Explore summer internships and seasonal opportunities in Pottawattamie County and join a team of passionate and hardworking humans who are doing their best to make this world a little brighter.

At Pottawattamie Conservation, we believe our work should do so much more than provide beautiful natural areas for the public to enjoy for generations to come. We also want our work to:

• Inspire our community to make changes that improve and benefit our environment,
• Rejuvenate the wellbeing of not only our visitors but the ecosystems we all rely on for clean air and water, and
• Ultimately help heal our relationship with the land we inhabit and are forgetting how to care for.

We're growing our team and looking to find passionate and experienced individuals who believe in what we do.

Will YOU join us?

Summer Internships | Must be 18+

Pottawattamie Conservation offers a variety of fun and challenging learning and career opportunities for budding students who are looking to gain hands-on experience, grow their skills, and expand their knowledge.

Environmental Education Intern | Full-time | May to August 

Our Environmental Education Internships are a wonderful fit for students looking to educate the public about conservation and wildlife, manage summer camps, lead programs, and create learning materials.

Duties include but are not limited to developing and presenting all aspects of interpretive programs including summer camps, general public programs, school programs, and special events under the supervision of the Environmental Education Coordinator and Naturalists and producing environmental education content for the website, social media, and more.

Park Ranger Intern | Full-time | May to September

Our Park Ranger Internships are perfect for students interested in learning the ins and outs of maintaining a park, connecting with the public, and enforcing the law and park rules. Become a jack of all trades! Park Ranger internships are available at Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park/Old Town Park, and Hitchcock Nature Center/Narrows River Park.

Duties include but are not limited to; supervision of other seasonal staff and volunteers, collection of fees, public safety, public relations, planning of events, light construction, park maintenance, environmental education, and other duties as required.  Job duties require a considerable amount of physical activity, including walking, standing, kneeling, crouching, reaching, stooping, and climbing.

• Park Ranger Intern | Arrowhead Park | Neola, IA

  • Arrowhead Park (147 acres) features include: a 17-acre fishing lake, hiking trails, modern and camping cabins, RV and tent camping, shower house, horseback riding, paddleboat and canoe rental, shelter rentals, playground, lodge

• Park Ranger Intern | Botna Bend Park & Old Town Park | Hancock, IA & Macedonia, IA

  • Botna Bend Park (119 acres) features include: bison and elk herds, West Nishnabotna Water Trail river access, boat ramp, RV and tent camping, shower house, hiking trails, archery range, disc gof, Rubber Duck Outfitters, playground, lodge
  • Old Town Park (9.5 acres) features include: West Nishnabotna Water Trail river access, boat ramp, RV and tent camping, Rubber Duck Outfitters, playground
  • This position will also provide park ranger support at Pottawattamie Conservation habitat areas Farm Creek Public Wildlife Area (320 acres) and Wheeler Grove Conservation Area (247 acres).

• Park Ranger Intern | Hitchcock Nature Center & Narrows River Park | Honey Creek, IA & Council Bluffs, IA

  • Hitchcock Nature Center (1,300 acres) features include: stunning vistas of southwestern Iowa's Loess Hills, more than 10 miles of hiking trails, an observation deck and 50-ft tower, Loess Hills Lodge gallery and facility rentals, camping cabins, RV and tent camping, backcountry camping, archery range, playground
  • Narrows River Park (36 acres) features include: Missouri River access, boat ramp, shelter rentals, archery range, native garden, seasonal hiking trails, playground

Seasonal Park Aides

Our Seasonal Park Aide positions are perfect for students, retirees, and individuals who are comfortable with grounds, road, and trail maintenance and enjoy engaging with the public.

Duties include but are not limited to; assist Park Ranger with the management of county parks including maintenance and public relations, register campers, collect user, camper and other miscellaneous fees and provide receipts of payment, prepare and collect fees for shelter rentals, perform routine ground maintenance in parks and assigned properties including, but not limited to mowing, trimming, pruning, and trash removal, perform road and trail maintenance duties such as blading and filing holes, perform routine building maintenance and clean and stock supplies in park facilities such as restrooms, shower houses, and shelters, perform other functions as directed or as the situation dictates.

• Seasonal Park Aide | Arrowhead Park | Neola, IA | May to August

• Seasonal Park Aide | Narrows River Park | May to August

• Seasonal Park Aide | Botna Bend Park & Old Town Park | Hancock, IA & Macedonia, IA | May to August

 Natural Areas Management

Please note: Our Natural Areas Management internships are now all filled. Thank you to everyone who applied!

Our Natural Areas Management internships and seasonal positions are a dream for students and individuals who enjoy working hard outdoors, managing invasive species, and learning land management techniques that keep your public parks beautiful. Positions for Summer 2023 are now all filled, but keep an eye out for next year's opportunities!