High School Internships

Appalachian Headwaters’ 2026 Summer Opportunities for High School Students are available to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. This 10-week program is designed to give students real-world experience with a variety of outdoors-focused career paths. They will work with our resident ecologist, habitat restoration specialists, and experiential educators, as well as our summer college interns.

High school interns potting native plants.

Interns work with visiting Dickinson entomologist Maggie Douglas.

An intern leads a hike during Waldo Day Camp.

Paid High School Summer Internships at Wood Thrush Park

Appalachian Headwaters’ 2026 Summer High School Internships are available to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in the Greenbrier Valley. This 10-week program is designed to give students real-world experience with a variety of outdoors-focused career paths. They will work with our ecology director, education team, habitat restoration team, and our summer college interns. Internship activities include collaboratively planning and leading diverse programming at our nature-based Waldo Day Camp, developing exciting wildlife research skills and ecological restoration techniques, outdoor adventuring, and strengthening leadership and communication skills.

This program will provide hands-on learning opportunities to promote intellectual curiosity, and to support motivated students to take the next steps to succeed in college and future careers.

Dates, Schedules, Compensation

June 8 – August 14; 40 hours/week

$4000 stipend for full period

Program Goals

Inspire younger students to learn, explore and connect at Waldo Day Camp as6 camp counselors
Gain hands-on experience in field-based science and habitat restoration work focused on native plants and pollinators, led by experts in their fields
Contribute to understanding of biodiversity at a one-of-a-kind regional environmental education and wildlife monitoring facility
Develop knowledge, skills and perspectives from working with a diverse team that builds towards college and future job opportunities

Activities

All field activities are weather-dependent and involve regular physical activity outdoors.
Interns will do goal-setting with the internship team. Team will conduct weekly check-ins and a final evaluation.
Interns will work as camp counselors during Waldo Day Camp and participate in a youth overnight camping experience during the summer (there may also be a camping experience during training).
Students will have the opportunity to define an independent project to complete during the internship period.

Location: Jobsite is located at 334 Richland Ln, Lewisburg, WV (6 miles west of downtown).

High School Internships