Internships

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department offers field as well as office internships. Students interning with the Department work on interesting and worthwhile projects while gaining course credits. Regional Parks tailors internships to meet the educational needs of the student. An intern can be assured that park staff will be available to answer questions and provide guidance. Interns are an essential component in Sonoma County's Regional Park System.

All park interns are fingerprinted. The Environmental Discovery Center Interns must complete an additional background check, interview and physical. All of the costs associated with these checks are covered by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department.

Environmental Discovery Center (EDC) Intern - Starting at $12.09/hour

The EDC Intern assists the EDC Coordinator in the day-to-day operations of the Center. Their primary role is teaching the center's environmental curriculum to elementary school children. They can be responsible for school groups of five to fifteen children. The lessons are very involved and require a high degree of physical interaction with the children. In addition, their duties can include designing and building educational displays, taking visitors on a tour of the Center, opening the Center, closing the Center, answering phones and helping develop the Center's curriculum. The EDC Intern may also be called upon to lead nature walks and help with additional activities such as "Arts & Crafts."

Administrative Intern - Unpaid

This position offers students a chance to gain experience in a professional office environment. Students work alongside office staff on a variety of different projects. In the past, Administrative Interns have developed filing systems, populated databases, written reports and answered phones. Typically, the intern is assigned a mentor who helps guide them through internship.

Environmental Intern - Unpaid

Sonoma County's 43 parks encompass diverse ecosystems. The coastal environment of Gualala Point Regional Park provides a sharp contrast to the oak savannahs of Helen Putnam Regional Park. Environmental Interns assist the Department by working to monitor and restore these ecosystems. Whether through cataloguing plants and animals or developing a restoration plan, these interns provide a valuable service to the environment of our County parks.