Internship Opportunities in Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) currently engages paid interns in a variety of fields, including:
- park management
- hatchery management
- interpretation
- wildlife biology
CPW's Youth Internship Program (YIP)
The purpose of the GOCO funded CPW Youth Internship Program (YIP) is to employ the next generation of natural resource professionals within CPW. CPW Youth Interns attend additional trainings that enhance their knowledge of CPW, the many facets of the agency and its mission.
How to I apply for a YIP position?
All open internship positions are posted on the state of Colorado’s career website.
Quote from previous intern... Really loved this experience, learned a lot about the Aquatic Biology field. Loved it so much going to go back to grad school to become an Aquatic Biologist, said Matt, an Aquatic Biology intern.
Designed to:
- Engage and mentor youth
- Provide practical experiences, skills, and opportunities
- Provide networking with CPW professionals
- Provide interns with exposure to various CPW career paths
- Allows for full time and part time positions that are flexible with school schedules
- Exploration of careers while getting paid
Additional Trainings/Learning Opportunities:
- CPR/First Aid
- Exposure to angling, archery, and other shooting sports
- Community outreach meetings
- Boating safety
- Training in trapping and biological work up for wildlife
- Title 33 Ranger Training
- Ride-alongs with park rangers and/or wildlife officers
- State park, Hatchery, Research Facility visits
- PARKS revenue training
- Certification in ANS inspection
- Trail Building
- Wilderness First Aid
Skills learned:
- Wildlife survey techniques
- Park management
- Environmental/outdoor education
- Time management
- Outdoor skills
- Fish monitoring – gill net and electro shocking
- Bird banding
- Public land management
- Grant writing
- Fish identification
- Communication skills
- GPS
- Customer service skills
- Data analysis
Quote from previous intern...
I feel like these past 9 months have really taught me how to be a full time employee. I have really been able to experience a lot of different aspects of the job, Brittany, a state park administrative assistant intern.
