Job Listing
🔗Youth Outreach and Engagement Intern – 640 hours
Website National Park Service/NCPE Internship Program
Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK) preserves and tells the stories of one of the most pivotal campaigns in the Civil War, the period of occupation by the U. S. Army, and Reconstruction. For more than a year, Federal forces struggled to seize the fortress city of Vicksburg and regain control of the Mississippi River. In a daring campaign in the Spring 1863, the Union army marched over two hundred miles and won five consecutive battles ending in the 47-day siege of Vicksburg and a Confederate surrender on July 4th, 1863. The city then became a beacon of freedom and hope for African Americans. Vicksburg played a pivotal role during periods of occupation and Reconstruction. These stories trace the path from the Civil War to Civil Rights.
The Youth Outreach and Engagement Intern will support outreach and education efforts at Vicksburg National Military Park. This project will provide in-depth interpretive experiences for youth members of the local community through site visits, demonstrations, and immersive experiences. The successful candidate will work with local groups including the YMCA, the local school district, and a variety of other community organizations to help develop and coordinate these immersive youth programs. Many of the youth are from the economically-depressed Vicksburg area, the majority of whom have not visited the park nor are they knowledgeable about the National Park Service (NPS).
Well-constructed interpretive experiences will create life-long stewards, increase an appreciation for our nation’s history, and engage participants understanding of the historical roots of contemporary issues facing society. Programming goals include providing insight into the stories from Civil War through to Civil Rights, and participation in dialogue with their peers about topics of social justice.
The intern will help to prepare for and assist with the delivery of programs both onsite and offsite. Tasks include assisting in the development and delivery of virtual and in-person programs to be used with school districts and remote learners, YMCA after-school programs, assisting in outreach to local schools and the local YMCA, assisting with various community outreach events, and assisting in the programming for Fall Break and Winter Break programs with the YMCA. They will conduct research to expand the park’s outreach database. They will support other outreach events to help build stronger community engagement and youth stewardship.
This position is part of the Internship Program administered by the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE). The program is a partnership between the National Park Service and NCPE. Eligibility requirements apply; visit https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/ for details and instructions on how to apply.
Qualified NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Visit the website listed above for details about this benefit. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee Federal employment.