This 10-week fellowship is a paid opportunity for underrepresented young adults ages 18-25 to explore professional careers in the outdoors. Learn from different branches of the National Park Service including Visitor Services, Interpretation & Education, Natural & Cultural Resource Management, and the Volunteer Program. The fellows work directly with National Park Service Rangers, Mississippi Park Connection staff, and other park partners to facilitate educational programs, habitat restoration events, and wildlife monitoring on the Mississippi River.

Pay: $20/hour

Benefits:

Professional Development training
Fieldwork training
Non-motorized boat training
CPR/First Aid certification

Required Qualifications:

Interest in working a career in the outdoors
Interest in learning about and protecting the Mississippi River.
Able to work outdoors in all weather conditions
18-25 years old

Hours: Approximately 32 hours per week; total of 10 weeks. May include weekend or evening hours. May require days that are longer or shorter than eight hours.

Location: Field work within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

Applications will open February and remain open until Mid-April 2026.

The anticipated start date is early June.

To Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to education@parkconnection.org on or after Feb 15th.

No resume? No problem! Record a short video describing why your are interested in the position, and what you hope to gain from the experience. Send that video to education@parkconnection.org on or after Feb 15th.

Please include “Mississippi River Fellowship” in the subject line of the email.

Good To Know:

Local applicants may be eligible to extend their fellowship part time into the school year to complete a Public Lands Corps (PLC) certificate. The PLC us a non-competitive hiring authority that allows you to apply for permanent federal positions within the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Please reach out if you have any questions.
A transportation subsidy may be available to remove barriers for fellows accepted to the program.

Read about a past fellow's experience

“The most fulfilling part of the fellowship was being able to learn from, educate, and work with other community members. I gained a much deeper appreciation for the generations of care and resilience that have preserved the Mississippi’s diverse ecosystems. The work that we engaged in was drastically different each day, but consistently felt like an exciting chance to learn and observe how environmental work can support different community needs and values. Working with different community partners showed me how mutually beneficial it is to build relationships and share knowledge when doing this work. Some of my favorite experiences this summer have been working with youth around the river. By partnering with organizations such as Wilderness Inquiry, Friends of the Mississippi River, or the YMCA, we were able to support many different age groups while spending time along the river. One of the most rewarding parts of my summer included working with students to make them feel welcome and comfortable in the environment, regardless of background experience.”

- Sairoong, Mississippi River Fellow 2023