Scheuer Visitor Experience Internship

Who We Are

Located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, Mohonk Preserve is New York’s largest nonprofit nature preserve. We manage over 8,000 acres of mountain cliffs, forests, fields and streams through four integrated programs – Conservation, Education, Stewardship, and Visitor Experience – and welcome over 300,000 members and visitors each year who come to hike, run, rock climb, boulder, bike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and enjoy and experience nature.

Based in a vibrant university community, Mohonk Preserve offers a great working environment in one of New York’s greenest counties, with all-season recreation, access to Preserve lands, a dynamic, committed team of conservation professionals and long legacy of conducting ecological research and environmental education. The Preserve is also the “Home of the Gunks,” one of America’s premier rock-climbing destinations.

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to protect the northern Shawangunk Ridge and inspire people to care for, enjoy and explore the natural world. Mohonk Preserve supports thriving and resilient natural environments that are welcoming to all who explore, play and work here, and those who seek peace, wellbeing and inspiration amid its lands. We prioritize conservation of the northern Shawangunk Ridge and adjacent foothills as we carefully balance opportunities for outdoor recreation that reflect a healthy relationship between community and the land. Our commitment to collaboration, stewardship and education are interwoven throughout all the Preserve’s responses to the urgent issues of our time as we permanently protect and provide access to this cherished landscape. Please visit https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/ to learn more.

Our Core Values

• Teamwork:  We trust each other and value collaboration and accountability.
• Transparency:  We are clear, honest and ethical in our decision-making and communications.
• Belonging:  We welcome everyone and treat all with respect and compassion.
• Exploration:  We value curiosity, education and innovation as pathways to learning and growth.
• Stewardship:  We are committed to responsibly stewarding Mohonk Preserve in service to the land and the community.

About the Position:

Thom Scheuer, the beloved Head Ranger of Mohonk Preserve from 1972 until his death in 1999, dedicated his work and life to protecting and maintaining the Preserve as a place for world-class outdoor enjoyment within a high-quality ecosystem. Thom’s timeless legacy is that of land stewardship that involves people in a common land ethic. Dr. Ed Reppert established this internship “to teach young land stewards to consider all parts of nature as a part of the total ecosystem, how all are related to and dependent on one another and how each relates to humankind.”

This internship is within the Patrol Ranger program of our Visitor Experience department and runs for 10 weeks (~June-August, flexible start date).

The Scheuer Internship will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to work with our Rangers within the Visitor Experience department. The intern will work as part of a high-performing professional team responsible for visitor experiences and managing our sustainable recreational activities. The position is under the direct supervision of the Chief Ranger in collaboration with department Program Coordinators and is equal parts field and office work.

In 2024 Mohonk Preserve was the first location in New York State to be awarded Gold Standard Site certification by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. This internship will focus on creating a community engagement program that elevates our mission of balancing our conservation priorities while providing  recreational activities. 

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations:

The 2025 Scheuer Intern will have an opportunity to work with the Preserve’s Ranger staff gaining experience in:

• Planning, managing, and executing public programming related to the Preserve’s Leave No Trace initiatives.
• Implementing projects including but not limited to improvements to signage and wayfinding.
• Collecting visitor metrics utilizing trail and vehicle counters.
• Providing organized digital data (GPS tracks, points), geo-located photographs, and accurate written descriptions of project work.
• Assisting with providing visitor information such as wayfinding and search & rescue support during periods of high visitation.
• Processing and compiling data collected with a focus on interpreting how visitors utilize the land and the resulting impacts.
• Other ongoing Visitor Experience projects.

The selected intern will complete a final written deliverable (e.g., assessment report, maps, design plan, survey, etc.), and, at the end of the summer, present their project in an oral presentation summarizing their internship experience and specific project.

What You’ll Bring:

• Students currently enrolled in their sophomore or junior years of college (or equivalent credit hours) who are majoring in Outdoor Recreation, Environmental Science, Land and Natural Resource Management, Geography, Forestry or other related fields of study.
• Interest and enthusiasm about conversing with visitors in various areas across the Preserve.
• Ability to utilize various GPS data collection methods; additional training will be provided in GPS data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Familiarity with Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.
• Proficient computer skills required; experience with Microsoft Office 365 applications and remote work platforms (Zoom; Teams, etc.) required.
• Must be able to provide personal gear for the day (rain gear, appropriate clothing, hiking boots).
• Flexibility to adjust to weather and logistical delays common in the backcountry.
• Must be willing and able to work flexible schedules including evenings and weekends.
• CPR and First Aid experience is a plus.
• Have a valid driver’s license and pass background check.
• Have a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice to ensure that all people are respected and welcomed at the Mohonk Preserve.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to hike up to 5 miles in varied terrain with a 20 lb. pack in all weather conditions.
• May use a computer keyboard, reads, writes.
• Requires standing, walking, hiking, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, carrying equipment.
• Occasional events indoors or outdoors outside standard office hours and in other locations around the Preserve.

Location:

Mohonk Preserve’s main offices are located at our Visitor Center in Gardiner, NY. Mohonk Preserve offers hybrid work schedules at this time – coordinated with their supervisor and, depending on the job, staff may be able to split time working remotely, as well as in the office and in-person on the land. Generally standard working hours, with some flexibility, coordinated with supervisor. Mohonk Preserve is a smoke-free campus.

Total Rewards Package:

This is a full-time (40 hours per week), seasonal, temporary position offering the following:

• $15.50/hour for a maximum of 400 hours
• On-site housing available

• Direct Payroll Deposit
• Mohonk Preserve membership for duration of internship
• Access to lands and some activities of Mohonk Mountain House resort

Eligibility for certain benefits is dependent upon a variety of factors including employment status.

The anticipated start date of this position is late May or early June 2025. No phone calls please

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Mohonk Preserve is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to creating an inclusive culture where employees from diverse backgrounds can thrive and support our mission. Successful candidates will be equity-minded and committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). Mohonk Preserve encourages applications from women, minorities and/or other underrepresented groups.

This job announcement is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties assigned.