College Internships – Creating Future Park Leadership

The interns you see in our parks today are the park managers of the future. College internships provided through the support of Zion Forever Project are exposed to a wide variety of park operations, including working at some of the busiest and iconic contact stations in Zion Canyon, Kolob Canyons, Cedar Breaks, and the unique historic showcase that is Pipe Spring. These interns assist with roves and visitor contacts on trails, present formal interpretive and educational programs on such relevant topics as geology, biology, human history, night sky preservation, and more. Interns who participate and work in our parks can learn not only how to develop their own personal connections with these scenic and historic landscapes, but also how to foster a deeper sense of connection and stewardship with the visiting public.  

Some examples of recent benefits provided by IIC interns to our parks include: developing a standard of Dark Sky programming at Cedar Breaks and Kolob Canyons; new and innovative program plans, which can be used by future interns and park staff at all park units; collection of visitor use data, which is used by park administrators; and, in the case of Pipe Spring, supporting garden and livestock needs, which are some of the most engaging aspects of a visit to the monument.   

Future interns will continue to sustain these projects, and there is additional opportunity to create even more engagement with the public in years to come, including with the development of the Zion National Park Discovery Center. 

Working with Southern Utah University, particularly their Intergovernmental Agency Internship program (IIC), ensures that the internships reflect the dedication between students and these parks to provide an exemplary opportunity for professional growth and a wealth of experience.  There has been close cooperation between staff at the IIC and individual internship managers at the parks, such that these interns are sure to receive both an educational element as well as a practical experience that will serve these public lands well into the future.