Placements in this role assist with youth programs, visitor engagement, and educational outreach. Through hands-on work with park staff, you’ll gain experience in interpretation, education, communication, and digital media, all while helping foster stewardship and appreciation for public lands. You’ll also have opportunities to build confidence working with diverse audiences and to develop practical skills that translate directly into careers in parks, education, and public service. This position offers a meaningful chance to contribute to the mission of the National Park Service while learning in a truly unique setting.
Location
Bartlett Cove, AK
Schedule
May 25, 2026 - September 12, 2026
Key Duties and Responsibilities
· Help visitors plan their park experience and provide information about park features, resources, and safety.
· Engage visitors in ways that encourage personal connections to the park’s stories, places, and values.
· Support interpretive and educational programming that promotes stewardship and inspires learning.
· Assist rangers with youth programs, including preparation, facilitation, and logistical support.
· Help ensure youth and education programs run smoothly,
· Support pre-visit tasks such as mail-outs, testing virtual connections, maintaining records, and recording educational demonstrations.
· Assist with developing and presenting educational content for youth and general audiences.
· Respond to student inquiries by email and letter.
· Update and maintain student outreach materials and support planning for summer day-camp activities.
· Participate in community outreach activities, including tabling events, Berry Picking Day, and Fishing Day.
· May provide interpretive talks or programs onboard cruise ships, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of park resources while traveling through the area.
· Work schedules may include early-morning start times, especially during peak summer activity. Sometimes as early as 5am.
What You Will Gain
• Practical experience in interpretation, education, and public engagement.
• Training and mentorship from experienced park staff.
• Opportunities to build skills in public speaking, youth programming, and visitor communication.
• Experience working with diverse audiences, from local youth to international visitors.
• Exposure to digital media tools, including web and social media content creation.
• The chance to work in one of America’s most unique natural environments while contributing to meaningful visitor experiences.
Marginal Duties
Media and Digital Engagement Responsibilities
• Contribute writing, photography, or videography for the park’s social media channels.
• Assist in maintaining, editing, and creating education content for the park’s website (nps.gov) and the NPS Mobile App.
• Organize and catalog photos and videos in the park’s media archive
Required Qualifications
· Interest in working outdoors
· Willingness to work with children 3-16 years old
· Driver's license
This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.
Preferred Qualifications
· Experience working with young people
· Experience in assisting with, developing or leading conservation education programs or closely related programs.
· Educational study in related topics including Environmental Science, Conservation, Forestry, Natural History, Biology, or Education.
Hours
40 per week
Living Accommodations
Private or shared room (depending on availability) in park housing, located in Bartlett Cove, Alaska with a shared kitchen. There is no cell phone service in Bartlett Cove, but housing does have internet included.
There is a small grocery store in the nearby town of Gustavus, Alaska. There are some open restaurants in the summer, but very few local amenities. Park staff will work with you to ensure you are fully prepared to live in this remote area.
Compensation
$600/week living allowance
$1,600 one-time roundtrip travel stipend
$500 duty-related reimbursements for gear and training stipend
Housing provided
All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
Personal Vehicle Information
Not needed
Additional Benefits
AmeriCorps: Not Eligible
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and adults.
Our program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and community green spaces at various locations across the country.
After working with the SCA, our members emerge with increased environmental awareness, social responsibility and leadership skills.
As America’s most effective youth conservation service organization, the SCA transforms lives by empowering young people of all backgrounds to plan, act, and lead while they protect and restore our natural and cultural resources.
Founded in 1957, the SCA is dedicated to building the next generation of conservation leaders while inspiring lifelong protection of the environment and our communities.
SCA's mission is to build the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of our environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.
