Naturalist Intern

At the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park (MBSP), Fall/Spring Internship positions are offered to provide the opportunity to gain invaluable professional development and real-world experiences for students and recent graduates that are pursuing or have earned a degree in environmental education, biological sciences, and other related fields.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park was established in 1989, the only state park in Palm Beach County.  The State Park was established to protect a diverse and undisturbed subtropical coastal habitat from development. The Park is named for John D. MacArthur, whose generosity allowed the State of Florida to secure the land. Developed in part with funds donated by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Park opened to the public in 1989. The purpose was, and is still today, to protect a very rare and spectacularly beautiful piece of Florida’s southeast coast.

Interns at MacArthur Beach will be provided opportunities to learn and gain experience in their fields of interest that can include environmental education, park administration, communications and social media, invasive species management, citizen science studies, animal care and much more.

Internship experiences can include:

• Mentoring by a professional in your field of interest
• Best practices for environmental education and working with children ages 6-17
• An understanding of coastal ecosystems
• Learning about park interpretation and interpreting for the public
• Participating in park citizen science programs
• An understanding of nonprofit organizations and state park management
• Opportunities to work alongside State Park Rangers and Park Management

Naturalist Internship Requirements:

• Experience or interest in working with students of different age groups
• Comfortable working in water and can swim
• Must be able to safely navigate natural unimproved terrain and ensure the safety of program participants
• Must be able to lift and carry objects and materials up to 50 lbs.
• Must know, respect, and follow safety policies and procedures given by the Director of Education
• Must be able to consistently work in an outdoor setting with extreme weather conditions including, but not limited to hot, sunny, humid, rainy, and/or cold days.
• Undergraduates:
  • Good academic standing at a College/University with a GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Must be able to work at least 20 hours/week (40 hours/week in summer)
• Recent Graduates:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in environmental education, biology, environmental science, ecology, or a related field
  • Must be able to work full time (40 hours/week)

Naturalist Internship Desired Qualifications:

• Desire to teach children and adults in an outdoor setting
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Professional, well-organized, and safety-conscious
• Team player who is able to take on leadership roles and responsibilities
• Flexible in working hours and available for weekend and/or evening hours and special events

Compensation Information:

Naturalist Interns are not employees of the Florida Park Service nor the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park, Inc. Naturalist interns are considered volunteers for the Florida Park Service.

• Undergraduates: Internship Credits can be earned during this internship position based on attendance. Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park will work with an intern’s college/university for them to earn required credits.
• Recent Graduates: A bi-weekly stipend of $450.00 is provided for recent graduate interns. On-site housing may also be provided.

Housing: Shared housing is available on site for recent graduates.