Memorial Park Naturalist Intern II

Full Job Description

SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS
NATURALIST INTERNSHIP
SUMMER 2026

Intern Position: Naturalist Intern

Department: San Mateo County Parks Department

Location: Memorial Park, Loma Mar

Term of Assignment: May to September

Salary: $23.24 per hour

San Mateo County’s Memorial Park is located in Loma Mar, California. This park has hiking, camping and picnicking facilities. Memorial is a very popular camping destination for people all over the Bay Area.

As such, during the summer (peak camping season), activities have been offered to entertain and educate campers and day visitors. Activities in the past have included day and night hikes, arts and crafts, and campfire programs and movies.

Memorial Park is home to many unique habitats in San Mateo County and has an interesting natural history.

The endangered Marbled Murrelet is a bird that nests in Coast Redwoods and is suffering from disappearing habitat and increasing populations of scavenger birds.

A Naturalist Intern would serve as an ambassador for this bird and promote the Crumb Clean Campaign, an effort to keep parks free of food and garbage, at each program they hold.

NOTE: This is an extra-help, at-will assignment, paid on an hourly basis. Some extra help positions are eligible for benefits under the Affordable Care Act. Extra help employees are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the assignment.

Requirements

A Naturalist Intern for Memorial Park would be responsible for:

• Scheduling weekly visitor activities and promoting upcoming events
• Organizing and leading visitor activities, including event set-up and clean-up
  1. Examples of activities include, but are not limited to, guided hikes, campfire program and movie night, arts and craft activities, and scavenger hunts.
• Preserving the appearance of the Visitor Center
• Role in Camping for Youth Groups Program:
  1. Responsible for greeting group, assisting in campsite up, and orientation upon arrival on Friday
  2. Responsible for assisting with camp break down on Sunday
  3. Responsible for taking inventory of and cleaning gear material and returning rentals to store
• Keeping inventory of Naturalist Program supplies
• Educating visitors on the Crumb Clean Campaign
• Touring campgrounds and welcoming visitors to the park
• Assisting with Interpretive Division hikes/programs

An intern will need to be trained to use County radios and to drive County vehicles. In an emergency, a Naturalist Intern may need to perform duties that otherwise Park Aides would perform, such as staffing the gatehouse and communicating with County Control.

Two candidates will be selected for this position and work together for the duration of the internship.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Current or recently graduated students, with at least one year of college level education in Environmental Science, Forestry, Biological Sciences, or related fields
• Experience communicating with the public
• General knowledge of plants, animals, fungi in a Redwood forest habitat
• Previous experience working with children is preferred
• Interest and enthusiasm for the environment
• CPR/First Aid certified (may be able to attend parks training)
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License

Hours

• Thursday: 10 hour telework day
• Friday: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
• Saturday: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
• Sunday: 10:30 AM – 8PM

*Please note that there are no housing facilities at the park for interns. You are responsible for your own housing, meals, and transportation to and from the park.

Additional Information

How to apply
Please apply with your Resume and Cover Letter.

Contact
For questions about this internship, please contact Katherine Wright at kewright@smcgov.org . For questions/comments/issues relating to the application process and material submissions, please contact Chaten Berry at cberry@smcgov.org.