SODAS Life x HBCUI PROGRAM

SODAS Life Inc/Urban American Outdoors is the Program Partner for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internships (HBCUI) program which was created to connect students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with natural and cultural resource conservation internship opportunities at National Park Service (NPS) sites and program offices.

Calling all current and recent graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)! The 2026 paid HBCU internship program applications are now open.

Visit HBCUI.org for more details on the 1️⃣6️⃣ exciting positions nationwide.

Follow @HBCUI_NPS for more.

Catoctin Mountain Park – Interpretation and Education Divisional Intern

Cuyahoga Valley National Park – Community Engagement & Interpretation Intern

First Ladies National Historic Site – Interpretation Intern

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site – Education and Interpretation Intern

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park / Charles Pinckney National Historic Site – Cultural Resources Inventory Intern

Gateway Arch National Park – Archival Processing Intern

Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument – Education and Interpretation

Monocacy National Battlefield – Natural Resources Intern (Beech Leaf Disease Monitoring)

National Capital Parks-East – Historic Interpreter

National Parks of Boston / Boston African American National Historic Site – Visitor Engagement Intern

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park – Musical Interpretation Intern

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial – Battle of Lake Erie Intern

Shenandoah National Park – Visitor Services Intern

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – Great Lakes Education Intern

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River – Museum Collections Assistant

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument – Public Affairs Intern

Check out all the opportunities

https://hbcui.org/2025-sites-and-positions/

Check out other paid opportunities through our partner organizations

https://www.nps.gov/…/youthpro…/jobs-and-internships.htm

THE DETAILS

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship (HBCUI)

Initiated by the Washington Support Office, Youth Programs Division, of the National Park Service in 2012, the Historically Black Colleges and University Internship (HBCUI) program was created to connect students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities to park units with connections to African American history and culture. Over the years, the program has expanded in its effort to protect natural, historical, and cultural resources in parks as participants gain exposure to career opportunities in public land management.

Since its start, HBCUI has hosted over 250 interns, representing 60 HBCUs, at 125+ park units. Their service has resulted in over 100,000 hours of service, dozens of hiring authorities, and hundreds of careers and leadership opportunities in conservation.

Program Requirements

Participation in the Career and Leadership Workshop
Conduct an oral presentation on intern accomplishments at the Career and Leadership Workshop (DHA-RA Interns)
Conduct a poster presentation on intern accomplishments at the Career and Leadership Workshop (PLC Interns)
Participation in Cultural Connection Project
Complete internship program surveys
Participation in program webinars

Traditional – Public Land Corps Internship

An entry internship that focuses on career exploration and building fundamental public land management skills. Each HBCUI participant will receive a weekly stipend of $640 based on a 40-hour week, plus a commuting stipend if needed. Local or park housing and travel expenses will be provided for out-of-state students.

Public Land Corps participants who successfully complete 640 hours of service in one or more eligible internships are eligible for the Public Lands Corps noncompetitive hiring authority for two years following the successful completion of the internship. Successful completion of HBCUI does not guarantee that the participant will be hired into a federal position.

Internship total weeks may vary.

Conservation Fellow – Direct Hire Authority Resource Assistant Internship (DHA-RA)

A unique internship opportunity for students currently enrolled in an accredited educational qualifying institution. This internship aims to build a pathway to employment in the Department of Interior (DOI). DHA-RA interns will have the opportunity to build a network with federal employees. These rigorous internships require specialized knowledge and typically are available to upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students. DHA-RA interns will receive a weekly stipend of $720 based on a 40-hour work week, plus a commuting stipend if needed. Local or park housing and travel expenses will be provided for out-of-state students. DHA-RA interns who successfully complete the internship requirements may become eligible to be non-competitively hired by the DOI for two years from the date of graduation after the internship. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee that the participant will be hired into a federal position.

Internship total weeks may vary.