Interpretation Internship – ONSITE – First Ladies National Historic Site

Dates: May 25 2026 August 10 2026 (11 weeks)
Compensation: $688 per week
Medical Insurance: Not provided
Application Due: March 1st 2026

The Latino Heritage Internship Program seeks to engage young professionals in natural resource careers. Applicants must meet the following additional requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 or up to 35 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 recommended for this position.

Position Description

The site consists of two buildings: the Visitor Center and the Saxton House. The Visitor Center is a small museum featuring exhibits on First Ladies where visitors can explore at their own pace. The Saxton House the historic home of Ida Saxton and President William McKinley is typically accessible by guided tour only.

During summer 2026 due to an ongoing HVAC project the Visitor Center will be closed most days giving visitors the rare opportunity to explore the Saxton House at their own pace. Interpretive staff will be stationed inside the home to answer questions and present interpretive programs about the McKinley and Saxton families. Last year an intern from this program conducted meticulous research on the staff who worked and lived in the home. The 2026 intern will use that information to craft interpretive programs and engage directly with thousands of visitors.

Responsibilities

The Interpretation Interns main responsibilities will include:

• Research and develop an interpretive program focused on the staff who lived and worked in the Saxton House and served the McKinley and Saxton families including domestic and medical staff who cared for Ida McKinley
• Incorporate existing research into audience-centered interpretive programming
• Present interpretive programs regularly to visitors within the Saxton House
• Lead guided tours of the Saxton House and engage visitors in meaningful dialogue
• Support on-site interpretation during periods of increased visitor access
• Prepare and deliver a final presentation of the interpretive program to NPS staff and partner organization staff
• Use park resources to develop program materials and presentation components

Qualifications

• Relevant majors: History Public History Interpretation Museum Studies Education or a related field
• Ability to research independently
• Friendly and able to engage with people of all backgrounds and abilities
• Creativity and strong storytelling skills
• Comfort with public speaking and engaging visitors in a historic setting
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with interpretive staff
• Interest in inclusive storytelling and interpreting lesser-known historical narratives
• Strong organizational and communication skills

Learning Goals

• Interpretive skills development
• Program facilitation
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Fundamentals of interpretation

About the Site

First Ladies National Historic Site is located in downtown Canton Ohio a small city with close access to necessities. There are more than ten grocery stores within a five-mile radius and a wide variety of restaurants. Summer weather in Northeast Ohio can vary with temperatures ranging from the low 70s to the upper 90s.

Canton has a metropolitan population of approximately 404422 and is located 60 miles south of Cleveland and 30 miles south of Akron. The city is known for the National Football Hall of Fame its thriving arts district and its connection to President William McKinley and First Ladies National Historic Site. Public transportation is provided by SARTA and cell phone and internet service are consistent throughout the area.

Despite its urban setting Canton offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Stark Parks manages 15 parks and four lakes with over 120 miles of hiking and biking trails. About a 50-minute drive north is Cuyahoga Valley National Park offering 33000 acres of outdoor activities. An hour north is Lake Erie in Cleveland providing opportunities for kayaking fishing and motor boating.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours toward Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below for more information.

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.