College students looking for hands-on experience in conservation have until March 15 to submit an application for a summer internship with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

As a former intern, part of the challenge and joy of spending a summer with AGFC was seeing how conservation and preservation efforts were generated from a variety of people with a variety of skills. It is rewarding not only to see the progress that is made in such a short amount of time, but to have a part in that success.

Internships are available for a broad range of academic majors, including forestry, wildlife management, fisheries management, environmental interpretation, environmental science, biological research and law enforcement.

Each of these part-time positions offers special opportunities and training to give students insight into the conservation field. For many, this is the chance to explore what research in a hatchery or lab for the agency looks like day-to-day.

Lauren Cannon, facility manager for Ponca Nature Center and post-secondary outreach coordinator, highlighted how these experiences can shape a student’s career path.

”Internships provide a clear vision of what the student wants out of their future by offering hands-on experience and exposure to various roles within the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,” Cannon said. “This allows students to identify areas where they could potentially fit within our agency.

“I wholeheartedly recommend our internship program over others because it strikes a balance between education and enjoyment,” she continued. “While interns gain valuable skills that will undoubtedly benefit them in a future career with AGFC, they also have the opportunity to engage in fun and meaningful experiences.”

Opportunities are available across the state for students in dozens of fields and interests. Internships can be up to 320 hours and pay an established hourly rate of $13 per hour with an approximate 40 hour work-week.

Selected interns must coordinate with their college or university directly to obtain course credit for this internship.

To apply, applicants must:

• Have a declared degree in a conservation field;
• Have 60 hours of college credits earned by the time the internship begins;
• Be a college student, be enrolled in a post-graduate program or must have graduated within the previous 12 months;
• Have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

Visit www.agfc.com/jobs to view all available positions and for more information on the internship program. Be sure to attach a current resume, one page cover letter and official college transcript to your application.