Individual Placement - Community Stewardship and Engagement Participant en The Student Conservation Association

Position Summary 

The Community Stewardship and Engagement Team is excited to welcome four new interns to our team.

The interns will support Program Managers with the planning, communication, delivery and operations of community and/or volunteer programs at park sites within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Through our partnerships and programs, we serve our parklands and engage communities that have been historically underrepresented or have faced barriers to accessing nature, bringing awareness to racial, social, and environmental justice. While interns will collaborate across focus areas, one intern will be focused on sustainable gardening with volunteers, one on ecological restoration and volunteer management, and two on community engagement and outreach. The intern will be matched with a focus area based on their interest and passion.

·        Placement 1: Volunteer Programs and Engagement Programs at Alcatraz Historic Gardens and Black Point Historic Garden: The intern will focus on supporting volunteer garden programs at both gardens. The intern will engage visitors and community groups for education on sustainable gardening, garden history, and hands-on gardening.

·       Placement 2: Community Stewardship Programs: The intern will focus on supporting our community stewardship programs for local community groups, community colleges, and high schools. Our programs include habitat restoration (ex: weeding and planting), hands-on experiential learning, and community building activities at National Park sites. We are looking for someone excited to connect park visitors with nature, and to learn and practice skills in land stewardship and inclusive volunteer program management.

·        Placements 3 and 4: Community Engagement and Outreach Programs: The intern will support a variety of engagement and outreach programs, activities and events that connect people to nature and our parklands both in the park and in community spaces. These programs are often designed and co-created with community leaders to reflect and respond to community needs. Examples include events held at libraries, programs with community organizations, and nature pop-ups or tabling events using our mobile outreach vehicles- the Roving Ranger and the Tam Van.

Location 

San Francisco, CA

Schedule 

February 3, 2026 - July 25, 2026

Full-time, 32 hours a week, Tuesdays - Saturdays

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

·        Supports multiple community programs per week and assists with planning, content development, organization and facilitation. This includes set-up, coordination of food and refreshments, gathering activity supplies, loading and unloading vehicles with supplies, tools and supplies maintenance, office tidiness, audiovisual needs, etc.

·        Programs can include (and will vary depending on internship placement): habitat restoration volunteer programs, garden maintenance, nature-based walks and talks, tabling events, story times, queer- and trans-centered programming, cultural celebrations, community science activities, nature-based arts and crafts.

·       Supports the development and implementation of educational activities and interpretive materials for programs

·        Supports team in building safe, welcoming and accessible experiences for participants

·        Supports communication and outreach materials for programs

·        Assists with tracking and reporting on participant and program data

·        Assists with inspection and maintenance of program vehicle

·        Participate in meetings, workshops and discussions with staff and interns

·        Participate in job related trainings that include topics of safety; diversity, equity, and inclusion; workforce skills development; job search essentials; leadership; and field specific technical skills.

·        By end of internship, present learnings and/or design final project or program

·        Additional responsibilities for Gardens Volunteer and Service Intern:

o  Supports in the care for all garden areas utilizing the best practices of horticulture; this includes weeding, efficient irrigation, fertilizing, planting, propagation, composting, erosion control, and pruning.

o  Learns garden preservation, elements of garden design and record keeping, aspects of garden management.

·        Additional responsibilities for Community Stewardship Intern:

o  Assists in the maintenance of native landscapes through weeding, planting, watering, and mulching.

o  Develops knowledge of local ecology and shares it with visitors and volunteers in engaging and interactive ways.

Marginal Duties 

• Other duties, as assigned.

Required Qualifications 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

·        Interest in learning about national parks, love of the outdoors and curious about our local ecology, environmental issues, climate change; eager to learn and share information with others.

·        Interest in building a safe environment for park visitors who may have little experience in the outdoors

·        Interest in developing public speaking and visitor engagement skills

·        Excited to represent the Parks Conservancy and other partners in a positive and professional manner. Responds to inquiries from the public in a helpful and friendly manner.

·        Interest in developing community, youth and volunteer management skills with emphasis on training, supervision, and leading groups and individual in planned activities and programs.

·        Interest in developing engaging and creative educational and interpretive materials for programs and experiences

·        Energetic and self-motivated; ability to work independently once provided direction; willing to ask questions or for support

·        Good communication skills and respect for others. Responds to texts and emails in a timely manner

·        Enthusiasm for working with a diversity of people with different backgrounds, ethnicity, races, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints

·        Reliable and punctual

·        Ability to learn basic computer skills

·        Multi-cultural/multi-lingual skills are a plus

Education and/or Experience:

• High school degree or equivalent experience

• We value and encourage candidates from all backgrounds, ethnicity, races, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints to apply.

Certifications or Licenses:

·        Valid Driver’s License and clean DMV driving record. Position requires frequent driving.

·        For specific community engagement and outreach programs, willingness to learn and drive a retrofitted van (Roving Ranger and Tam Van)

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Hours 

32 per week

Living Accommodations 

Not provided

Compensation  

Living allowance - $640/week

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Not required

Additional Benefits 

Interpretive Skills

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Application Instructions

Please include a short cover letter with your resume indicating which Individual Placement you are most interested in.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.