Individual Placement-Alaska-Visual Communications & Visitor Services

Position Summary

Design, interpret, and explore the Arctic - one summer, many hats!

Do you dream of a slower-paced life in the wild - but know your way around digital media like a pro? We've got Starlink. You've got graphic design talent.

If you've ever struggled to choose between very different internships, this is your chance to experience it all. As a Visual Communications & Visitor Services intern with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, you'll support nearly every aspect of the summer season.

Application Requirement: Please include a link to your online portfolio or attach a PDF portfolio with your application to be considered.

Location

Coldfoot,AK

Schedule

April 27, 2026 - September 27, 2026

*Dates are flexible by 1-2 weeks.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Your work will include:

Using your graphic design skills to create impactful educational and interpretive products for visitors

Interpreting the Arctic for guests at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (AIVC), where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Park Service (NPS) collaborate to steward some of America's wildest landscapes

Spending time in the field, supporting biological work, law enforcement and visitor use management

Creating written, photographic, and design content to reach and communicate with Arctic Refuge's visitors

Assisting refuge management with summer field logistics

What You'll Do:

40% Visual Information Specialist

o Use Adobe Suite to design or improve interpretive products - brochures, posters, exhibits, or print PDFs

o Write compelling copy for websites, publications or other audiences

o Conduct archival research and produce an educational webpage to document and interpret the historical significance of Lake Peters Research Station on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

30% Arctic Interagency Visitor Center Interpretive Ranger

o Welcome and assist visitors at the AIVC front desk

o Deliver weekly formal interpretive programs and daily pop-up talks and guided walks (training provided)

o Share knowledge about Arctic, Yukon Flats, and Kanuti National Wildlife Refuges and nearby treasures like Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Dalton Highway Corridor

o Inspire travelers to make personal connections with these extraordinary places

20% Arctic Refuge Logistics

o Lead the refuge's gear organization and maintenance efforts

o Transport gear and supplies to study sites

o Assist staff with preparations for field work or biological studies

Marginal Duties

10% Backcountry Field Work

o Assist with biological surveys, law enforcement patrols, or refuge clean-up projects

o Document refuge structures for historic preservation

Employer-sponsored excursions to the Arctic Ocean and Continental Divide

Extensive training includes formal and informal interpretation, bear safety & awareness, First Aid/CPR, defensive driving and firearms training for bear defense (interns will not be required to carry a firearm, but may be around firearms during field work)

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate is:

Adaptable & Positive: Thrives in remote, challenging environments

Emotionally Intelligent: Works well in collaborative, public-facing settings

Resilient: Comfortable with limited cell and Wi-Fi connectivity, 24-hour daylight, and rugged conditions

Self-Directed: Takes initiative while contributing to a team-oriented, macro-management approach

Adventurous: Ready to embrace both the challenges and rewards of living in the Arctic

Desired Qualifications

Experience in storytelling and crafting copy that is clear, authentic and emotionally resonant

Ability to plan and create visual graphics for print, digital, and web

Skilled in collaborating with staff and partners to develop messaging and coordinate deliverables

Familiarity with preparing electronic files for commercial printing

Organized, creative, and collaborative - capable of managing projects from concept through final product

Proven ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling visuals and texts

Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Canva, and Microsoft Suite.

Interest or experience in public lands and conservation messaging

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications

This internship is for someone eager to contribute to key refuge objectives while gaining hands-on experience in multiple aspects of National Wildlife Refuge Management. You're a great fit if you:

Have interest and skills in visual media - such as creative writing, photography, and graphic design

Enjoy connecting with people and helping them build their own connection to nature through formal and informal interpretation

Are organized and detail-oriented, especially in planning and communication

Thrive on variety and like work that changes from day to day

Are motivated, self-directed learner

Comfortable in backcountry wilderness settings

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

Housing is provided. This position will be based in Coldfoot or Fairbanks, AK. The intern will occasionally travel between the two as well as to other remote communities near the refuge and into the backcountry.

Coldfoot, Alaska - located 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range - is remote, rugged, and stunningly beautiful. Life here means joining a tight-knit community of about 40 people and experiencing endless daylight during summer, with the aurora returning by late August. Expect rustic, off-grid living in a dry cabin powered by solar energy, along with opportunities for hiking, rafting, berry picking, and wildlife viewing. Community celebrations, shared dinners with coworkers, and adventures in some of the least-visited parks and refuges in the U.S. are part of the experience. Facilities are limited, and the nearest grocery store and medical care are 250 miles away in Fairbanks.

Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior and the second largest in the state after Anchorage. The Fairbanks North Star Borough is home to approximately 100,000 people, a university, big box stores, an international airport, public transportation, public utilities, and nearly all other modern amenities you would find in a city. Fairbanks hosts several summer attractions and events, a vibrant arts and performance community, cultural celebrations, and a vast recreational trail system.

Compensation

$760/week living allowance

$1,500 one-time travel stipend

$500 duty-related reimbursements for gear and duty travel

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

Personal Vehicle Information

Not needed

Additional Benefits

Bear Safety

Defensive Driving Training

First Aid/CPR

Interpretive Skills

AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Additional Information

The Dalton Highway

This rugged, industrial road begins 84 miles north of Fairbanks and stretches 414 miles to Deadhorse at Prudhoe Bay. It offers a rare chance to travel through one of Alaska's most remote and sparsely populated regions, which also happens to be one of the most rapidly changing places on the planet. Each year, thousands of visitors journey along this route to experience iconic landmarks such as:

The Yukon River

The Arctic Circle marker

The Brooks Range and Continental Divide

The sweeping North Slope

Coldfoot, Alaska

While modern amenities are scarce, outdoor opportunities abound - mountains to climb, forests and tundra to explore, rivers to raft, and berries to pick (along with plenty of mosquitoes)! Coldfoot is home to a cafe, a small inn, a post office, the northernmost saloon in the U.S., a small airstrip, and the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center. There are no shops or entertainment venues but spend an evening in the cafe conversing with Dalton Highway truckers, locals, and adventurers and you'll see why the region has been featured in multiple reality TV shows.

Climate & Conditions

Summer weather varies widely: cool and rainy days, warm sunny stretches, and occasional snow or freezing temperatures - even in midsummer. Wildfire smoke can sometimes affect air quality. Expect summer highs in the 50s-70s and lows in the 30s-40s.

Services & Accessibility

Facilities are extremely limited for hundreds of miles. Gas and cell service are available only in Coldfoot. Wi-Fi and hot running water are available 24/7 only at the visitor center. The nearest grocery store and medical care are 250 miles away in Fairbanks, with schedules allowing periodic resupply trips. Placements will stock up on 6-8 weeks of food prior to departing Fairbanks for the season. Dry goods and other supplies may be shipped to the Coldfoot Post Office (Amazon deliveries take about two weeks).

Wildlife & Safety

The Brooks Range and boreal forest are home to large mammals including black bears, grizzlies, moose, and wolves. Placements must maintain clean campsites and worksites to avoid attracting bears. Bear spray will be provided and must be carried during outdoor work.

Ready to Embrace the Arctic?

If you're passionate about public lands, interpretation, and adventure, this is your chance to make a difference while exploring one of the most extraordinary places on Earth.

Questions? Contact:

Hanna McBrearty

Ph: 612-716-0409

hanna_mcbrearty@fws.gov

TolearnmoreaboutUSFWS,visit:www.fws.gov

TolearnmoreaboutKanutiNationalWildlifeRefuge,visit:https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kanuti/orhttps://www.facebook.com/Kanuti.Refuge/

TolearnmoreaboutYukonFlatsNationalWildlifeRefuge,visit:https://www.fws.gov/refuge/yukon_flats/orhttps://www.facebook.com/YukonFlatsNationalWildlifeRefuge

TolearnmoreaboutArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge,visit:https://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic/orhttps://www.facebook.com/arcticnationalwildliferefuge/

TolearnmoreabouttheArcticInteragencyVisitorCenter,visithttps://www.blm.gov/learn/interpretive-centers/arctic-interagency-visitor-center

TolearnmoreaboutGatesoftheArcticNationalPark,visit:https://www.nps.gov/gaar/

TolearnmoreabouttheDaltonHighwayCorridor,visit:https://www.blm.gov/visit/dalton-highway

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.

Salary : $760 - $1,500