Individual Placement - Visitor Services Tour Guide and Ranger Assistant

Position Summary 

Intern will work under the guidance of staff assigned by the Chief of Natural Resources at the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden located at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal. Intern will be expected to participate in all aspects of visitor services and recreation programs such as water safety outreach, interpretation, guiding tours, and staffing the information desk at the project’s Class A Regional Visitor Center.

Location 

Seattle, WA

Schedule 

May 11, 2026 - August 28, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Roles include that of Tour Guide and Visitor Assistant.
   1. Responsible for guiding tours of the project which encompasses two navigational locks, a spillway dam, Visitor Center, Fish Ladder, and Botanical Garden.
2. Intern will staff the Visitor Center’s front desk, greeting guests, answering questions, and coordinating ranger response when issues are reported.
3. The Intern will inspire meaningful connections between the multidimensional role of the Army and the Corps and their contributions to the Nation with project visitors. Overarching themes include the Four Critical Missions: Water Control (salinity and lake level), Fish Passage, and Navigation. Other themes include Salmon Migration (Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho), Carl S. English Jr. and the Botanical Garden (cultural landscape and ecologically sensitive area), influential people (e.g., Hiram M. Chittenden, Carl Gould), and functional components of the facilities.
4. Assist in performing crowd control and support along the two navigational locks and spillway dam.
5. Assist with ensuring pedestrian traffic continue moving across critical points along navigational features like the top of the miter gates so that Lock and Dam operators can seamlessly provide navigation.

Marginal Duties 

1. Intern will also answer questions and provide roving interpretation in this role.

Required Qualifications 

1. Must be 18 years of age.
2. Must be able to work extended periods in the outdoors during adverse conditions such as heat, cold or rain.
3. Must wear required attire provided by SCA while on duty.
4. Possess good verbal and written communications skills.
5. Must demonstrate a high level of professionalism and motivation to inspire visitors.
6. Must be motivated to educate and inspire others using various interpretive styles and to various demographics of visitors (e.g., children, adults, international visitors).

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in public speaking and/or working with the public

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Project Intern will provide their own housing. Housing stipend is $1800 a month.

Compensation  

• $600 Weekly Living Allowance
• $50 Weekly Commuting Allowance
• $1800 Monthly Housing Allowance (4 disbursements)
• Visitor Services Uniform Package
• Not to exceed $650 in reimbursable to/from travel funding if not already living locally and relocation required (Receipts required)

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits 

• Interpretive Skills
• AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.