Job Description

Position Title:  Visitor Services, Landscape Architect Civil ,and Engineer Intern InternXL 2025

Program Dates:   Tentative Start Date – Monday, September 1 , 2025(12-week duration)

Location:  Brecksville,OH

Compensation: $17.20/hour | 40 hours per week

The Greening Youth Foundation (GYF) is proud to partner with the National Park Service (NPS) through the InternXL Internship Program, offering impactful internship experiences for students and recent graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This initiative is part of our ongoing mission to build pathways for young Black professionals in public service and conservation careers.

We are currently recruiting 10 InternXL interns to serve at culturally and historically significant NPS sites, where they will support interpretation, education, descendant and community engagement, and preservation work.

Position Description:

This position will work within Cuyahoga Valley National Park's (CUVA) Facilities and Project Management Division to perform limited civil engineering/landscape architecture tasks in a developmental capacity utilizing appropriate technology tools with a focus on CUVA's main visitor center area, Boston Mills Visitor Center. The intern will work on the Boston Mills Improvement Project with the park's civil engineer and Division Chief to evaluate opportunities to improve the circulation partners, open space use, and interpretation opportunities including introducing visitors to African American history and experiences in the Cuyahoga Valley. CUVA opened the Boston Mills Visitor Center, along with a new parking lot, on the west side of the Cuyahoga River in 2019 to provide a central location for first time visitors orient themselves and be introduced to the Cuyahoga Valley's history. The location also includes the Boston Depot, where visitors can access the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway (CVSR). CVSR currently connects the park into the City of Akron and there is an ongoing study to extend CVSR service into the City of Cleveland, where over 20% of the residents do not have personal vehicles. Prior to the new visitor center opening, visitor use was centered on the east side of the Cuyahoga River at an older visitor center, which is now a store, and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. With the focus of visitor use shifted to the west side of the river, and a new pedestrian bridge over the river, there is now the opportunity to reimagine and refocus the open spaces, trail system, and an old parking lot on the east side. The intern will work the park's Civil Engineer as well Resource Management, Interpretation and Visitor Services, and Resource and Visitor Protection on this project to incorporate their subject matter expertise in the design. This work will require research into current standards for accessibility, paving materials, cost estimating, traffic control, and signage as well as cultural resources and permitting needs. The deliverables/work products will include conceptual level plans of alternatives, cost estimates, scope of work write ups, and product research. In addition to the Boston Mills Circulation Improvement Project, this position will have opportunities to the assist the park's civil engineer on a wide variety of projects including reconstruction of pedestrian boardwalks, utility improvements, trail improvements, bridge inspections, and records research and cataloging.

Eligibility Requirements:

• recent graduate of an HBCU (within the past 2 years)

• Must have a valid driver's license

• Must be able to commit to a 12-week, full-time internship

This paid opportunity provides hands-on experience, professional development, and a chance to make a lasting impact on how history is preserved and shared through our national parks.

If this sounds like you — apply now and be a part of the 2025 InternXL cohort!

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