CAREERS IN CONSERVATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Work with TCA staff implementing wildlife conservation projects around Texas in our 10-week and 12-week internship programs. Scroll down to learn more.

Internship Application (PDF)

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This page was last updated on 4/17/2025

Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) is seeking interns who are passionate about protecting Texas wildlife and their habitats. Our Careers in Conservation Internship Program is helping train the future conservation leaders of Texas. Participants work alongside TCA’s seasoned conservation professionals and experience the frontlines of saving wildlife and their habitats in the state. Internship projects vary, but the opportunity to develop technical acumen, exercise transferable skills, and cultivate conservation leadership is integral to every TCA experience.

Selected candidates will work with TCA staff to implement wildlife conservation projects. Our 10-week/12-week* internship offers opportunities to make positive impacts for wildlife and provides valuable hands on learning experiences and professional development opportunities applicable to future careers in sustainability and conservation.

*Lights Out Dallas, Lights Out Fort Worth, and Lights Out College Station internships will be 12 weeks long.

Internship Duration & Application Deadlines

Organization: Texas Conservation Alliance, state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation
1 Position Available for Summer 2025: Native Plant Restoration Intern, DFW
Job type: 10-week Internship
Target hire date: May 26, 2025
Start date: June 2, 2025
End date: August 9, 2025
Schedule: 15 hours per week, including occasional weekends
Work location: Projects are conducted in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and are paired with required online check-ins (Mondays, 12 pm – 1 pm), reporting, and intern cohort collaboration
Stipend: TCA is pleased to provide an internship stipend of $1000/semester ($200 distributed bi-weekly)

Internship Application (PDF)

Potential Projects

Organize wildlife habitat restoration events.

Restoring degraded wildlife habitat is critical to the conservation of species. Interns will research opportunities, build community partnerships, and coordinate event logistics. Potential projects include litter pollution removal from Texas waterways, planting native plants, and removing invasive species to restore prairie, and reforestation through community tree-planting events.

Propagate native prairie plants.

Interns based in the Dallas-area can gain experience working with and learning more about Texas native plants and greenhouse propagation methods at the Native Plant Propagation Center, located at and in partnership with the Dallas Zoo. The Center cultivates well over 10,000 seedlings each year across more than 100 species of native grasses, shrubs, and forbs for prairie conservation around the state.

Lead bird collision surveys (spring and fall only).

Lights Out Texas is a statewide behavior-change campaign aimed at saving migratory birds from building-collisions by encouraging businesses and residents to turn off non-essential lights during spring and fall migration. Bird collision surveys are an important component of the scientific research of this campaign. TCA leads surveys in downtown Dallas and Fort Worth as well as on-campus at Texas A&M University, College Station, during spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) migration seasons. Interns will help lead the survey two days each week in addition to another project.

Promote Lights Out for Wildlife.

Interns will strengthen the Lights Out for Wildlife brand by promoting the behavior-change campaign through community outreach, social media marketing techniques, and presentations. Interns may also help reach out to municipality officials, business owners, and community members to encourage taking action during bird migrations. Lights Out for Wildlife is a program to certify homes, businesses, and/or buildings by taking Lights Out action to save birds and other wildlife impacted by light pollution. Interns will assist in promoting the certification program and create strategies to encourage participation.