Unpaid Internships available for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at Rocky Gap State Park
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is excited to offer students the opportunity to fulfill internship requirements at Rocky Gap State Park. We are looking for motivated students with diverse backgrounds to assist a variety of unpaid internships. The opportunities include:
A. Interpretation- Assist Park Ranger and staff in interpretive programs, staffing interpretive center, Aviary, creating displays and exhibits, office work and other. Individuals will have the opportunity to work with live creatures, school groups and community programs developing a wide-range of interpretive skills while gaining meaningful experiences.
B. Volunteer Management- Assist park staff in the management of the Volunteer Team Inc., a nonprofit organization comprised of Green Ridge State Forest, Dan's Mountain State Park and Rocky Gap volunteers. Intern will be responsible for new members and providing relavent opportunities within the Team as well as enhancing the newly organized Green Ridge volunteer group. Involvement within the Membership committee is also expected, assisting park staff in the development of this newly developing committee. Attendance at all meetings is required. Volunteers are involved in all aspects of park operations and accue an average of 27,000 hours per calendar year. Approximately 250 volunteers are signed up with the organization.
C. Office Management- Intern will communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders and address complaints. Will answer telephones, direct calls and take messages. Will compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities. Intern will operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems and personal computers. They will open, sort and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. Intern will deliver messages and inventory and order materials, supplies, and services.
D. Concession Management- Intern will work indoors and outdoors, mornings and evenings, weekdays and weekends, in a retail environment, with park visitors, and in food preparation. Intern will assist in management of food, boat rental and store operations. Will assist in ordering, marketing, stocking, employee mentoring, and cash register procedures.
E. IT/Website Management- Intern will work to enhance the online webpage. In addition, there is an opportunity to assist the department in searching the department’s site and addressing broken links and additional updates. The majority of this research could be done from home for 10-15 hours and on site for reporting work status and presenting the final report. The student must have experience in communications and IT systems.
F. Maintenance - Duties would include general park maintenance, mowing, trimming, cleaning restrooms, and enforcing park rules and regulations.
G. Special Event Coordination/Marketing- Responsibilities include, but are not limited to booking new and repeat business through various efforts, and working closely with vendors. Intern is responsible for the completion of contracts, communications with the customer through the process, and will be on-site during the event. Will provide staff detail events including site requirements, times, equipment, entertainment and special needs, etc. Intern will update forms and website material to best advertise site. They will keep record of all interactions with customers.
H. Natural Resource/Trail Management - Assist Park Ranger and staff with invasive species management. Work would include pulling/cutting species and removal from site. Boundary marking, trail maintenance, trail registry development and implementation. Identify and map areas of concern, organize and implement volunteer crews to work on those areas. Other duties may include aversive conditioning geese and or campground site management for nuisance behavior of wild animals. Person would need to be comfortable in using a chain saw, hand tools, carpentry tools and other equipment. Knowledge of invasives and native species necessary.
I. Grant Researcher/Writer- 10-12 hours a week for 12-16 weeks. Research can be done from anywhere in Maryland. May required 1-2 meetings at Rocky Gap. Develop a list of alternative funding sources for new projects and programs within the Department and at Rocky Gap. Also, assist with the managing current open grants. This includes educational programs, trail development, maintenance projects and needs, and other needs.
J. Special Operations Management/Emergency Services- Intern will take inventory of medical supplies and equipment and will replenish as needed. Intern would develop a relationship with local (first due) fire and rescue services to review procedures and to create Standard Operating Procedures. Will create, implement and evaluate scenarios with staff at the park. Will assist in first aid and CPR scenario training with lifeguards and Rangers. Intern will have the opportunity to create Search and Rescue scenarios for all staff and may involve local services. Will review current emergency procedures and make changes based on best practices.
K. Foreign Language (Spanish) - Intern will have the opportunity to assist with several projects which will improve staff-to-visitor communications. Intern will be assigned to a project based on the intern’s interests and area of academic concentration. Projects available include the translation of park informational hand-outs, wayside exhibits, and other park signage; the presentation of a class to familiarize park staffs with the uniqueness of Hispanic culture; the creation of a Spanish audio announcement that communicates pertinent information; a basic Spanish class to be taught to park volunteers and staff; and a park study where the student evaluates the effectiveness of current park communications for both English and Spanish speaking visitors. The intern’s projects will span across many state park operational areas such as day-use and beach operations, campground operations, interpretation, maintenance, concessions, and event planning.
L. Park Ranger/Operations - Intern will assist with park operations, information, education, interpretation, resource management, and visitor services in support of the management of natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources for the benefit of the public. This position contributes to the staffing needs of the State Park Service at Rocky Gap and Dan’s Mountain State Parks. Other duties associated with the position will also include administrative duties such as answering information requests from the public or media received through internet, mail, or telephone. The intern will have the opportunity to experience all levels of work within the state park including but not limited to interpretation, maintenance, concessions, event planning, volunteer coordination and all other duties assigned.
M. Sports Management- Intern will promote health and sports through park patron involvement in various ways. Intern will run sport competitions and will provide activities to promote health and fitness. Will use appropriate techniques for various skill levels of all visitors. Intern will have the opportunity to work with youth and adults, and will provide fitness programs in a natural setting including but not limited to the following: yoga on the beach, hiking, biking or walking tours, team building exercises, pick-up games, and other activities. Intern will research grants for a low-ropes course.
These positions are available throughout the year and are unpaid. Students are expected to work at least 150 hours and work hours are flexible. Internships are also available in semester blocks. On the job training is available for most areas. Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and three character references to the email address below. Also, the applicant is required to complete a volunteer form and student internship program application available upon request. The selection process will begin after all required materials are received and the applicant will be notified well in advance of the requested internship.
For more information or to submit the above listed documents please contact Ranger Sarah Milbourne at (301) 722-1487 or smilbourne@dnr.state.md.us.
To learn more about Rocky Gap State Park at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/rockygap.html.
Sincerely,
Sarah Milbourne
Park Ranger
Environmental Education & Interpretive Services
Rocky Gap State Park
12500 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone, MD 21530
smilbourne@dnr.state.md.us
Phone: 301-722-1487
Fax: 301-777-2058
