Summary
Are you a high school student interested in gaining hands-on environmental experience while working outdoors in King County parks? This opportunity with DNRP offers youth the chance to work alongside professionals on projects that support ecological restoration, public lands, and community connections to nature. Participants develop leadership and career skills, receive mentorship, and contribute to meaningful work that helps protect and sustain local parks and natural spaces.
About the Role:
King County Parks is offering 24 paid student internship opportunities for high school students interested in learning about public lands, environmental justice, and environmental career pathways. Interns participate in ecosystem restorations projects, workshops on various environmental topics, and creative independent projects. This is a six-week program that runs from Tuesday, July 7 - Thursday, August 13, 2026. Interns work 22 hours per week. This position follows a hybrid work model, blending remote and in-person work.
About the Team:
The King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps connects young people with environmental stewardship, career exploration, and community service through paid summer internships in local parks. Youth work alongside parks staff and community partners on ecological restoration and public land projects while developing leadership and job skills. The program promotes an inclusive, supportive team culture that expands opportunities for youth-especially those historically underrepresented in environmental fields-while advancing King County’s mission to protect natural spaces and build healthy, sustainable communities.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:
King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a YCC Intern you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .
Apply now for a rewarding career at the Apply now for a rewarding career at the King County Parks Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.
Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing :
This program is not your typical Youth Conservation Corps. Though restoration projects in Parks are a focus of the program, more than half of the internship experience involves workshops on different environmental topics and independent project work. Below is a typical weekly breakdown of the YCC:
- Mondays and Tuesdays are dedicated to workshops and field trips on topics such as rural and urban farming, environmental career exploration, environmental art, environmental justice, and much more!
- Wednesdays are spent in a local King County Park working on ecosystem restoration projects.
- Thursdays are virtual and are focused on creative independent projects.
Throughout the program, interns can expect to:
- Build skills related to ecological restoration and plant identification.
- Participate in workshops about local environmental challenges.
- Explore solutions to problemsimpactinghuman and environmental health.
- Develop and build career skills such as writing, public speaking, and interviewing.
- Complete creative independent projects.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring :
- Reside in King County.
- Must be at least 15 when program begins and a rising 10th, 11th or 12th grade student in King County.
- Interested in learning about Parks and the environment.
- Open-minded, inclusive, and enjoys working on a team.
- Able to attend entire 6-week internship program (Tuesday, July 7 - Thursday, August 13, 2026).
Competencies You Bring :
- Action Oriented : Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm
- Ensures Accountability : Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.
- Interpersonal Savvy : Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
- Demonstrates Self-Awareness : Using a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
- Self-Development : Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels.
Supplemental Information
- Work Location: We offer two program locations. Please indicate your preference in the supplemental questions:
- TAF Bethaday Community Learning Space, 605 SW 108th St, Seattle, WA 98146.
- Westhill Community Center (WHCC), 12320 80th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178
Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.
- Work Schedule: Work hours are Monday-Thursday each week as follows:
- Monday: 9am - 4pm meet at Bethaday or WHCC
- Tuesday: 9am - 4pm meet at Bethaday or WHCC.
- Wednesday: 9am - 2pm meet at Bethday or WHCC
- Thursday: 9 am -12 pm meet virtually from personal computer; All Thursdays throughout the program will be virtual except for the final Thursday on August 13. This day will be an end-of-program celebration. Interns should plan to be in-person from 9am-4 pm.
- This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
- Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.
- Duration: This recruitment aims to fill 24 Intern positions with a duration of 6 weeks during the summer of 2026.
Application and Selection Process:
We welcome applications from all qualified applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all background to apply.
Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a:
Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
Who to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Nia Williams at
[email protected].
Discover More About the Parks Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and Flickr .
Discover More About DNRP: Visit our website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.
Closing Date/Time: 4/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
