Application Instructions
Applications for Summer 2024 have now closed.
Position Descriptions for Summer 2024
POSITION TITLE: Intern
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Adams County Historical Society preserves millions of historic items (archival and three-dimensional artifact) from all eras of our community’s remarkable history. Collections Assistants will work with our Collections Manager to organize, re-house, index, and arrange new and existing acquisitions. Many of these collections contain fascinating, Gettysburg-related primary source material that has never been cataloged or digitized before.
Museum Interpreters will work inside our brand new, 5,000-square-foot museum experience called Gettysburg Beyond the Battle. They will help ACHS develop and implement visitor engagement and interpretation strategies, with an emphasis on providing meaningful experiences for younger (school-age) visitors, and will be asked to assist with educational programming for group visits and tours, especially for K-12 students. These interns will work directly with our historian and director of programs to assist in group presentations, docent responsibilities, and strategic discussions related to operating an innovative and financially successful museum.
The internship will begin on May 28 and end on August 2 OR 9, depending on summer housing dates. Some flexibility in start and end dates may be possible, based on conversations with the intern’s supervisor. For one week of the summer (June 6-11), the intern will be assigned full time to our CWI partners to provide assistance with the Civil War Institute Summer Conference.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Hardworking and independent
- A strong interest in history, especially civilian perspectives and the Civil War era.
- Good communication skills and willingness to present and interpret history
TRANSPORTATION: A car is not necessary, as the ACHS facility is located within walking/biking distance from the college campus
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Small staff of 5 (2 full-time, 3 part-time).
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Gettysburg College Summer Housing
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Policy and Communications
SCHEDULE: The position schedule is 40-hour work weeks, with typical office schedule (Monday-Friday, approx. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm with 30 minutes for lunch) The position will begin in late May/early June and run for 10 weeks; specific start/end dates are customizable.
JOB DUTIES FOR INTERN: This internship will focus on the Battlefield Partners Network, a collection of organizations – battlefield friends groups, historical societies, museums, round table study groups and similar – allied in their support of the preservation concept. Such groups vary widely in size, bandwidth and effectiveness, but all can benefit from collective action to network and advance mutually significant issues.
Together with Americana Corner, an initiative that supports storytelling related to our nation’s first century and offers grants that allow museums and historic sites to tackle ambitious projects, we are working toward a first-of-its-kind capacity building summit for Network members. Our goal is to provide meaningful workshops, seminars and other sessions that will help organizations tackle their biggest challenges – from program marketing to member recruitment to advocacy campaigns against looming threats to historic resources. In addition to helping plan event content and coordinating closely with presenters, the selected intern will be able to attend and form connections across the battlefield community.
DESIRED SKILLS:
- Excellent writing skills and interest in honing them further
- Strong organizational acumen and attention to detail
- Capable of tracking fluid and evolving information
- Willingness to initiate outreach by phone and email, forging connections with new allies
- Articulate speaker who can represent the organization’s goal
- Friendly and professional demeanor.
- Ability to craft dynamic presentations, including with multimedia platforms
- Interest in translating best practices for organizational management into digestible packages
TRANSPORTATION: Trust offices are Metro and Metro Bus accessible and a vehicle is not required. Opportunities to visit battlefields outside the city may arise and effort will be made to shared rides for an intern without a car.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING:
From a grassroots organization started by historians nearly 40 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful nonprofit, heritage land preservation organizations in the nation. The Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 57,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing more than 155 sites in 25 states from Massachusetts to New Mexico. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of our shared history to modern American society. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
Located just blocks from the White House, Trust headquarters is home to talented professionals in fields ranging from land acquisition to grant writing and educational content to fundraising. This internship is based in the Policy and Communications department which handles a broad portfolio: government relations at every level from federal to hyper-local (interacting with elected officials, relevant agencies and career staff), public relations, marketing and advocacy.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Housing will be provided through the Lutheran Colleges Washington Semester (LCWS) Summer Residential Program. The student will live in a shared apartment on the LCWS campus in Rosslyn, VA (within walking distance of a Metro stop). The selected student will be responsible for completing the housing application process with LCWS in a timely manner.
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $3,000 Gallagher stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Resource Education and Visitor Services
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Intern will be assigned to the RE & VS Division at Antietam National Battlefield under the direct supervision of the Division Chief, Park Ranger Keith Snyder. Duties will include working at the park visitor center assisting visitors; performing roving/informal interpretation at various sites on the battlefield; presenting at a minimum 30-minute battlefield orientation programs and one specialized interpretive program the subject of which will be negotiated based on interest and skills of applicant. Intern will also be assisting the park with special events. Other potential opportunities, based on the skill set of the applicant, include working with other divisions within the park, web and social media outreach, research and writing. Intern will be required to work weekends on a normal day shift. There is potential for standing for long periods of time and working outdoors during periods of heat and humidity. Intern will be required to wear a volunteer shirt and hat provided by the park. Intern will be required to return to the park on September 17 to assist with anniversary programming.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Ability to effectively and politely interact with National Park visitors
- Good communication & public speaking skills
- Ability (with training) to research, organize and present interpretive programs
TRANSPORTATION: A personal vehicle will be necessary.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: Current sophomore, junior, or senior
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Antietam National Battlefield is located in a rural setting with a staff of approximately 35 employees (all divisions). Shepherdstown, West Virginia is located 5 miles to the west, Hagerstown, Maryland is 10 miles north and Frederick, Maryland is 20 miles southeast. All of these communities offer shopping, restaurants and entertainment. The closest hospital is located in Hagerstown.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Intern will be provided a private bedroom in a house owned by the park. Living areas (kitchen, dining, and living room) are shared with other members of the house. Laundry facilities are located on site. Internet access is available.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern - Volunteer Park Guide (front-line interpreter)
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Education and Visitor Services
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Serves as a member of the park's interpretation team. This includes conducting formal and informal programming, sharing key park resources, and engaging in challenging conversations with visitors from across the world. What was the significance of General U. S. Grant accepting General R. E. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia? What did the promise of freedom mean to the enslaved people as close as McLean’s backyard and as far away as Texas? Interns will staff visitor facilities, research, write, and deliver a 35-minute formal program, present hands-on parole pass printing demonstrations, and produce content for the park's social media platforms. The internship will begin around May 20 and end around August 12, 2023.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Friendly and engaging personality
- A genuine interest in history, specifically the Civil War (military & civilian), early Reconstruction, and the legacy/memory of the war
- Good public speaking skills and/or the desire to improve them
- Willing to try new things
TRANSPORTATION: A car is highly recommended but not absolutely necessary. The housing is about 1/3 of a mile from the work stations and interns can walk to work. However, a car or shared rides will be necessary to get groceries or run other errands in town about 3 miles away.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Rural setting, small staff. Groceries, gas, Walmart, and some restaurants are available three miles away in Appomattox. Shopping, movies, minor league baseball, hospital, most medical facilities, and entertainment are 25-30 miles away in Lynchburg or Farmville.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Interns at Appomattox live in a modern 5-bedroom home, with private bedrooms and bathrooms shared with a max of two other people. The house has a community kitchen, living room, dining area, and laundry facility. Limited TV reception is available (DVD’s and Netflix, etc. are recommended). Limited internet connection may be available in the house. It is also available at park offices, and numerous locations around the town of Appomattox offer Wi-Fi.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1 or 2 positions.
POSITION TITLE: Intern - Park Guide with the Social Justice Team
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Interpretation
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: In 2023 the intern(s) will conduct primary and secondary source research on subjects relating to the lives and legacies of the free black community in Boston to create and enhance new and existing interpretive resources. When working with the Interpretation team, the intern will be working both in and outdoors, sometimes in warm weather, working with staff and visitors along the Black Heritage Trail and at Faneuil Hall.
SKILLS DESIRED: The ideal candidate will have strong grades and an interest in African American history or public history, storytelling, research, and/or public speaking. The intern will need to be familiar with Microsoft Office, enjoy writing, and be detail oriented.
Ideally, the park would like the intern to work from approximately June 4 through August 10, 2024. This corresponds with the busy summer tourist season and seasonal staff development sessions.
TRANSPORTATION: A vehicle is not required.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The largest African American community in Boston during the decades before the Civil War was on the northern slope of Beacon Hill, in the shadow of the Massachusetts State House. Although some black Bostonians lived in the North End and the West End north of Cambridge Street, over half the city’s 2,000 blacks lived on Beacon Hill just below the homes of wealthy whites. The historic buildings along today’s Black Heritage Trail were the homes, businesses, schools, and churches of a thriving black community that organized, from the nation’s earliest years, to sustain those who faced local discrimination and national slavery, struggling toward the equality and freedom promised in America’s document of national liberty.
Today, the Social Justice Team is comprised of staff from Boston African American National Historic Site and Boston National Historical Park. This team is responsible for visitor services and interpretive programming at Faneuil Hall and the African Meeting House and along the Freedom Trail and Black Heritage Trail.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Boston African American National Historic Site has housing available in the Marine Barracks, which is similar to a dormitory-style studio apartment with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Laundry facilities are located on-site. The housing is within a historic neighborhood with stores and mass transit easily accessible.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern - Park Guide with the Boston Harbor Islands team
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Interpretation
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: In 2024 the intern(s) will be both indoors and outdoors, sometimes in warm weather, working with staff and volunteers at Fort Warren on Georges Island and at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The intern(s) will orient and welcome visitors to the park in both locations and will research, develop, and facilitate an original tour of Fort Warren that is inclusive of the military and social history of the fort. Additionally, the intern(s) will conduct primary and secondary source research for a personal research project that will focus on the lives and legacies of individuals stationed and imprisoned at Fort Warren. Topics for the research project are open to input from the intern(s) but should include a particular focus on where African American and women’s histories intersect with the history of Georges Island.
SKILLS DESIRED: The ideal candidate will have strong grades and an interest in Civil War history or public history, storytelling, research, and/or public speaking. The intern will need to be familiar with Microsoft Office, enjoy spending time outdoors, and be detail oriented.
Ideally, the park would like the intern to work from approximately June 4 through August 10, 2024. This corresponds with the busy summer tourist season and seasonal staff development sessions.
TRANSPORTATION: A vehicle is not required.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Made up of 34 islands and peninsulas, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is an urban oasis just minutes from Boston’s city center. Those who journey to the Boston Harbor Islands will find themselves immersed in the stories of a harbor that played an influential role in the development of Boston and the nation through political, social, and environmental revolutions. With historic military forts, abandoned hospital sites, and important Native American stories to be told, the Boston Harbor Islands strive to preserve the history that resides on each island, while protecting habitats and increasing public access and education.
Today, the Boston Harbor Islands team works in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to staff Georges Island, engaging with visitors by providing historic tours of Fort Warren and offering a variety of pop-up programs and activities. At the Welcome Center, NPS staff welcome visitors to the park, answering questions and sharing key park resources.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park has housing available in the Marine Barracks, which is similar to a dormitory-style studio apartment with a shared kitchen and bathroom. Laundry facilities are located on-site. The housing is within a historic neighborhood with stores and mass transit easily accessible.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Interpretation and Resource Education
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The interpretive intern’s primary duties and responsibilities are directly related to personal services, which includes staffing information desks at the park’s two visitor centers and researching, preparing, and presenting original formal interpretive programs and tours for the visiting public.
The purpose of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is to preserve, protect and interpret for the benefit of the public the nationally significant history, stories, and resources associated with the Civil War campaign for Chattanooga including the battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga; and the 12,000 years of American Indian presence on the Moccasin Bend Peninsula.
The park has two visitor centers, Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center, located in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, and Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center, located in Lookout Mountain, TN. Duties while assigned to these visitor centers include greeting visitors, basic orientation to the park and the surrounding area, answering questions, both historic and non-historic, engaging visitors in meaningful dialogue associated with the Civil War and other historic eras of the park, and answering research questions associated with the Battle of Chickamauga and the Battles for Chattanooga, including knowledge and use of the park’s library and vertical files to answer specific questions relating to a certain unit’s participation and location during the various battles.
Programming at Chickamauga Battlefield and at Lookout Mountain Battlefield differ due to accessibility and visitor center placement. When assigned to Chickamauga Battlefield, interns will be expected to conduct 90-minute car caravan tours of the battle, where visitors follow the interpreter to various sites (route chosen by the interpreter) to learn more about the Civil War’s second deadliest battle. While working at Lookout Mountain Battlefield, interns will be expected conduct 30-45 minute walking tours inside Point Park (stops chosen by the interpreter) to orient visitors about the strategic siege and battles fought to control Chattanooga, the “Gateway to the Confederacy.”
The internship will begin on May 14 and end on August 17, 2024.
SKILLS DESIRED: Interpreters should have a working knowledge of the causes and context of the Civil War era. Selected interns will be expected to do some advanced reading about their assignments prior to beginning their internships. Interpersonal skills, good communication, and public speaking abilities are important to being successful in this position.
TRANSPORTATION: Possession of a vehicle for use over the summer is required.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: Students who have completed their sophomore year are preferred, but all qualified candidates will be considered for this position.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Division of Interpretation and Resource Education has 7 permanent employees. The park is busy during the summer season and averages about 350 visitors per visitor center, daily. Interns will be expected to split their time between working inside the visitor centers and outside in the park. Fort Oglethorpe, GA, where housing is located, is 9 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. The national military park, established August 19, 1890, as the very first of its kind, preserves and protects over 9,000 acres of land in 4 counties and 2 states, making it the largest national military park in the United States.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Free shared housing (co-ed) is available within the park, located in Chickamauga Battlefield. The house has 2 bedrooms, a shared living space, a shared bathroom, and a shared kitchen. The house also has a laundry room. DirecTV is included and a DVD player.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 2
POSITION TITLE: Intern - Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Interpretation and Education
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: A typical internship in the Division of Interpretation at Eisenhower National Historic Site includes conducting house tours and front-line operations, developing and presenting interpretive programming to the general public, and assisting on education, social media, and research projects.
- Interns at Eisenhower NHS assist staff in conducting daily operations of the site, including, but not limited to, conducting tours of the Eisenhower home, providing visitor services at an outdoor contact station, and informal pop-up programs throughout the day for park visitors. House tours consist of a 10-to-15-minute presentation in front of the Eisenhower home, and a short accompanying talk in the Eisenhower living room. Working the contact station includes answering visitor questions, providing park brochures, and assisting with the park Junior Ranger program.
- Interns are also assigned various projects, including, but not limited to, assisting with the park social media presence, filming virtual programming for the park website, assisting in the preparation of park educational programs and materials, and conducting research for new park programs and exhibits. Past examples include writing articles for the park website, conducting research on WWII soldiers buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, creating a D-Day Battlefield in a Box program, and leading interactive pop-up programs about the Eisenhowers.
TRAINING: Eisenhower NHS Interns are provided training on park policies and procedures, as well as training on interpretation and how to conduct daily park operations.
The typical internship season runs for ten weeks from May 28 to August 4, and interns should plan on working as much of that season as possible. The typical intern workday is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., but start and end times can vary depending on park events and programs. Interns will also have two consecutive days off each week, though will be expected to work weekends and holidays. Also, throughout the summer we provide additional opportunities to learn about other park service careers in museum curation, preservation, public information and more.
SKILLS DESIRED: Eisenhower National Historic Site interns must be comfortable speaking publicly to large and diverse groups. The ability to conduct research using secondary and primary source material is also a valued skill. A friendly, engaging, and professional demeanor are also required. Additionally, experience in effectively working with families and children (or a willingness to learn how to do so) will be necessary. Finally, since interns live and work together during a very hectic summer, the ability to work and communicate as a team is necessary.
TRANSPORTATION: Possession of a vehicle for the summer internship is required. Most intern housing is not within walking distance of the Eisenhower National Historic Site and a vehicle will be necessary to travel to and from the park, as well as to nearby shopping facilities.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: Sophomore and above.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Eisenhower National Historic Site preserves, protects, and interprets the home and farm of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower. Acquired in 1950, the Eisenhower farm became a getaway retreat for the Eisenhower’s while they were president and first lady, and it served as their primary retirement home in the 1960s. Our interpretive themes and topics include the American Presidency, the Cold War, American and World history in the 1950s and 1960s, World War I and World War II, as well as a variety of other topics related to political, military, and cultural history.
The Eisenhower NHS has a small staff of 8 permanent employees covering interpretation, education, and curatorial operations. Additionally, we typically have 2-3 seasonal interpretive park rangers, as well as other interns to assist in daily operations and interpretive programming. Eisenhower shares law enforcement, cultural and natural resource, maintenance, and administration staff with Gettysburg National Military Park.
Interns typically spend their days at the Eisenhower National Historic Site, though opportunities for off-site research and programming may present themselves.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Free shared housing is available within the park; most bedrooms are shared and Wi-Fi is available but limited. There are laundry facilities onsite. Pohanka interns will likely share housing with other Eisenhower interns or other Pohanka interns from Gettysburg National Military Park.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Historical Interpreter Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Interpretive Branch
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a Civil War battlefield park comprised of four major battlefields: Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House. The park also includes a National Cemetery, historic Salem Church, and a variety of historic structures.
Interns’ primary duties consist of staffing the visitor contact center stations including the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center, the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center, Chatham (part of a historic slave plantation), Ellwood (part of a historic slave plantation), the Spotsylvania Battlefield Exhibit Shelter, and the Stonewall Jackson Death Site (also part of a historic slave plantation). Please see http://www.nps.gov/frsp for more information on these sites.
Interns also present interpretive public programs. As a Civil War battlefield park, we expect all park interpreters to engage with both the history and relevance of the war, including slavery as the cause of the war and major point of conflict throughout the war. Applicants should consider if they are comfortable discussing potentially controversial topics with the public, including but not limited to, Confederate monumentation, slavery as a cause of the Civil War, and the history of inequality in the United States.
The intern will work roughly 11-12 weeks, generally from the week before Memorial Day through the first week of August.
SKILLS DESIRED: The main qualification for this position is a willingness to learn! This internship program provides two-weeks of intensive training on the specific history of this park as well as interpretive skills. Applicants need not have experience in either one in order to apply. However, a functional understanding of United States history and experience working with the public are useful.
Interns will participate in 2 weeks of seasonal training at the beginning of their internship.
TRANSPORTATION: Given the spread-out nature of the park, possession of a vehicle for use over the summer is required.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: Sophomore and above.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Fredericksburg area is an urban area located between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, V.A. Interstate 95 passes through our area, and development follows along that corridor in central Virginia. Shopping centers, restaurants and grocery stores are plentiful. Many National Park and other visitor attractions are daytrips from the park and many interns with common days off visit nearby battlefields, Washington attractions, colonial sites and Shenandoah National Park. The park is a medium-sized National Park.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: This park has several buildings available for housing, used predominantly to house the summer staff ranging from 3 to 5 bedrooms each.
The housing provides no frills and is very basic. It has no cable or satellite TV. All buildings have a laundry room with a washer and drier. The bedroom doors all have locks for your security. Interns will need to bring all bedding -- sheets, blankets, pillow and pillow case – as well as towels and washcloths. The kitchen has a lot of small appliances, cookware, cooking utensils, plates, cups, knives, forks and spoons. If relying on the community cookware, interns may have to wait for a housemate to finish using and cleaning something before you can prepare your meal, so we advise bringing along some essential cookware of your own.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1-2
POSITION TITLE: Editorial Intern, Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Center for Digital History, Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: One of the nation’s most beloved historic sites, Mount Vernon offers a glimpse into 18th-century plantation life through beautiful gardens and grounds, intriguing museum exhibits, and immersive programs honoring George Washington’s life and legacy. The intern will work at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, under the supervision of the Center for Digital History. The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington serves to increase scholarship in and access to the life, leadership, and legacy of George Washington. The Library comprises three areas of work: Center for Digital History, Leadership Institute, and Library Programs. The Library provides access and training to many audiences and works in concert with George Washington’s Mount Vernon (located across the street) to support over a million visitors per year as well as millions more who explore our resources online.
The Intern will work with the Manager and Digital Projects Editor in the Center for Digital History on a special project on the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington and the George Washington Podcast Network. The DEGW explores a wide variety of topics related to the life and world of George Washington. The intern’s duties will include auditing current articles in the Encyclopedia, revising articles where needed, and contributing to meetings about the future of the Encyclopedia. The intern may also assist with the creation of show notes and transcripts for podcast projects in the CDH. They will also have the option of writing an article to contribute to the Encyclopedia or another project at the CDH. An ideal candidate will have strong writing skills and an interest in early American history.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Strong editing and writing skills
- An interest in early American History
- Willingness to work on a team and contribute to team discussions
- Previous experience with publications (school newspaper, yearbook, content creation) not required but helpful
CLASS YEAR PREFERED: No preference
TRANSPORTATION: Several public transit options exist, including the Metro Subway and buses, but the student may decide to bring a car for convenience. Parking is free at Mount Vernon.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Mount Vernon and the Washington Library are located in a suburb south of Alexandria and Washington D.C. Housing in Arlington is situated in a more urban environment.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Housing will be provided through the Lutheran Colleges Washington Semester (LCWS) Summer Residential Program. The student will live in a shared apartment on the LCWS campus in Rosslyn, VA (within walking distance of a Metro stop). The selected student will be responsible for completing the housing application process with LCWS in a timely manner.
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $3,000 stipend. In addition to the stipend and housing, the intern will receive discounts at the Mount Vernon Inn and Shops.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Historical Data Intern, Database of the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Center for Digital History, Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: One of the nation’s most beloved historic sites, Mount Vernon offers a glimpse into 18th-century plantation life through beautiful gardens and grounds, intriguing museum exhibits, and immersive programs honoring George Washington’s life and legacy. The intern will work at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, under the supervision of the Center for Digital History. The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington serves to increase scholarship in and access to the life, leadership, and legacy of George Washington. The Library comprises three areas of work: Center for Digital History, Leadership Institute, and Library Programs. The Library provides access and training to many audiences and works in concert with George Washington’s Mount Vernon (located across the street) to support over a million visitors per year as well as millions more who explore our resources online.
The Intern will work with the Manager and Digital Projects Specialist in the Center for Digital History to assist in the clean-up and expansion of the Database of the Enslaved Community at Mount Vernon. The intern’s duties will include checking citations, reviewing historical materials, and assisting with data cleaning while learning about historical database best practices. They will also have the option of writing an article to contribute to the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington or another project at the CDH. An ideal candidate will have an interest in early American history and experience with spreadsheets.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Strong editing and writing skills
- An interest in early American History
- Willingness to work on a team and contribute to team discussions
- Previous experience with publications (school newspaper, yearbook, content creation) not required but helpful
CLASS YEAR PREFERED: No preference
TRANSPORTATION: Several public transit options exist, including the Metro Subway and buses, but the student may decide to bring a car for convenience. Parking is free at Mount Vernon.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Mount Vernon and the Washington Library are located in a suburb south of Alexandria and Washington D.C. Housing in Arlington is situated in a more urban environment.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Housing will be provided through the Lutheran Colleges Washington Semester (LCWS) Summer Residential Program. The student will live in a shared apartment on the LCWS campus in Rosslyn, VA (within walking distance of a Metro stop). The selected student will be responsible for completing the housing application process with LCWS in a timely manner.
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $3,000 stipend. In addition to the stipend and housing, the intern will receive discounts at the Mount Vernon Inn and Shops.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Marketing Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Gettysburg Foundation Sales and Marketing
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The holder of the Gettysburg Foundation Marketing Internship will work independently under the supervision of the Marketing Analyst Coordinator. The intern will play a significant role in the Foundation’s summer 2024 intercept study to gather visitor data for future planning and programming.
Specific duties will include participation with the Sales and Marketing Team in the creation of an effective visitor survey; participation in the public interface element of marketing by directly conducting the survey with visitors at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center; design of an appropriate spreadsheet that accurately compiles the survey results; and working with the Sales and Marketing team to prepare a preliminary evaluation of the results, with an eye to improving future sales and marketing planning and programming. In addition to exposure to sales and marketing in the Foundation’s nonprofit environment, the intern likely will interact with marketing and sales professionals in the broader Gettysburg-area tourism industry as well.
The internship will begin on May 28 and end on August 2 OR 9, depending on summer housing dates. Some flexibility in start and end dates may be possible, based on conversations with the intern’s supervisor.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Must be able to work independently and be detail oriented
- Good communication and effectively interact with visitors
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
TRANSPORTATION: Students will have to have reliable daily transportation to/from the Museum & Visitor Center, so a car is recommended (the MVC is not within walking distance of the college campus). Students who wish to rely on Freedom Transit may be able to do so.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Gettysburg Foundation staff consists of approximately 100 (full-time, part-time & seasonal) team members.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Gettysburg College Summer Housing
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern - Interpretation, Education and Visitor Services
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Interpretation and Education
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: A typical internship in the Division of Interpretation at Gettysburg NMP consists of three things: visitor services, program development and presentation, and working with children and families.
- Interns at Gettysburg National Military Park help staff the information desk at our visitor center, and rove throughout the park and the museum. This offers experience in meeting and greeting the public, and providing information/orientation to the park and general area.
- Interns are also responsible for researching, preparing, and presenting interpretive programs. First programs are almost always tours of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery where President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Second and sometimes third programs are chosen and prepared as the summer progresses, in cooperation with supervisor, among the over 20 programs offered each day. There are first-person interpretation opportunities if interested.
- Interns also assist with the daily “Join the Army” children’s program, coordinate and present the daily hands-on history cart program, and work with families and children throughout much of the battle anniversary and other special events. Working with families and children develops important and necessary skills for anyone looking for an NPS career.
TRAINING: Two weeks of required training is provided, and includes all three areas (above); this training begins immediately after Memorial Day. The summer season runs through mid-August, and interns should plan on working as much of that season as possible. The typical workday for an Intern is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but can sometimes be 9:00-6:00. Interns will also have two consecutive days off each week, though will be expected to work weekends and holidays. Also, throughout the summer we provide additional opportunities for behind-the-scenes opportunities and to learn about other park service careers in museology, preservation, public information and more; the culmination of this training is a session on USAJobs application procedures.
SKILLS DESIRED: Gettysburg National Military Park interns must be comfortable speaking publicly to large and diverse groups. The ability to conduct research using secondary and primary source material is also a valued skill. A friendly, engaging, and professional demeanor are also required. Additionally, experience in effectively working with families and children (or a willingness to learn how to do so) will be necessary. Finally, since interns live and work together during a very hectic summer, the ability to work and communicate as a team is necessary.
TRANSPORTATION: A vehicle is strongly recommended. Most intern housing is not within walking distance of the museum and visitor center and a vehicle will be necessary to travel throughout the park for programs, roves, special events etc., as well as to nearby shopping facilities.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: Students who have just completed their junior year are preferred, but all qualified candidates will be fully considered.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The division of interpretation is comprised of 13 permanent employees, as well as 10 seasonal rangers during the summer months. Gettysburg National Military Park is a very busy place during the summer season, with thousands of visitors per day. Interns will split their time between the visitor center and the outdoors. There are a total of 5 interpretation interns at Gettysburg, and 2 research interns. Additionally there are five interpretation interns at Eisenhower National Historic Site, and additional resource management, maintenance, and law enforcement interns and seasonal staff that the Pohanka intern may also live and work alongside.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Free shared housing is available within the park; most bedrooms are shared and wifi is available but limited. There are laundry facilities onsite.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and the $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Land Conservancy of Adams County (LCAC) is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve the rural lands and character of Adams County. To date, LCAC has preserved over 13,000 acres through 187 permanent conservation easements on privately owned farms, forests, and other open spaces throughout the county. Please see PreserveAdams.org to learn more about the Land Conservancy.
Through this internship the student will learn about the work of land trusts in preserving the working landscape around us, as well as how a small non-profit pursues its mission. The internship will include documenting the resources present on current conservation projects, assisting staff with monitoring visits to preserved properties, and enhancing our records where insufficiencies exist.
Although most of our projects focus on natural or agricultural resource protection, many of the places we protect have historic significance relating to some aspect of Adams County’s rich history, including not only events associated with the Battle of Gettysburg, but also our unique agricultural landscapes and the vernacular structures that harken back to the lives and economies of the first Europeans who settled here. The intern will research and document these histories to supplement the records that we maintain on each property.
Primary duties of the internship will be:
- Help conduct annual inspections of preserved properties to confirm that owners are adhering to the terms of the conservation easements
- Assist staff and volunteers plan an annual fundraising event, which has the theme “Made in Adams County” in 2024 and requires research about local manufacturers
- Investigate and document the historical importance of preservation projects: research ownership history using county deed records at the Adams County Courthouse and the Adams County Historical Society, determine how the property’s size and use has changed over time using historical maps and aerial photography, document how it fits into the historic landscape
- Help identify properties in Adams County that are not preserved but that have historic significance warranting preservation
This is a 10-week internship running from approximately May 28 - August 2. The typical hours of the LCAC office are Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm with a 1-hour lunch break (37.5 hours worked per week). The exact schedule of the intern’s hours are flexible.
The intern’s daily direction will be provided as needed by Sarah Kipp, LCAC Conservation Director, with assistance from LCAC board president Dave Salisbury (Gettysburg College Class 1985).
SKILLS AND INTERESTS DESIRED:
- Research skills (primary and secondary sources)
- Self-directed and has attention to detail
- Interest in local history and conservation
- Ability to research and create a product or a project with minimal supervision
- Must enjoy walking/hiking and being outside, even in the heat. Property inspections in the summer months are typically hot, buggy, muggy, and muddy!
TRANSPORTATION: Vehicle not required.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Land Conservancy office is located in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Center on Old Harrisburg Road across from HACC in Gettysburg - a short walk from the college. The intern may be provided with a cubicle workspace in the office suite, but should bring their own computer. Research and writing tasks may be done remotely as needed.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Gettysburg College Summer Housing
COMPENSATION: Free campus housing and $3000 stipend (jointly provided by LCAC and the Pohanka Fund)
POSITION TITLE: Interpretation Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Interpretation and Education
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This internship is in the Division of Interpretation and Education; the student will be supervised by the Division Chief & mentored by other staff. Duties include operating the information desk of the park Visitor Center, research, orienting visitors to the park, and providing them with information for touring the battlefield. Interns will research, develop, and conduct 30- 40 - minute interpretive talks showcasing multiple perspectives on the history of the site. These programs will be offered multiple times each day during the summer season. Informal interpretation, roving the site & answering visitor’s questions about the site. We also have Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, one of fourteen NPS units with a National Cemetery.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Good public speaking and communication skills
- Ability to write strong program outlines, essays, and social media text
- Friendly and professional demeanor
- Ability to stand for long periods of time and/or lead outdoor walks
- Experience with retail sales
- Willingness and ability to present emotionally difficult and/or contentious historical content
- Willingness and ability to connect the history of the battlefield to multiple time periods
TRANSPORTATION: Little Bighorn Battlefield is in rural south-central Montana. A car is REQUIRED.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Battle of the Little Bighorn was fought along the ridges, steep bluffs, and ravines of the Little Bighorn River, in south-central Montana on June 25-26, 1876. The combatants were warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the US Cavalry, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer, along with their Crow, and Arikara scouts. The battle was one of the last armed efforts on the part of western tribes to preserve their way of life. The Battle of the Little Bighorn has come to symbolize the clash of two vastly dissimilar cultures: the buffalo/horse culture of the northern plains tribes, and the highly industrial/agricultural-based culture of the United States. This battle was not an isolated soldier versus warrior confrontation, but part of a much larger strategic campaign designed to force the capitulation of the non-reservation Lakota and Cheyenne.
Little Bighorn Battlefield is a rural setting on the Crow Reservation in south-central MT, & has a small staff. Groceries, gas, restaurants, some shopping, hospital, and medical facilities are available 15 miles away in Hardin, MT. Any major shopping, Walmart, Costco, etc., and entertainment are 65 miles northwest in Billings, MT. Sheridan. WY is 73 miles to the south. For more info, see http://www.nps.gov/libi
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Housing for the intern will be either shared housing (with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, shared living room & kitchen) or a one-bedroom apartment with living room, bathroom, & kitchen. Both units have a TV & Wi-Fi. Where the student will be placed will depend upon availability.
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $3,500 Pohanka stipend (due to the remoteness of the area requiring significant travel to meet daily needs)
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Interpretation Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Interpretation and Education
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This internship is in the Division of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services and will be supervised by the Division Chief. Duties include operating the information desk of the park Visitor Center, orienting visitors to the park, and providing them with information for touring the battlefield. Interns will research, develop, and conduct a 45-minute interpretive walking tour of Henry Hill, covering the most significant action of the First Battle of Manassas. This program is offered multiple times each day during the summer, and each staff member or intern assigned to the Visitor Center should anticipate offering this tour at least twice during the workday.
Interns may also be assigned to staff the Brawner Farm Interpretive Center to orient visitors to the Second Manassas battlefield. Interns assigned to work at Brawner Farm may research, develop, and conduct a 45-minute interpretive walking tour of Brawner Farm, giving visitors an overview of the events leading to the Second Battle of Manassas and providing details on the opening action of the battle. This program is offered several times each day during the summer, and each staff member or intern assigned to work at Brawner Farm should expect to give this tour at least twice during the workday.
Interns will also operate the historic Stone House, the park’s best-preserved landmark, which is opened on a seasonal basis. Staff and interns assigned to work at the Stone House provide informal interpretation to visitors on the history of the structure and its role during the two Manassas battles. Interns may also have the opportunity to develop and present additional interpretive programs, depending upon their interest, knowledge, and understanding of the park story and interpretive themes. In particular, the park is looking to present more formal and informal interpretive programs that highlight the stories of the civilians who called the battlefield landscape home.
Duties may also include answering visitor questions about the park, its history, and its resources; researching and drafting responses to visitor inquiries; developing content for the park’s website and social media sites, such as the park’s Facebook page; assisting with museum housekeeping duties; assisting with the annual visitor use survey; recording visitation attendance for buildings and programs; and operating audio-visual equipment in the Visitor Center. Interested interns may also assist with special events, including the opportunity to work with other staff and volunteers in the living history program to portray soldiers during historic weapons demonstrations. Interns will also participate in the creation of virtual materials that help further the mission of the battlefield. These will include Facebook posts, videos, virtual tours, educational materials, and articles for our website.
The typical workday is from 8:30 – 5:00, with a half-hour lunch break. These hours are subject to change during the summer, with the potential for shift work to cover extended hours designed to provide more building access or cover evening programs. Interns will have two days off each week but should expect to work weekends and holidays. Days off may be subject to change, depending upon scheduling needs during the busy summer season. The internship will begin on May 20th and run for 11 weeks, ending around August 11th. Interns should anticipate checking in to park housing beginning on Friday, May 17th. For a student with interest in both interpretation and cultural resource management, a hybrid position blending aspects of both opportunities (see also the Manassas NBP CRM position description) is also a possibility.
TRANSPORTATION: Vehicle required (Park housing and grocery stores are not within reasonable walking distance).
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Manassas National Battlefield Park is situated approximately 25 miles west of Washington D.C. in the Piedmont region of Virginia in both Fairfax and Prince William Counties. The park encompasses over 5,000 acres of historic landscape upon which the battles of First and Second Manassas were fought during the American Civil War. The park contains numerous historic resources and structures including three wartime houses as well as nearly pristinely preserved historic landscape features of the 19th-century piedmont farmsteads. The park has 25 permanent employees across all divisions and numerous seasonal employees and interns throughout the year.
The park is located approximately 5 miles north of the City of Manassas with numerous retail stores, grocery stores, gyms, hospitals, and restaurant locations within immediate proximity to the park. Because of the accelerated growth rate of the surrounding area, the preservation and protection of the park’s resources and values has become even more important to the NPS and the general public.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: The park has three fully furnished housing units in the park that the intern may reside in. The housing units have all necessary amenities (including laundry) and meet the standards to be audibly and visually accessible. The park housing will be shared housing and placement will be determined by the needs of the park.
COMPENSATION: Free Shared Housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1-2
POSITION TITLE: Cultural Resources Intern (Interdisciplinary)
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Resources Management
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This internship is in the division of Resources Management and will be supervised by the Cultural Resource Specialist. Duties include assisting the park cultural resource specialist with the following tasks: annual condition assessments and reports, section 106 compliance, archival research, CR planning, architectural conservation work, CR related contract and project management, and field studies/research (including ongoing HSRs, CLRs, and Archeology). Other duties may include conducting documentation of historic structures/resources and completing minor studies or reports for identified historic resources. Additionally, the intern may have duties including drafting cultural resource related social media posts, assisting with museum housekeeping duties, and performing housekeeping duties related to archives/records management.
The nature of work at Manassas National Battlefield Park requires an interdisciplinary approach to the management of the park’s cultural resources. As such, the intern will have the opportunity to work with specialists within the CRM field touching on all facets of the profession. This will include opportunities to work with regional/agency wide programs as well as contracted private sector services. The experience from an internship at the park will provide a primer to CRM work and the various sub-specialties within the field.
The typical workday is from 7:00 – 3:30, with a half-hour lunch break. The hours are subject to change during the summer, depending on the project work and associated timelines. The nature of the work will require a mix of time in the office and in the field. The intern should be prepared for full workdays in the field during the summer season, sometimes consecutive days. The internship will begin on May 20th and run for 11 weeks, ending around August 11th. Interns should anticipate checking in to park housing beginning on Friday, May 17th. For a student with interest in both cultural resource management and interpretation, a hybrid position blending aspects of both opportunities (see also the Manassas NBP Interpretation position description) is also a possibility.
SKILLS AND INTERESTS DESIRED:
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment in a collaborative and independent capacity
- Attention to detail in all aspects of the duties and responsibilities
- Interest in cultural resource management or associated fields (i.e. archeology, historic architecture, etc.)
- Knowledge of 19th century Virginia history and the American Civil War
- Interest in vernacular historic structures, cultural landscapes, or monuments
- Oral and written communication skills (reports, social media, etc.)
- Research (primary and secondary sources) skills in both remote and physical archives/locations
- Proficiency with the Basic Microsoft Office Suite
TRANSPORTATION: Vehicle required (Park housing and grocery stores are not within reasonable walking distance).
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Manassas National Battlefield park is situated approximately 25 miles west of Washington D.C. in the Piedmont region of Virginia in both Fairfax and Prince William Counties. The park encompasses over 5,000 acres of historic landscape upon which the battles of First and Second Manassas were fought during the American Civil War. The park contains numerous historic resources and structures including three wartime houses as well as nearly pristinely preserved historic landscape features of the 19th century piedmont farmsteads. The park has 25 permanent employees across all divisions and numerous seasonal employees and interns throughout the year.
The park is located approximately 5 miles north of the City of Manassas with numerous retail stores, grocery stores, gyms, hospitals, and restaurant locations within immediate proximity to the park. Because of the accelerated growth rate of the surrounding area, the preservation and protection of the park’s resources and values has become even more important to the NPS and the general public.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: The park has three fully furnished housing units in the park that the intern may reside in. The housing units have all necessary amenities (including laundry) and meet the standards to be audibly and visually accessible. The park housing will be shared housing and placement will be determined by the needs of the park.
COMPENSATION: Free Shared Housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Museum Education and Interpretation
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This opportunity at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will provide students a broad introduction to various aspects of small museum work, focusing particularly on the operational side of museum practice and programming.
The intern will work in the following areas for during their internship which can be tailored to fit what works best for them:
- Programming – Intern will receive an introduction to education and interpretive theory and gain practical experience in creating and leading Museum and walking tours.
- Visitor Experience – Intern will shadow Guest Services staff in dealing with daily inquiries and issues with a focus on customer service. Intern will have the opportunity to interact directly with guests as they staff the front desk.
- Digital Interpretation – Intern will learn about and participate in the digital side of Museum through social media posts, live streams, and video planning, recording, and production.
- Original Research – Intern will have the chance to conduct original research to author and publish articles for the Museum blog or journal.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Strong writing, researching, and public speaking skills
- Exemplary customer service, public speaking, and conversational skills.
- Interest in nonprofit museum work
- Attention to detail
- Ability and willingness to work outside
- Familiarity with 19th century material culture, military decorum, and/or civilian life.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is located in the heart of downtown Frederick, MD. The Museum’s exhibits tell the story of Civil War medicine and how it continues to impact our lives today. By working to connect the past to the present through the story of Civil War medicine, we aim to show the importance of learning from our past.
HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS: Gettysburg College Summer Housing
TRANSPORTATION: Since no housing is available near the Museum, a personal vehicle is required. There is a parking garage next to the Museum for which the Museum can provide a parking pass.
COMPENSATION: Free on-campus housing and $3,000 Willen Internship stipend
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Curatorial Assistant
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Resource Management
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This internship is in the division of Resource Management and will be supervised by the Museum Curator. Duties include assisting with the following tasks:
Deaccessioning (the process of permanently removing National Park Service (NPS) museum collections from a NPS unit’s ownership and custody), cataloging or classifying objects, and transcribing original documents. The intern will learn how to handle museum objects and assist with exhibit housekeeping duties. Students who are interested in delivering public programming and historical research can conduct research and present information to the public using artifacts to tell stories of people and events at Petersburg. Students who have skills in ARCGIS StoryMap creation may have a unique opportunity to create a StoryMap highlighting the experiences of soldiers and incorporating museum objects/archival collection. Although many prospective interns inquire about the feasibility of putting together an exhibit, the park rarely can implement new displays, so this is unlikely.
The nature of work at Petersburg National Battlefield requires an interdisciplinary approach to the management of the park’s cultural resources. As such, the intern will have the opportunity to interact with the park’s archaeologist, biologist, interns, and other NPS staff. Flexibility and a willingness to assist others is key.
The intern will work one week 8 hours Monday-Friday and the second week 8 hours Monday-Thursday. The student will be off on Memorial Day and Independence Day. The nature of the work will require a mix of time in the office and in the field. The selected intern will move in on Monday, May 20 between 9:00AM and 3:00 PM. The first day of work will be Tuesday, May 21 and will end Wednesday, August 7. The intern will move out of housing on Thursday, August 8, 2023, between 7:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. Selected interns must have a resume that includes the full contact information for their supervisors/references and hours worked at specific jobs. The intern will need to complete a Federal background check (paid for by the park and worked out between the intern and the museum curator at Petersburg). This is required in order to access government computer systems which is required for the internship.
SKILLS AND INTERESTS DESIRED:
- Knowledge of and interest in the Civil War
- Ability to work well with and around the public and other park employees / volunteers / interns
- Interest in museum studies and/or curatorial and archival practices
- Ability to read and decipher historic handwriting
- Desire to convey interpretive messages to the public digitally or in person using museum objects
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment in a collaborative and independent capacity
- Attention to detail in all aspects of the duties and responsibilities
- Oral and written communication skills (reports, social media, etc.)
- Research (primary and secondary sources) skills in both remote and physical archives/locations
- Proficiency with the Basic Microsoft Office Suite
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
TRANSPORTATION: Student is required to have their own car or other reliable means of transportation to and from work.
BATTLEFIELD/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Petersburg National Battlefield was created in order to commemorate the campaign and siege and defense of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864 and 1865. The Park is spread out across 32 miles from the Grant’s Headquarters at City Point unit to Five Forks Battlefield. Petersburg, Virginia (a city of approximately 32,000) is 30 minutes south of Richmond, and 2 hours from Washington, DC, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Grocery stores, a shopping mall, and a movie theater are located within 1-3 miles of housing.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: There are several buildings available for housing, used predominantly to house the summer seasonal staff and interns. At present, the park generally uses two non-historic buildings for housing which are located near park headquarters and the law enforcement office.
The housing provides no frills and does not include cable or satellite TV and no internet access; however, the house is already wired for it and the intern along with other staff in the house can make arrangements to have cable and/or internet access for the summer if they desire. Housing is co-ed and the intern can expect to have their own private bedroom and shared bathroom. All rooms are furnished. Housing has a washer and dryer which are free for use by the intern. In all houses, the bedroom doors have locks. Interns will need to bring all bedding -- sheets, blankets, pillows, and pillowcases – as well as towels and washcloths. The kitchen has a stove, refrigerator, small appliances, cookware, cooking utensils, plates, cups, knives, forks, and spoons. The house’s cleanliness must be maintained by the intern and other staff during occupancy. The intern must clean their space before moving out.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend.
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Education Intern
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Division of Interpretation
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is a relatively new park in the developmental stages. As a result, there are many opportunities for the selected intern to develop skills, opportunities, and resume builders based on the needs and interests of the intern. In previous years, Pohanka interns have worked behind the scenes to develop exhibits, create youth activities for the park's Junior Ranger program, and even do public facing interpretive programs and community events. This is a unique opportunity to craft an internship experience around areas that you would like to grow in for your own professional growth development.
The park will work with the selected intern to finalize exact starting and ending dates, but ideally, the intern would be on site by late May and stay through early August, 2024.
SKILLS DESIRED
- Willingness to engage with members of the public on potentially challenging subjects
- Basic knowledge about the process of Emancipation as a consequence of US Military victory during and after the Civil War.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a team
- Strong writing and speaking skills.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
TRANSPORTATION: A personal vehicle is required. Park sites are located scattered throughout Beaufort County, South Carolina, and there is very limited public transportation or ride share services available.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is a fairly new unit of the NPS, just established in 2017. The park is comprised of three locations – A visitor center in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, the campus of the Penn Center on St. Helena Island, and the site of Camp Saxton in Port Royal. The park works with a wide variety of community partners to interpret the story of Port Royal Experiment during the Civil War and at the dawn of Reconstruction. Park partners include Penn Center, the town of Port Royal, the US Navy, the congregation of Brick Baptist Church, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, and a wide variety of other organizations or local institutions.
The park is located in and around Beaufort, South Carolina, on South Carolina’s Sea Islands about halfway between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. During the summer it is very hot, humid, and buggy.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Interns will be housed in the student housing complex, at the University of South Carolina, Beaufort.
COMPENSATION:Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Museum Education and Operations
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: This opportunity at Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center provides students with a broad introduction to various aspects of small, non-profit museum work. Focus is particularly strong on museum operations and museum education/interpretation (both on-site and distance).
The intern will work in the following areas for approximately equal periods during his/her internship:
- Programming – Intern will receive an introduction to education and interpretive theory and gain practical experience in delivering content. The intern will also assist in conducting research and building modules for our on-site and digital education repository.
- Visitor Experience – Intern will shadow Visitor Services staff in dealing with daily inquiries and issues with a focus on customer service. Intern will have the opportunity to interact directly with guests as he/she builds their skills.
- Marketing and Events– Intern will gain an introductory understanding of the role of print and social media marketing and relationship-building in attracting visitors. Intern will assist Marketing staff in planning and promoting annual the Battle of Gettysburg anniversary (July), Legacy Weekend (September), and other special summer events.
- Development – Intern will learn about the importance of donor relations, fundraising, and endowment in maintaining museum operations.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Strong writing and public speaking skills
- Exemplary customer service, public speaking, and conversational skills.
- Interest in nonprofit museum work
- Attention to detail
- Ability and willingness to work outside
- Familiarity with 19th-century history a plus
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center is located on the campus of the United Lutheran Seminary—Gettysburg Campus. The Museum opened in July 2013 with exhibits on the first day of the battle, the care of the wounded, and issues of faith and freedom in the 19th century. The Museum is open to the public 7 days a week during spring, summer and fall.
HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS: Seminary campus housing
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $2,500 Keehn Internship stipend.
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Summer internships revolve around supporting the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, to be held on the National Mall June 26-30 and July 3-7. The theme of this year’s festival is Indigenous Voices of the Americas: Celebrating the National Museum of the American Indian. Internship opportunities are available in production and operations; curatorial research and planning; participant and volunteer coordination; social media and public relations; web production; graphic design; foodways; visitor surveys; accessibility; technical support; audiovisual documentation; and administration. Students from Native American and Indigenous backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The internship will begin in late May/early June and continue for ten weeks. Specific start and end dates are negotiable, but must be made with the available date range for housing in mind. Interns will be expected to work Festival weekends and the July 4th holiday, and should be comfortable working outdoors in high heat and humidity, and in a fast-paced environment amidst large crowds of people.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Interest in Indigenous expressive culture
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Comfortable working in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications
- Organized, with a strong attention to detail
- Flexibility, adaptability, and aptitude for creative problem solving
- Strong collaborative skills
TRANSPORTATION: A car is not necessary, as the museum and the provided housing are within easy access of the city’s public transit system.
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage is located downtown Washington, DC at 7th St. and Maryland Ave., SW, two blocks south of the National Mall.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Housing will be provided through the Lutheran Colleges Washington Semester (LCWS) Summer Residential Program. The student will live in a shared apartment on the LCWS campus in Rosslyn, VA (within walking distance of a Metro stop). The selected student will be responsible for completing the housing application process with LCWS in a timely manner.
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $3,000 stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS: 1
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Due to limited partner availability, INTERVIEWS FOR THIS POSITION WILL BE CAPPED AT 12 STUDENTS; if more than 12 should apply, applicants will be pre-screened by CWI staff to determine which 12 will interview with the host site representative.
The student selected for this position MUST BE WILLING to commit to completing the Smithsonian’s own internal application process; the application to the Smithsonian itself will be due MARCH 1, 2024, and can be completed online at https://solaa.si.edu/solaa/#/public. The selected candidate will need to provide a resume, unofficial transcript, and statement of interest (but not letters of recommendation).
POSITION TITLE: Pohanka Intern – Special Collections and College Archives
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Pohanka Intern in Special Collections and College Archives will be introduced to a variety of skills including processing manuscript collections, cataloging, transcription, and digitization.¿ The intern will be trained in basic preservation/conservation and material handling techniques as well as archival theory and practice.¿ They will create a finding aid and gain experience working with metadata and digital humanities tools. The Pohanka Intern will be part of a cohort of summer interns in Special Collections. There will be some group work as well as individual projects. Care will be taken to connect the intern with projects that match their historical interests, whenever possible.
The intern will support our public history mission by providing care and improved access to our primary sources. The internship includes opportunities to work with our Civil War related collections including letters, diaries, orders, and other documents.¿ Tasks will include enhancing current descriptions, re-housing, digitization of selected material, and creating cataloging records in MUSCAT Plus.¿ Opportunities to catalog regimental histories and learn about the conservation of Civil War era books are also possible.¿ The intern can assist with open houses and tours of exhibits within the Special Collections Reading Room for alumni and visitors.
For one week of the summer (June 6-11), the intern will be assigned full time to our CWI partners to provide assistance with the Civil War Institute Summer Conference.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Strong writing and communication skills
- A friendly and professional demeanor
- Interest in historical research
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work independently
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
MUSSELMAN LIBRARY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT: Musselman Library is committed to creating, through our learning spaces, programs, services, collections, and policies, an environment that supports, values, and respects everyone in the Gettysburg College community. At Gettysburg, diversity includes but is not limited to age, country of origin, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, geography, learning differences, political beliefs, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic level.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: The Special Collections and College Archives is located on the 4th floor of Musselman Library.
Special Collections and College Archives is home to the College’s collection of rare books, letters, diaries, College publications, photographs, historic maps, memorabilia, artifacts, oral histories, and media. The College Archives includes documents related to the history of the College. Significant portions of our manuscript, book, artifact, and vertical file collections are focused on the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. Special Collections and College Archives supports research on soldiers, townspeople, and College students/faculty who witnessed the effects of the Civil War. Our collections promote an understanding of the Civil War Era and the commemoration of its memory.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: Gettysburg College Summer Housing
COMPENSATION: Free housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1
POSITION TITLE: Intern – Education/Programs/Collections/Archives/Research
DIVISION/DEPARTMENT: Department of Collections and Public Engagement
NATURE OF WORK/PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: Special projects relating to various aspects of public history including museum education and programming, social media, collections and archival management, archaeology, and research will be available. Specific duties will be arranged by mutual agreement between the site and the selected candidate. Previous Stratford Hall interns have worked on researching and re-housing objects in the museum collection, preparing and updating artifact records in the collections database, installing and updating exhibits, creating on-line exhibits for Stratford’s website, assisting with mobile and digital interpretation projects, helping to update interpretation to reflect current research and findings, scanning and organizing archival image collections, organizing archival maps and blueprints, compiling research on the Lee family from other institutions, and transcribing Lee documents and uploading them to the Lee Family Digital Archive website/database.
SKILLS DESIRED:
- Interest in museum education and programming, material culture, archives and/or collections and archives management and research
- • Good communication skills
- • Comfortable with interacting with the public
- • Ability to work independently
CLASS YEAR PREFERRED: No preference
TRANSPORTATION: Student is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to have their own car.
PARK/ORGANIZATION SETTING: Stratford Hall is in rural Westmoreland County on the beautiful Northern Neck of Virginia. Westmoreland County is a 45-minute drive from Fredericksburg, two hours from Washington, DC, and 90 minutes from Richmond. Stratford is approximately a 15-minute drive to Food Lion and a 35-minute drive to the nearest Walmart.
Stratford Hall is a National Historic Landmark and 18th-century plantation museum which sets on over 1,800 acres with 2.5 miles of Potomac River waterfront. The Great House and related dependency buildings were constructed beginning in the late 1730s and are among a handful of exceptionally intact survivals from colonial Virginia. Stratford was the home of the Lee family of Virginia, including Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee, the only two brothers to sign the Declaration of Independence and the birthplace of Robert E. Lee. The property was also home to multiple generations of enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and labor for the benefit of the Lee Family throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition to its rich history, Stratford also features a reconstructed 18th-century gristmill, historic gardens, miles of walking trails, a man-made mill pond for fishing, and beach for fossil hunting.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS: The intern will be housed onsite in an air-conditioned guest facility with Wi-Fi and kitchenette. Laundry facilities are a 10-minute drive off-site in Montross, Virginia.
COMPENSATION: Free shared housing and $2,500 Pohanka stipend
NUMBER OF AVAILABLE POSITIONS:1
Eligibility Information
The Funded Internship program is open to all matriculated Gettysburg College students regardless of major, although first-year, sophomore, and junior students receive priority in the selection process, and is administered according to Gettysburg College’s nondiscrimination policy, details of which can be found on the Admissions/Financial Aid website.