March 21, 2008 — Friends of V.I. National Park has several opportunities for youths from across the territory, including trail work, scholarships and an internship.
As it has for the past seven years, the Friends group is hiring students to work for a month with the Student Conservation Association, a national non-profit organization that offers conservation internships and summer trail crew opportunities across the country. Its goal is develop conservation and community leaders while getting important work done on the land.
Crew positions for youths ages 16 to 20 and crew leader positions for people ages 21 to 25 are available. The job starts June 15, and entails working on park trails.
"It's like a summer job," said Friends Program Manager Kristen Maize.
Participants get to learn how to protect the natural environment, she said. The job includes such extras as nature walks and going on a trip with a park marine biologist.
The Friends will hire three students from the territory to work with three from the mainland, Maize said. One crew leader will be from the Virgin Islands and one from the mainland.
The students get $1,000 toward their education. The crew leader stipend depends on experience.
The students will stay at Cinnamon Bay Campground in a group camping area reserved for people working on park projects.
The Friends' annual scholarship program is again being offered to students who will attend college in the fall, as well as those already studying at the university level. Students must study in fields related to marine biology or natural-resource management and protection.
The Friends group is also offering a scholarship for children of park staff members at the university level. Priority will be given to students pursuing a degree related to the natural sciences.
Both scholarships are $1,000 per academic year.
While the Student Conservation Association positions and the scholarship programs are open only to local residents, a summer internship with the Friends is available to anyone, no matter where they live.
The summer intern will spend eight to 10 weeks working for the Friends.
The group wants an enthusiastic and creative student who is entering his or her junior or senior year of college and has a particular interest in environmental science, conservation or environmental education.
The intern will serve as the liaison to the Student Conservation Association participants and work on other projects like the Friend's summer eco camps, Maize said. If the intern doesn't live on St. John, the park will provide housing at Maho Bay Camps. The intern gets paid $250 a week.
Send a resume by clicking here.
All applications and resumes are due April 28.
For information about any of the programs, call Maize at 779-4940.
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