Student Conservation Association

GIS/GPS

GIS Internships are great positions for anyone looking to gain field experience and strengthen their GIS skills. Not only will you have the opportunity to apply your skills in the real world, but you will also be able to make important professional contacts in the field.
In 2007 there were SCA GIS internships available in 17 states in all regions of the country. GIS interns worked with chiefly federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers. GIS internships tend to be long term positions (lasting more than 16 weeks) and therefore provide increased benefits and professional opportunities.
GIS interns gather data in the field with GPS equipment and use GIS technology to prepare maps. Inventory projects may include vegetation, wildlife structures, signs, roads, irrigation, infrastructure data, boundaries, and bathymetry.
Your formal training will vary depending on your responsibilities but may include site orientation and techniques for using GIS and GPS in a resource management setting. On-the-job training will also be provided, including mentoring that takes place throughout your internship.
Sites are typically looking for interns with knowledge of GPS data collecting; GIS skills; and the desire and ability to work outdoors in challenging terrain and weather conditions.