locations of the park, backpacking into the canyon and hiking to conduct field work in variable weather conditions and challenging terrain. It also requires the incumbent to be comfortable with public speaking, developing and presenting a ranger program, and writing an article for publication. The incumbent will work closely with park biologists and education specialists to perform field work and will participate in programs that require some evening and weekend work. Funding Pending for this position. Park housing is available for the Grand Canyon National Park headquarters.
Montezuma Castle National Monument Accordion Closed
Position title: Public Educator Intern
Start date: January 2022
Applications are currently being accepted
Details:
The Public Educator Intern will provide front-line information, orientation, and interpretive services for visitors and families at the Montezuma Well unit of Montezuma Castle National Monument in Rimrock, AZ. The intern will work with park staff and volunteers to develop and present a variety of informal presentations on various park resources (including but not limited to anthropology, archeology, geology, and biology) along the trail. There may also be opportunities for cross-training with other park programs and disciplines. This position requires a federal background investigation.
Apply through Handshake if you have an account or a NAU student email. All other applicants interested in applying, email Sanoma Boynton at plip@nau.edu applicants must state their internship of interest in the cover letter
Vision
The Northern Arizona University (NAU) Public Lands Internship Program (PLIP) aims to place 10 or more interns and practicum students from the College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences (CEFNS) as well as other partner colleges at NAU each year. Our agency programs will benefit from high-caliber interns, many of whom we also hope continue to work with land management agencies.
PLIP staff are housed in CEFNS and are ready to engage with students and future land management experts. As the network of agencies expands, we will share a vision of cooperative engagement and provide an efficient organization to share resources and administer shared programs benefiting land management agencies, the university, and the surrounding region.
Funding
PLIP is primarily funded through federal agreements and grants. In the future, funding may also be provided through state and local governments, foundations, non-profits, or philanthropic gifts that aim to meet the program vision.
Partner agencies
The PLIP currently has an affiliate partnership with the NPS and funded internships with Grand Canyon National Park. Moving forward, we hope to expand to other NPS units, the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Tribal Partnerships, and other conservancies, natural and cultural resource agencies, or academic institutions.
Opportunities may or may not include these organizations:
