Basic Info

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP), created by the National Park Service (NPS) and administered in partnership with Environment for the Americas(EFTA), is designed to provide internship opportunities to young adults in diverse professional fields in the National Park Service. The program helps raise awareness of our national parks and historic sites, their accessibility, and the need for the Latino community’s involvement in their preservation and in meaningful and relevant science-based internships.

For this purpose, highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students will be selected to work alongside NPS historians, interpreters, archaeologists, architects, researchers, biologists, communicators, and other professionals in different national  parks, offices, and historical sites throughout the nation. Students will have substantive assignments in their areas of study, work closely with NPS staff day-to-day, and receive additional mentoring and support through the program partners.

LHIP is a collaboration between NPS and EFTA. Programs such as LHIP allow the NPS to invest in cost-efficient strategies that introduce students to career fields through internships at national parks. These opportunities help entry-level young professionals enter the workforce.

Program goals and objectives:

  • Introduces young adults to career fields through career developmental internship opportunities in the NPS with an emphasis on natural and cultural resource research and management, interpretation, public affairs.
  • Develops mission critical internship projects that support the NPS goals and objectives at national parks and offices. 
  • Collaborates with Latino conservation organizations to help expand NPS outreach into Latino communities nationally and develop sustainable relationships.
  • Help to establishes a pipeline for converting talented Latino students into career positions in the NPS.

To learn more about the American Latino history & heritage in the National Parks click on the link below:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/tellingallamericansstories/americanlatinoheritage.htm

The Latino Heritage Internship Program is offered at national parks across the United States and its territories. Some experiences are offered at remote parks, such as Lassen Volcano National Park, while others are located in cities and urban areas, such as Salem and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site. 

LHIP is a partnership with the National Park Service and Environment for the Americas (EFTA). We collaborate to provide unique, paid internship opportunities for participants. EFTA serves as the program administrator, from promotion of available positions, to recruitment of qualified students and recent graduates. EFTA also provides additional career training through webinars and special activities.

 

In addition, we organize the following:

  • Regular communication with participants through the duration of the internship.
  • All program logistics, including travel;
  • A post-internship career and leadership workshop;
  • Stipends that are paid every two weeks;
  • Distribution of intern materials, including supplies, uniforms, and manuals;
  • Regular trainings and meetings throughout the internship via Zoom.

Applicant review will begin on February 7th, when the application period closes. Our timeline is as follows:

  • Dec 1st, 2022 – Feb 6th, 2023: The intern application period is open
  • Dec 1st, 2022 EFTA Internship Programs Career Fair #1: General Information About Internships
  • Dec 8th, 2022 EFTA Internships Programs Career Fair #2: Hear All About It (Former Interns)
  • Dec 15th, 2022 EFTA Internships Programs Career Fair #3: Submitting Your Application
  • Jan 12th, 2023 EFTA Internships Programs Career Fair #4: Hear All About It (Former Interns)
  • Jan 19th, 2023 EFTA Internships Programs Career Fair #5: Housing- Living in a Park
  • Feb 6th – 27th, 2023: Interview qualified candidates 
  • March 1st, 2023: Parks receive applications from top candidates 
  • March 14th- Mar 24th, 2022: Parks interview top candidates 
  • Mar 27th-28th, 2023: Selected candidates are offered positions
  • April 5th, 2023: Applicant deadline to accept or decline position
  • April 20th, 2023 Pre-internship webinar: Welcome/Orientation webinar for interns
  • May 15th, 2023: LHIP Conservation Fellows begin for 12-week participants 
  • May 22rd, 2023: Official launch of LHIP PLC-program for 11-weeks
  • July 30th – Aug 3rd, 2023: Career and Leadership Workshop

The National Park Service is a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, it safeguards these special places and shares their stories with more than 330 million visitors every year.

The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The park service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

 

Learn more:

What We Do (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

 

Environment for the Americas’ mission is to connect diverse people to nature and bird conservation through research and education. We have developed internship opportunities for underrepresented youth since 2009. We create connections to nature, science, research, and other fields of study by providing unique, hands-on learning opportunities. Our partnership with the National Park Service is built on our internship model, which offers additional training, mentorship, and assistance finding subsequent positions.

 

Have questions about LHIP? Please contact us at LHIP@environmentamericas.org 

LHIP Team

National Park Service

Ernestine White

NATIONAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Ernestine serves as the National Youth Employment Program Coordinator in the Youth Programs Division within the directorate of Workforce and Inclusion in Washington, D.C.

Environment for the Americas

Vivian meade

LHIP Program MANAGER

Vivian earned her BA in Spanish Language and Literature, with a minor in Latino and Latin American Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2020. She focused her studies on history, sociolinguistics, and translation. Vivian is an activist, an educator, a musician, and a fur mama to her pup and two cats.

Stephen Poblete

PROGRAM ASSistant

Stephen was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He is a horticulturist and advocate for sustainability, health and the environment. After graduating from the University of Maryland, he joined Americorps NCCC working on various projects with Habitat for Humanity and the US Forest Service. His spirit of environmental stewardship and volunteerism guides his work within the internship programs provided by EFTA. 

 

Chu-Yu

Graphic Design MANAGER

Communication through graphic design is key to getting the word out about LHIP and to connecting our participants across the country. Chu-Yu has been with Environment for the Americas for over 7 years makes sure that LHIP is presented to the public.

Carina Ruiz

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Carina Ruiz brings 23 years of experience engaging and serving communities of color through youth development experiences in formal educational school settings and informal outdoor experiential-learning environments. She joined the field of Conservation as a wildland fire fighter and dedicated the next 16 years to working with national NGO’s, government agencies, and museum institutions to provide culturally relevant experiences to communities of color in the outdoors. 

Testimonials

My first professional internship for the National Park Service and Environment for the Americas as part of LHIP has been an amazing learning experience that has introduced me to the workforce and operations of the nps. Being part of the staff of Fire Island National Seashore and helping with the preservation of an important barrier beach that is often taken for granted has been just the beginning of my journey.

– Kevin Garcia, Fire Island National Seashore (2022) 

To LHIP and EFTA leadership — thanks for making a rewarding internship experience and for all of the hard work that goes into running the program!

– David Castro, Office of Communications (2022) 

Together as LHIP interns, we are actively making a difference. It might not seem like much, but in many cases, it is everything. Without us, there would be limited BIPOC representation. While that may feel isolating in many ways, it is also hopeful. I am able to be the representation needed to open up the way for future diverse park employees.

– Diana Sarmiento, Shenandoah National Park (2022) 

Annual Reports