1 answer
Heidi
Student
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
1
Question
Updated
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Where is the best place to find internships for a natural resource major? #Fall25
I am a wildlife ecology major and I'm interested in learning about possible internships and volunteer opportunities.
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1 answer
Simon Bird
Environmental Educator & Undergraduate Advisor
9
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Simon’s Answer
Hi Heidi,
The good news is that you have many options to explore; the challenge is deciding exactly what you would like to do and where, and navigating those potential opportunities. Depending on your location, you can start by looking at different sectors and organizations that engage in relevant work: city, state and federal agencies; non-profits; and education and outreach institutions. Wildlife management and conservation work is collaborative and diverse. NGOs may be the place to start since many have established volunteer and intern programs you can join and apply to. Volunteering first helps you become competitive for both paid and non-paid internships with the same non-profit. For example, I have connected undergraduates with invasive species, public outreach and informal education, and citizen science monitoring volunteer positions that have led to internships. I suggest you start by making yourself a list of the type of work you would like to get experience with, seeing who might offer opportunities for you to start getting experience and even just having a conversation with, and monitoring internship announcements. Your college career services and teaching faculty should also be able to help connect you with potential organizations, as well as providing coaching and advice for how to successfully apply and reach out to potential intern employers.
Good luck!
The good news is that you have many options to explore; the challenge is deciding exactly what you would like to do and where, and navigating those potential opportunities. Depending on your location, you can start by looking at different sectors and organizations that engage in relevant work: city, state and federal agencies; non-profits; and education and outreach institutions. Wildlife management and conservation work is collaborative and diverse. NGOs may be the place to start since many have established volunteer and intern programs you can join and apply to. Volunteering first helps you become competitive for both paid and non-paid internships with the same non-profit. For example, I have connected undergraduates with invasive species, public outreach and informal education, and citizen science monitoring volunteer positions that have led to internships. I suggest you start by making yourself a list of the type of work you would like to get experience with, seeing who might offer opportunities for you to start getting experience and even just having a conversation with, and monitoring internship announcements. Your college career services and teaching faculty should also be able to help connect you with potential organizations, as well as providing coaching and advice for how to successfully apply and reach out to potential intern employers.
Good luck!