Fish and Feathers Internship Program ONSITE Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park

Start/End Dates: May 11 2026 - July 31 2026
Compensation: $640 per week housing
Application Due: February 1 2026

Fish and Feathers Internship Program seeks to engage young professionals in
natural resource careers.
You must (additional requirements):

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Be between the ages of 18 - 30 years or up to 35 years if a veteran.
• Be willing to undergo a background check upon hiring.
• Have a valid drivers license and a good driving record.

*A personal vehicle is required for this position.

Position Description:

Fish and Feathers is a program funded by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered by Environment for the Americas. Our goal is to provide our national park partners with talented interns who are eager to learn and to engage with local communities. The intern will focus on supporting implementing and leading community outreach programs that focus on fishing and birding activities. The overall goal is to increase diverse community engagement with NPS partners during the program and in years to come.

Responsibilities:

• Reach out to local communities through outreach and educational activities to increase engagement in fishing and birdwatching

• Create new materials (i.e. social media educational games/activities signage etc.) to provide visitors with information about fish and birds at the NPS site

• Understand regulations regarding fishing and ethical birding and communicate this information to participants

• Establish or build upon fishing and birding programs at the NPS site

• Manage and maintain program equipment

• Host World MIgratory Bird Day Event

• Meet deadlines for Environment for the Americas program requirements.

Qualifications:

• Ability to hike and conduct field operations as part of a team and/or independently in an outdoor setting.
• Experience giving presentations and ability to learn new skills and transfer the knowledge to participants.
• Interest in learning fishing regulations and bird identification for program development and implementation.
• Ability to learn methods employed in fish and wildlife management.
• Strong interpersonal oral listening and written communication skills.
• Interest in learning new skills such as rafting canoeing and kayaking.

Major studies relevant to this position:

Successful candidates will have a background and/or coursework in the following areas or a strong interest in the outdoors with experience fishing and/or birdwatching.

• Biology
• Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences
• Ecology
• Aquaculture
• Communications/Marketing
• Environmental Science
• Recreation
• Interpretation/Education

About this Site:

The intern will be working primarily at two locations: the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and at locations within the City of Hodgenville such as McDougal Lake. This setting provides a rich backdrop for connecting communities with nature allowing the intern to fully immerse themselves in both the local culture and natural resources.

Hodgenville is located at an elevation of approximately 600 feet above sea level offering a mix of rolling hills and flat terrain ideal for both birding and fishing activities. The region experiences a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summers can be warm and humid with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-90s degrees Fahrenheit. Awareness of local insects such as mosquitoes and wildlife including deer and snakes is essential. The work may involve hiking on uneven terrain or navigating around water bodies necessitating careful movement and situational awareness. Candidates should be comfortable working outdoors in diverse weather conditions.

The nearest large grocery store is approximately 15 miles away in the town of Elizabethtown providing essential supplies and local goods. Local smaller stores are within five miles in Hodgenville. Medical facilities including urgent care and pharmacies are also located in Hodgenville. Local amenities such as restaurants parks and recreational areas are accessible within a short drive promoting a supportive environment for the interns work and community engagement.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours towards Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below on information about:

Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority (PLC)
The Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority is a special hiring authority available to qualifying interns. The intern must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old inclusive or a veteran up to age 35 and complete 640 hours of work on an appropriate conservation project to be eligible for this hiring authority. Upon successful completion of the PLC project(s) the intern is eligible for two years to be hired non-competitively into a federal seasonal term or permanent position. The applicant must apply to a PLC-eligible position advertised on and selected off a non-competitive certificate of eligibility. For more information see DOI Personnel Bulletinsand 17-03.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employmentand prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.