Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust

Land Conservation Internship 2026

Description

The Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust’s work permanently preserves and stewards land on Vashon and Maury Islands in the heart of the Puget Sound. Our Stewardship program consists mainly of on-site preserve management, habitat restoration, trail maintenance, new trail construction, and invasive species removal. Interns work with the Stewardship team and report to the Stewardship Director. The position includes housing, informal educational opportunities, native plant identification, restoration design, and community science data collection. This internship will also take us to the Olympic Peninsula for a week to continue our volunteer work with the Elwha tribe on restoration work related to dam removal and resource management. 

The VMILT seeks to fill 3 seasonal positions on our Stewardship crew from June 8, 2026, through November 19, 2026.

Essential Functions

Preserve Stewardship

• Work with crew members to accomplish a variety of stewardship actions, including but not limited to habitat restoration, preserve maintenance, invasive weed removal, and tool maintenance.
• Conduct regular trail maintenance and assist with new trail construction, including weed whacking, turnpike and boardwalk building, and brush clearing.
• Fall planting of new restoration sites and/or supplemental planting in existing sites.
• Engage with community members in volunteer work parties on preserves.
• Complete small construction projects, building kiosks, and installing trail signs and trail structures.
• Maintenance of buildings and other infrastructure owned by The Vashon Land Trust. 
• Represent Vashon Land Trust to preserve visitors, neighbors, and community members.

Requirements

Candidates must have enthusiasm for working outdoors and an interest in building a career in Conservation/Natural Resource Management. Candidates should be capable of spending large parts of the day working outdoors in varying weather conditions and performing physically challenging tasks during the internship.  Conservation interns may be required to work occasional weekend dates during the summer to support the Land Trust’s special events.

Candidates should be self-motivated and able to motivate others while developing leadership skills as the job allows.  Candidates must be able to work well and live well together as a group while having fun and completing challenging projects that benefit the environment and the community. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license. Appropriate fields of study include but are not limited to: conservation biology, ecology, natural resources management, and agriculture. Vashon Land Trust also values the lived experience that applicants may bring to the position, particularly those who come from communities historically marginalized in

mainstream outdoor opportunities, such as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and encourages all to apply.

Compensation and Schedule

This position includes an hourly wage of $20/hour, shared housing, accrued sick time, accrued vacation time, paid holidays, and a gear stipend. This position is full-time at 40 hours/week, non-exempt, and temporary (June 8- November 19, 2026). Shifts are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm (4x10) with occasional weekend special event scheduling.  Interns share a three-bedroom furnished apartment with shared living space, bathroom, and kitchen with all utilities included.

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