Build Up Technical Internship

Build Up Technical Internship is sponsored by U.S. National Park Service (in partnership with American Conservation Experience - ACE). This program aims to expand and diversify the National Park Service workforce by providing professional experiences in technical fields to students and recent graduates.

Build Up - American Conservation Experience Build Up Technical Internships The Build Up Technical Internship Program is working to expand the National Park Service workforce while addressing critical maintenance needs by providing professional experiences in technical fields to students and recent graduates.

Interns will work in fields including: geographic information systems Through this program, interns will gain experience in their field of expertise, gain exposure to federal public land management, meet new mentors in their disciplines, and learn about potential job opportunities with parks and programs. This is an ideal opportunity to build your skills while exploring a potential career pathway with the National Park Service!

Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates (up to 2 years post-graduation). Minimum of 11 weeks and up to 1 year. At least 11 weeks must be 40 hours/week, but potential for some part-time work may exist.

3 2 Compensation and Benefits Competitive payrate of $18/hour or higher; payrates will be included in postings. Also, interns will receive a professional development stipend.

Gain exposure to hiring managers Access to future job opportunities Improve experience in your field of expertise Increase exposure to federal public land management Meet new mentors in your discipline Develop network by engaging with NPS partners and neighboring communities Potential for non-competitive hiring authority following completion of internship and degree program Wendy Berhman is a nationally recognized planning and public lands professional with more than three decades of leadership in the National Park Service (NPS).

A certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), she brings extensive expertise in park planning, public engagement, cultural and natural resource stewardship, commercial services, and collaborative partnerships.

Wendy has held leadership roles at NPS park, regional, and national levels, including Superintendent of Manhattan Project National Historical Park (NHP) and Senior-Level Planner focusing on visitor use management and commercial services planning for national parks across the nation.

With a Bachelor of Architecture emphasis on historic preservation, and a Master’s in Urban & Environmental Planning, Wendy has a layered academic foundation. Her strategic insight is grounded in field-tested knowledge of park management, environmental planning, policy application, with an emphasis on sustainable recreation and tourism.

She has managed multimillion-dollar planning portfolios, designed stakeholder engagement processes, and developed NPS national policy and guidance on visitor use management and wilderness stewardship. Wendy brings a seasoned holistic and creative approach to public land management and stewardship. She is passionate about developing the next generation of conservation leaders to support federal agencies in managing public lands.

Wendy welcomes the opportunity to contribute her vision, experience, and commitment to service on the ACE Board.

Rahul has spent most of his 25-year career commercializing climate-tech innovations including fuel cells (product management at Ballard Power Systems), renewable fuels and chemicals (first business hire / VP, Product Marketing at Amyris), ocean energy (Board Chair and Founding CEO of Oscilla Power) and low-carbon concrete (Founding CEO of CarbonBuilt).

Bellwether Bio, a cancer diagnostics company he co-founded in 2016, developed technology that is integrated into the world’s first blood-based colorectal cancer test. Beyond his own ventures, Rahul is also an investor in more than 40 early stage climate-tech and health-tech companies. He earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from MIT and his MBA from Harvard.

Rahul serves on the board of the Composite Recycling Technology Center, a non-profit company based in the Olympic Peninsula. A longtime resident of Seattle, Washington, Rahul and his wife Erika are soon to be empty-nesters with two “kids” in college. Rahul enjoys backpacking, international travel, alpine skiing, live music and hanging out with his Australian Mountain Doodle, Remi.

I have been building trails for a while now and love providing an opportunity for people to have fun outside! Not only that but I love working outside and in a machine behind the “sticks” leaving a positive mark on the world we live in! On top of that I love hanging out with friends, try to be an avid cyclist and on rest days love nothing better than some movies, video games and collecting nerd stuff!

I first joined ACE in the winter of 2019 after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Hydrology at Hampshire College. I served 3 terms in the Pacific West (PW) branch as an AmeriCorps member. After a couple years away from ACE, and two stints hiking parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, I returned as a Crew Leader at the PW Sacramento branch in 2023.

In January 2025, I started as the Project Manager for our Coachella Valley Branch. I take satisfaction in making a difference protecting and preserving our outdoor spaces. I hope to bolster my skills surrounding logistics, leadership, and relationship building in this new role.

Dorit grew up in rural Northern Idaho on the top of a mountain. Loving the outdoors was the only option available to stave off insanity, and she often roamed the wilderness with the family dogs pretending to be a lost elf. She graduated in 2018 from the University of Oregon with a degree in Marine Biology and a fierce determination to save the whales, turtles, and other less cute marine creatures.

This led her to an AmeriCorps position on the Olympic Peninsula caring for an aquarium and teaching hundreds of visitors about the ways of the sea. She has traveled extensively across the states working for various aquariums and developing a skillset as a tiny home builder.

This led her to the Logistics Coordinator role at ACE, finally all those years of backpacking, maintaining 25+ year old school buses and home improvement came in handy! Dorit enjoys finding wild hot springs, taking the scenic route (even if it adds hours onto the trip) and having in-depth conversations with her cats who most definitely should be paid for their therapist roles.

For the past few years, I have built a strong foundation in leadership in the conservation world, from serving as an ATL and Crew Lead for the ACE Sacramento Branch to leading teams as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC.

My passion for conservation was ignited during a road trip through the Southwest with my best friend, where I discovered my calling to protect outdoor spaces, since then I’ve made it my mission to inspire/mentor others to do the same. I have a B. S.

in Psychology, and am passionate about intersecting mental health advocacy with the outdoors. I believe in the healing power of nature, and I’m always exploring new ways to blend these two interests in meaningful ways. When I’m not on the clock, you’ll find me curled up with a compelling nature book or documentary, or out discovering the beauty of the Coachella Valley.

Hi, I’m Theodore Holmes, but most people call me Theo. I’m a compliance professional with a strong background in operations, HR, and regulatory management. Over the years, I’ve developed and implemented compliance programs, streamlined workflows, and worked to build inclusive, high-performing teams.

My experience has taught me the importance of balancing attention to detail with big-picture thinking, and I’m passionate about creating ethical, efficient systems that help organizations thrive. I also have a unique background in geoscience research, which sharpened my analytical skills and curiosity—both of which I bring to my work every day.

I’m so excited to join ACE because their mission of environmental stewardship and empowering emerging professionals aligns with my own values of growth, collaboration, and making a positive impact. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me hiking, watching horror movies, or curled up with a good book. I also share my home with my partner and our eight cats, who definitely keep life interesting!

Jonah was born in a little mountain town in Poland. Soon after, his family moved to the outskirts of Indianapolis. With a childhood spent exploring and recreating in deciduous forests of Europe and the Midwest, Jonah fell in love with nature and wildlife.

After joining ACE in 2022, his love and appreciation for nature grew, this time encapsulating a love for the wide open spaces and tall conifers of the Southwest. After taking a break from ACE to pursue construction and carpentry, Jonah is back with ACE as a Facilities Support Coordinator. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Business.

I have worked in the finance field for over 30 years, and specifically in payroll for over 20 years. I enjoy the challenge of making sure all employees are paid correctly and timely every pay. I enjoy interacting with employees when they need assistance understanding their paycheck.

When not working, I enjoy doing little projects around the house, like maintaining the yard and plants. But more importantly, I like to go for rides on my motorcycle with my wife, and sometimes our dog. We go for long rides looking at the great wonders and sites along the ride.

And if we need simple relaxation, we spend some time at the beach. Miyah first started restoration work with her classmates through SLEWS, FFA and other programs for youth. She loved the exposure to working outside and being a part of projects that left good memories along with traces of dirt.

She was studying the basics of agronomy which grew her interest in plants and soil health.

She continued volunteering with local Resource Conservation Districts that assist farmers with supplies and volunteers for sustainable practices like planting pollinator hedgerows, installing irrigation systems, providing grazing resources, etc… When confronted with the reality of entry level jobs and a desire for something more impactful, Miyah crossed paths with ACE when searching for field work.

It’s been four years with ACE and Miyah has a great appreciation for all her mentors’ genuine attributes to the success of the program and those who come through it. She is stoked to be able to have a hand in doing the same for others. She truly enjoys the lifestyle and working in open spaces across the west coast.

Learning about the land and techniques to prolong trails and promote a healthy landscape is exciting and fulfilling. Nicholas Jackson is an Urban Farmer from Poughkeepsie New York and has joined ACE to help in their mission of Conservation. Land is very important, preserving its history and its story and he wants to keep that integrity alive.

Nick Jackson has been a self taught Hip Hop and animation Dancer for 20 years. His style of dance is a combination of Pop-locking, Gliding, and Body Waving with African inspired Movements/Rhythms. He’s also well known as Farmer Nick, where he grows fresh food for his community, educating folks on growing their own food and becoming self-sufficient.

He worked for Scenic Hudson for 2 years at Pershing Ave Farm and Gardens where he was the land steward for 3 years earning him the name the Prince of Pershing. He continues to grow food and educate through his organization PK Organics and uses his love for community and passion for agriculture as tools to improve mental stability and health of everyone he meets. Nikki was raised playing in nature and has never quit.

She has a BA in History from UNC Asheville which fueled her love of environmental history and people-place connections. She has worked in conservation, environmental education, ecotourism, agroforestry, formal education, and parks. Nikki is thrilled to return to direct conservation work and public lands with the ACE team.

Rodolfo was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. With a background as a mechanic, he transitioned to a career focused on land and environmental stewardship, driven by a passion to share the love of nature and exploring outdoor spaces with others. He began his work with trail management at El Yunque National Rainforest, where he served as a Crew Leader.

Currently, he leads the trails and visitor services teams at SAJU National Park and coordinates operations with crews in St. Croix, USVI. On the field, he likes to instill in the local crews a sense of belonging, responsibility and environmental stewardship.

He enjoys biking, hiking, swimming in Caribbean waters and spending quality time with his dogs and cats. Born and raised in Indiana, Andrew grew up loving the outdoors; spending much of his free time exploring the woods, creeks, lakes and rivers of his Hoosier homestate. This passion followed him to Hanover College where he graduated in 2019 with a B.

S in Geology and Minor in Biology. In 2022 Andrew relocated to Arizona, settling in the beautiful high pines of Flagstaff. Since moving to Flag, he has worked for the Forest Service and the Flagstaff Arboretum.

In both of these jobs he had the opportunity to be a project partner with a couple of ACE crews. After working alongside ACE crew members, crew leaders and project partners he became very interested in the organization and the opportunities it provides for those passionate about conservation. In May of 2024 he became a Member Support Coordinator with ACE SWA.

Outside of work, Kate is interested in urban reforestation, roller blading, teaching personal finance courses for AmeriCorps members, and loves reading good books in beautiful places. She is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sydney grew up half in the prairie lands of Illinois and half in the bustling cities of North Texas.

She always had a deep love for animals of all kinds and began volunteering at rescues and wildlife rehabilitation centers in her early teens. After earning a B. S.

in Biology from Iowa State University, she went on to discover a love of conservation work and education while breeding and releasing eastern indigo snakes and striped newts in Central Florida. Sydney moved to Asheville in 2023 and is so glad to now be helping others discover the importance of conservation, land management, and habitat restoration here at ACE!

During her free time she can often be found at the movie theater, out thrifting and antiquing, or hiking local trails with shelter dogs. Joe grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and received his undergraduate business degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2022; spending his subsequent years doing tax work in public accounting. A lifelong runner, training for marathons during college sparked a passion for the outdoors and natural spaces.

Since then, Joe has spent seasons working as a Lift Operator at Copper Mountain, CO and summers teaching surf lessons at the Jersey Shore. Outside of work, he enjoys playing music, reading, and hiking in Cleveland National Forest. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Alaina graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a BA in Communication Studies.

After completing her undergraduate degree, she served with Americorps NCCC working with communities in Bluff, UT, San Diego, CA, and Red Lodge, MT. During this time Alaina discovered her love for conservation having completed this work alongside her team at all three of their deployment locations.

She then served a term with AmeriCorps Ohio at her alma mater where she helped make socio-economic resources and food security more accessible to students. She is excited to be working with ACE so that she can support members and help others discover their passions through service. In her free time, Alaina enjoys hiking, kayaking, and curling up with a good book.

Katie’s journey with ACE began following her graduation from the Indigenous Peoples Law program at the University of Oklahoma. Thanks to the Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program, Katie was able to pursue her dreams of promoting cultural understanding of Tribal Nations in the National Park System.

Her experience with Redwood National Park and Office of Native American Affairs (IR-1) would not have been possible without CRDIP; and is what led her to her current role in the National Parks Conservation Association today. Katie’s passion for connection and community is the root of all her endeavors and is what she looks forward to most in serving ACE as a proud alumna.

Jackie spent her early career as a wildlife biologist, tracking bats, bears, and big cats across the US, Central America, and East Africa. After years of studying human-wildlife interactions and training field crews, Jackie’s professional interests evolved into the realm of conservation social science.

She pursued graduate school at Michigan State University, conducting research on a variety of complex topics including the impacts of diversity on environmental research teams and the application of reflexive methods in classroom and field settings.

After completing her PhD in 2021, Jackie served as Academic Programs Manager for the University of California where she facilitated education and training programs for multiple off-campus environmental research sites, developed novel partnerships, and led a student grant program to break down barriers of entry to field science.

Now as a Division Director with ACE’s EPIC program, Jackie continues to pursue her long-term goal of ensuring that the future of conservation is more inclusive, supportive, and collaborative. Outside of work, Jackie finds creative ways to connect people to nature as a certified yoga instructor. She can usually be found reading, crafting, and trying to keep her plants alive.

Perri Meldon is the national coordinator for the second cohort of the NPS Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Prior to joining the NPS Mellon program, she held an ACE fellowship with the NPS Park History Program. Perri is also working toward her PhD in American Studies at Boston University, where she studies the Great Dismal Swamp of Virginia and North Carolina.

Perri lives in central Virginia. In her free time, she enjoys reading, eating pie, and learning how to flyfish. Meghan comes to ACE with a background in Education and Human Resources.

With her roots in Maine, she moved to Idaho in 2013 to enjoy the great outdoors with her family. She is excited to work with passionate members of ACE to better our environment through education and real experience. Yunielis Clemente Ortiz (she/her) discovered her passion for conservation during her first-ever job at a rainforest.

After graduating high school, she attended the University of Puerto Rico to complete her bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Throughout the years, she has focused on creating and collaborating with different groups, organizations, and communities around Puerto Rico to create more awareness about climate change and all the other environmental problems they face.

She continued working for over 6 years as a Park Ranger with USDA-FS at El Yunque NF until she transitioned into the non-profit sector to continue assisting with conservation and communities. In her spare time, she travels the World and creates good memories with her friends. Karen grew up in Minnesota and was fortunate to have opportunities to travel and live around the world as a young person.

She joined ACE in 2024 after working for many years as Senior Program Director at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan in Ely, Minnesota. Her work there included directing the residential outdoor education program and helping oversee and support the summer wilderness tripping program. Karen is excited to bring her skills and background in risk management and safety to her work as ACE’s National Director of Program Safety.

Away from work, Karen’s favorite pastimes are spending time with her husband, two boys and dog, adventuring, running, Nordic skiing, paddling, reading, and cooking. Thembie has strong ties to nature, conservation, and youth development. ACE’s mission and values resonate with her and she is super excited to join our team and contribute to the advancement of our mission and values.

Thembie has over 20 years experience leading finance, accounting, compliance, and administration functions in various complex and matrix-managed international nonprofit organizations.

Her responsibilities included ensuring that organizations maintained sound stewardship of resources, transparency and accountability to donors, compliance with donor rules and regulations, organizational policies and procedures, audit requirements as well as GAAP.

She has experience leading and managing large USAID, multilateral, and private donor funding, ensuring clean audits through compliance with donor rules and regulations, internal policies and procedures, country office statutory regulations, audit requirements as well as GAAP.

Thembie has experience in ensuring organizations have sound internal control systems, processes and procedures, and providing guidance to program implementers and senior managers on policies and guidelines to ensure effective program delivery, compliance with federal rules and guidelines, organizational policies and procedures and mitigate potential risks.

She has ensured the safeguarding of resources, accurate and timely financial reporting internally and externally, organization-wide financial planning and budgeting, budget monitoring and control, management and accounting of Investments, external audits, insurance providers, engagement with sub-grantees and supporting them and building capacity in their financial management and reporting processes, procurement, management of contracts and awards with vendors, consultants, service providers, donors and other business partners.

Thembie has an MBA from Bellarmine University and a BSc (Accounting) degree. Deep in the fall of 99’ Hailee was born in Tacoma, WA. Living in the lush, green landscape of the PNW, Hailee spent most of her time as a kid playing outside.

After graduating high school she set her sights on college in Seattle with a focus on international studies. Realizing school wasn’t right at the time and maybe international travel wasn’t the focus, Hailee spent her next few years living and traveling throughout the PNW. This allowed her to reconnect with nature in a deep way and she decided to join ACE Southwest.

She spent two terms as a corps member and ATL then moving on to become a crew lead. After a stint as a pizza slinger, Hailee is beyond thrilled to become a Member Support Coordinator so she can connect with people and help guide them through the life of conservation. Born and raised in a pecan orchard in the Texas countryside, Bee has had a love and appreciation for nature and wildlife from a young age.

Since then, Bee received a BS in Integrative Studies with focuses in Biology, Philosophy, and International Studies. This is a fancy way to say her degree was customized to work in conservation on a board spectrum. Bee prides herself on having a variety of work experience, having held positions such as a park ranger, naturalist, zookeeper, and a child educator.

Most recently she completed a term with ACE at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge where she was inspired to work more closely with individuals interested in the conservation field and navigate their early careers. On her free time you’ll find her helping with nature homeschool programs, relaxing with her dog, or exploring the Colorado Mountains with her husband.

Vanessa started her career in the outdoor industry as a crew member with ACE based in Hurricane, Utah in 2017. Since then, she graduated from Southern Utah University with a degrees in psychology, biology, and outdoor recreation. Her foundation at ACE and education led her to being a ranger in Zion National Park and as an urban ranger with Salt Lake City.

She loves building positive relations and contributing to community which she is looking forward to bringing to ACE! Outside of work, you can find her on adventures with her dog, Toast. They have a broad range of hobbies from climbing to biking and camping.

Hi, my name is Kate and I am an AmeriCorps alumni who has previously served with the Maine Conservation Corps as a Field Crew Member. Since then, I have dabbled in many different fields, but I am most passionate about volunteer work and land stewardship and I look forward to pursuing a fulfilling career in conservation.

In my spare time I enjoy cooking (and eating), listening to music, studying kanji, exercising and enjoying the outdoors. Barbara Lundquist joined ACE in 2024, bringing years of experience with AmeriCorps program support, service learning, youth development, and STEM education.

Barbara grew up in rural Texas and graduated from Southwestern University before beginning a career in nonprofits in 2010 as an AmeriCorps member teaching science after school. Outside of work, Barbara enjoys spending time playing games, reading, watching documentaries, hiking, and stargazing. Meet Matt, a nature aficionado who’s danced with the National Park Service and twirled through the US Forest Service.

When not busy championing conservation, you’ll catch them casting lines for trout, trekking through the wild with a backpack, or sprucing up trails for others. Katherine grew up in the Colorado foothills and started exploring the US after graduating from Colorado State University. She has since lived in Minnesota, Wyoming, and Washington.

Katherine studied business finance and has worked for many years in credit underwriting. After transitioning to a compliance role for a post-secondary trade school, she found great enjoyment in compliance and regulatory work. Joining the ACE team in May 2024 put her diverse skillset to work and brings her passion for the outdoors into her career.

When not working, she loves exploring new places with her husband and two dogs, hiking, skiing, and cooking. Erin grew up in the swamps, springs, and coastal pine forests of Florida’s panhandle. She earned a BS in Environmental Science and an MS in Biological Oceanography, with an interlude between degrees to serve in the US Peace Corps in Cameroon, West Africa as an Environmental Education Volunteer.

Erin left academic science to lead trail crews for youth and adults in the Western United States. She moved back to the biodiverse Southeast in 2019 to continue to foster connections between people and place through hands on experiences in science and exploration in Southern Appalachia. Erin is excited to return to the Conservation Crew world with ACE.

I have lived in the desert my whole life and have developed a huge appreciation for it. I knew at an early age that I wanted to work outdoors, learning about wildlife. I find joy in connecting people to nature and building relationships.

For the past few years, I have been working with a conservation corps. from Indio, California working on projects like trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and educational outreach events. I am excited to be a part of the ACE team because I get to make connections with people while making a positive in my community and our wildland areas.

Jay was raised in the city of champions, Pittsburgh PA. They grew up with a deep admiration for nature from recreating in the surrounding Laurel Highlands and the Wild and Wonderful West Virginia Applachian mountains. With no prior experience Jay departed the great Steel City for Asheville in fall of 2022 to begin as a member with ACE SEN.

After working in some of the Mid Atlantic’s and Southeast’s most stunning public land as both a member and crew leader, they decided to begin dedicating themselves to ACE’s mission and to helping people begin their public service just as they had, with ACE SEN as a Member Support Coordinator. In their off time you can find them climbing, hiking, or enjoying a lazy day by the river. Abby grew up running around the woods of New Jersey.

She moved to Salt Lake and later found ACE in 2016. Her time as a crew member in Flagstaff fostered her love for the desert and inspired her to go back to school, earning a BS in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from the University of Utah. From there, she served as an Invasive Species Monitoring EPIC Intern, surveying trails all throughout the Gros Ventre Wilderness.

After nearly a decade of teaching skiing and some brief compliance work, Abby is thrilled to be back to begin her full time journey with ACE. During her free time, you can find Abby in the garden, on her sewing machine, mountain biking, skiing, or trying to chase her dog Lefty up and down trails along the Wasatch. Saige grew up in Wisconsin where she earned her degree from UW Madison in zoology and environmental studies.

Her diversity of experience, ranging from leading a conservation crew in the desert, teaching English as a second language in Peru, guiding backpacking trips in Glacier National Park, climbing endangered pine trees for the National Park Service, and coordinating youth conservation programming, has led her to ACE! She is passionate about helping others find their passion for outdoor work.

Saige enjoys fly-fishing, backpacking, and trying to keep up with her dog. Amy has a deep love and commitment to preserving and protecting public lands. She holds a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management and over 15 years of nonprofit experience.

Before joining ACE, she dedicated four years to working seasonally in renowned national parks, including Yellowstone, Olympic, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and Big Bend. Amy lives full-time in her truck camper, is an avid hiker, fermentation enthusiast, and amateur forager.

Brenda has over 25 years of extensive human resources experience, including 15+ years of HR Leadership, a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, an advanced mediation & conflict resolution certification, a human resources management certification, a PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certification, a SHRM-CP (SHRM Certified Professional), and a COMP TIA Project+ (Project Management) certification.

Additionally, she is completing her Master of Arts, Conflict Management & Resolution (Organizational Track) degree at Abilene Christian University, and is graduating in May. In her spare time, Brenda volunteers as a Court Mediator at the Neighborhood Mediation Center in Reno, NV, and is serving on the Board of Directors as the Secretary at the Nevada Dispute Resolution Coalition.

Brenda resides in the Lake Tahoe, NV area with her family, and is very excited to join our team at ACE. She enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking and skiing, and makes sure that she leaves the area in better shape than she arrived, such as picking up trash. Jackie spent her childhood in the eastern US where she developed a vast appreciation for the outdoors.

She channeled this enthusiasm for nature into her studies at the University of Vermont, where she received her BS in Animal Science with a focus in wildlife biology. She got her first taste of conservation and land management field work as a member with ACE.

That six month term launched her career traveling the country, working seasonally on public lands with wildlife species for state and federal agencies such as the National Park Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Now, as a member of the ACE staff, she looks forward to supporting others in growing and pursuing their