Outdoor Recreation and Community Access Intern - Onsite – Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

Start/End Dates:
August 31st, 2026 - August 13th, 2027 (50 weeks)

Compensation: $600 per week + $450 per month in assistance for housing, gear support, and commuting support (if needed)

Application Due:
July 26th, 2026

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Be between the ages of 18–30 (35 for veterans).
• Undergo a background check if selected
• Have a valid driver’s license to operate a government vehicle
• A personal vehicle is required for this position

Environment for the Americas (EFTA), in partnership with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (Refuge), is seeking a motivated Visitor Services & Community Engagement Intern to expand connections between local communities and public lands agencies. This internship supports the Refuge’s efforts to strengthen public access, deepen community relationships, and broaden conservation engagement—particularly through fishing, birding, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

The intern will play a key role in researching community needs, developing partnerships, and implementing culturally relevant and accessible programs that introduce target audiences to nearby public lands.

• Coordinate with the Visitor Services Manager and Refuge staff on visitor services–related projects and initiatives.
• Regularly participate in joint community events to support access, outreach, and public engagement.

• Increase community access to outdoor recreation and environmental education by bringing programs directly into surrounding communities through schools, parks, community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, and similar venues.
• Develop approaches to bring local community members onto public land sites through facilitated field trips, guided programs, and transportation-based access solutions.
• Engage communities through fishing, hunting, birding, and other nature-based recreation.

• Conduct community research to identify barriers, opportunities, and needs related to outdoor participation and engagement with public lands.
• Create or strengthen coordination among state agencies, military base partners, and conservation NGOs to build new outdoor recreation programs such as youth hunter education, mentored hunting and fishing experiences, Leave No Trace courses, and outdoor skills programs.

• Provide and assist with hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation-related programs at the Refuge, partner sites, and within local communities.
• Support Visitor Services projects including public events, environmental education days, recreational access initiatives (e.g., expanded fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing), and special Refuge programming.
• Create or assist with outreach materials, interpretive tools, social media content, and virtual presentations to broaden public engagement.

• Build an understanding of local cultural values, traditions, and community interests to ensure programming is relevant, welcoming, and inclusive.
• Work with Refuge staff to deepen relationships with community leaders, educators, families, and organizations to sustain long-term engagement.
• Train partners, peers, and volunteers to deliver established outdoor recreation and community access programming, as needed.

• Ability to professionally represent EFTA, USFWS, and other partners.
• Capacity to work independently while contributing effectively to a team.
• Knowledge of natural resource conservation and cultural resource protections.
• Strong desire to communicate and build partnerships with diverse community members.
• Strong writing skills with solid understanding of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, staff, partners, and the public.
• Ability to perform essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Willingness to travel to off-site partner locations for official duties.

• Degree or current pursuit of…