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Students and Early Careers

Students and Early Careers

Start your Forest Service journey

Explore paid outdoor projects, full-ride scholarships, and professional internships protecting national forests and grasslands.

High School and Career Training

Group of youth working outdoors together

Best for first-time workers ages 15 to 24 seeking trade skills, residential experience, or a meaningful outdoor career experience.

  • Youth Conservation Corps
    Get paid to work as part of a team on fun, outdoorsy projects like trail building and wildlife research. A perfect first job for teens ages 15 to 18 looking to spend their summer in the national forests.

  • Job Corps
    A residential program for ages 16 to 24 where you can finish your high school education or GED while earning vocational certificates in over 30 high-growth trades, from forestry to wildland firefighting.

Conservation and Service Corps

Field-based stewardship and immersive experiences working on National Forests and Grasslands.

  • Public Lands Corps
    Work on stewardship and restoration projects to earn a "Non-competitive Hiring Authority." This provides a significant advantage when applying for permanent federal positions. Ages 16 to 30.

  • Indian Youth Service Corps
    Paid experience protecting cultural and natural resources on Indian lands. Earn hiring priority while gaining skills in natural resources management. Ages 16 to 30.

  • Resource Assistants Program
    Immersive 6 to 12 month internships for individuals over 17 ready for opportunities in natural and cultural resources management.

  • National Civilian Community Corps Forest Corps
    An 11-month traveling program where you'll mitigate wildfire risk and support reforestation. Includes a living allowance, communal housing, and a $7,300 education award upon completion. For ages 18 to 24.

Youth in forest use hand tools.

Professional and Academic Internships

Two people review mapping software on screens.

Gain professional experience while in school or recently graduated. Many programs include specialized housing and travel support.

  • Pathways Internships
    Paid full or part-time for high school,  college students, or recent graduates typically 16 and up. Program lengths vary.

  • HACU
    Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program. Paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students in career fields such as Forestry, GIS, Public Affairs, Natural Resources, Research, and more. 

  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund 
    Paid summer roles in GIS, Forestry, and Public Affairs for HBCU students; includes provided housing and specialized mentorship.

  • CAPAL
    Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership Public Service Internship Program. Develop public service leadership skills through policy and research internships; open to permanent residents and certain visa holders.

  • USDA Wallace-Carver Fellowship
    Elite 8-week research placements with world-renowned scientists for alumni of the World Food Prize Youth Program.

Scholarships

Complete financial support for students attending specific universities in exchange for a commitment to public service.

  • USDA 1890 National Scholars
    Full tuition, fees, and books for students at 19 historically Black universities (HBCUs). Includes paid summer internships and a direct path to a permanent USDA career.

  • USDA 1994 Tribal Scholars
    Comprehensive financial support for students at 35 Tribal colleges (TCUs) pursuing degrees in agriculture or natural resources. Prepares you for long-term leadership in tribal and public lands.

Two people on deck overlooking water

The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.