At John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Summer Naturalist Internship positions provide the opportunity to gain invaluable professional development and real-world experiences for recent college/university graduates with a degree in environmental education, biological sciences, and other related fields.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park was established in 1989, the only state park in Palm Beach County. The State Park was established to protect a diverse and undisturbed subtropical coastal habitat from development. The Park is named for John D. MacArthur, whose generosity allowed the State of Florida to secure the land. The purpose was and is still today, to protect a very rare and spectacularly beautiful piece of Florida’s southeast coast.

Summer Naturalist Interns at MacArthur Beach will take on leadership roles in facilitating our Environmental Education Summer Camp, which is focused on environmental science and marine biology concepts. The main goal is for campers to walk away with a clear understanding of good stewardship and how to take care of our environment

 Summer Camp Activities include:

• Exploring coastal ecosystems on land and in the water
• Rock reef snorkeling and fish counts with campers
• Estuary seagrass surveys and biodiversity studies with campers
• Hiking and kayaking with campers
• Citizen Science Projects
• Zoom with a Scientist
• Marine Debris Cleanups
• Crafts, Songs, & Games

Summer Camp Intern Training will include:

• Water safety and kayak operations
• Best practices of working with children ages 6-17
• An understanding of coastal ecosystems
• Leading summer camp activities

Start Date: May 11, 2026

End Date: July 29, 2026 (flexible)

Summer Naturalist Intern Requirements:

• Experience or Interest in working with students of different age groups, backgrounds, and abilities
• Comfortable working in water and swimming
• Must be able to lift and carry objects and materials up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to safely navigate natural unimproved terrain and ensure the safety of program participants
• Must know, respect, and follow safety policies and procedures given by supervisory staff
• Must be able to consistently work in an outdoor setting with extreme weather conditions including but not limited to hot, sunny, humid, rainy, and/or cold days
• Undergraduates:
  • Good academic standing at a College/University with a GPA of 2.75 or higher
  • Must be able to work full time (40 hours/week)
• Recent Graduates:
  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, biology, environmental science, ecology, or a related field
  • Must be able to work full time (40 hours/week)

Compensation Information:

Naturalist Interns are not employees of the Florida Park Service nor the Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park, Inc. Naturalist interns are considered volunteers for the Florida Park Service.

• Undergraduates: Internship Credits can be earned during this internship position based on attendance and performance. Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park will work with an intern’s college/university for them to earn required credits. On-site housing may be available for those who qualify.
• Recent Graduates: Recent graduate interns have the option to receive a stipend, issued bi-weekly. Stipends are based on days worked (beginning the first day of work at the park – up to $450.00 bi-weekly). On-site housing may be available for those who qualify.