My life after the internship

In our remix version of ‘where are they now?,’ we asked a few of our past interns to give us an update on where life took them after the internship. While we are lucky enough to still work with a few, some fled the nest and are working on some outstanding projects!

At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we have a number of internship and employment programs for high school and college students and recent graduates. If you’re not involved already, find out about a few of our programs below and then check out where some of our previous interns are now after their experience with us.

Youth Conservation Corps (YCC): The Youth Conservation Corps is a summer work program designed for youth between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. Under the direction of a trained leader, youth work in summer crews on essential management issues, such as invasive species removal, trail maintenance and habitat restoration. YCC is for youth who are interested in gainful summer employment in the outdoors.

Click here to learn more about our youth programs and volunteer opportunities.

Pathways: The Pathways Program provides students in high schools, colleges, trade schools and other qualifying educational institutions with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore federal careers while completing their education.

Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP): Our Career Discovery Internhip Program is an award winning program created in partnership with the Student Conservation Association to help prepare the next generation of wildlife professionals and managers.

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We’ll continue to update this page with posts from our past internship participants. Subscribe to our blog, or check back often and keep your eyes peeled to find out where they are now.

• First up is Melissa Lesh, an avid outdoors woman that now puts her love for nature into film.
• Lauren Deaderick finds a way to stay connected to the Service in her position with the Department of Transportation.
• Erica Locher has been leading and expanding outreach and education programs on the shores of Virginia Beach.
• Adam McNeil is lending his hand to conservation through cultural resource work at national park sites.
• Gabriel Harper is serving as a federal wildlife officer just outside the nation’s capital.
• Ryan Kleinert is living his dream helping to protect shorebirds in Rhode Island.