Acadia National Park is a great place for youth to begin thinking about careers in conservation. Together with our partners at Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute, young people can find unique opportunities to work in the outdoors. The National Park Service also has youth programs across the country. Summit StewardsFriends of Acadia Summit Stewards spend thousands of hours each summer and fall on Acadia’s summits and trails, answering visitor questions, conducting basic trail maintenance, repairing cairns, removing visitor-built cairns and rock art, responding to emergencies, communicating with park managers, and collecting social science data. Each contact that a Summit Steward makes with a visitor brings the park one step closer to a healthier ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. Stewardship AssistantFriends of Acadia Stewardship Assistants are part of a small team which maintains the trails and carriage road systems in Acadia National Park, through empowering and leading volunteers of all ages and ability levels. They lead service projects for anywhere from a half-day to a full week, as well as lead regular trail and carriage toad maintenance drop-in days three days a week throughout the season. 
Acadia Youth Conservation CorpsThe Acadia Youth Conservation Corps (AYCC) is an 8-week, non-residential summer employment opportunity for youth ages 15-18 to work, learn, play, and grow alongside their peers. Youth will accomplish needed conservation projects and gain valuable insight into their environment, including importance and nuances of conservation. The program is challenging, educational, fun, and offers participants opportunities to expand their horizons while building skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. Early Career FellowshipsOur partners at the Schoodic Institute offer early career fellowships for scientists, educators and communicators. The fellowship offer housing and an incredible in-park learning experience for those new to the working world. 
Internship OpportunitiesACE-NPS Academy Youth Conservation Corps Crew Lead Assistant (June - August)This is a 12–14-week paid position, working to support the, Acadia Youth Conservation Corp for high school youth ages 15-18 years old. Interns will develop trail maintenance and leadership development skills. They will have a diverse experience, with opportunities to work with almost every program in the park, focusing on the pillars of learn, work, play, and grow. Recruitment begins in November. Learn more at NPS Academy. 
ACE – NPS Academy Vegetation Crew Member (May-August)This position works with the NPS Vegetation crew managing invasive plants in wetland and forest ecosystems. This member participates in native plant restoration and revegetation efforts. The NPS Academy program provides job shadowing, mentoring, and career development opportunities during their time at Acadia. Recruitment begins in November. Learn more at NPS Academy 
Conservation Legacy: Programmatic Accessibililty CohortThis 12- to 20-week paid internship position is embedded fully within Acadia's busy and creative Interpretive Media Team. This person's dedicated larger focus contributes directly to significant programmatic accessibility improvements in progress across the park, such as writing detailed site descriptions of popular park destinations from the perspective of people with disabilites. Learn more at Conservation Legacy's Youth Empowerment Stewards (YES) Program 
SCA (September-December)The intern will be provided opportunities to explore a range of vegetation management programs and skilldevelopment while contributing to the restoration of the park’s natural resources, including native plant restoration, invasive plant management and forest pest management. This position bridges the vegetation restoration field season with the forest pest monitoring and management field season in late fall. Lean more at Student Conservation Association |
Last updated: April 4, 2024