Canal Quarters Preservation Internship

Job Description

Canal Quarters Preservation Internship | Maryland Nonprofits

The Tone:
This is a six-month, paid career development internship at the C&O Canal Trust, which operates under Maryland Nonprofits, located across the C&O Canal National Historical Park region with office time in Williamsport, MD. The C&O Canal Trust is the official nonprofit philanthropic partner to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, protecting the largest national park in the Washington, D.C. region. This role is crucial for preserving historic structures within the park through the Canal Quarters program, ensuring visitor enjoyment and supporting the park’s historical and natural resources. You will contribute to a passionate team dedicated to the outdoors, cultural significance, and public service.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-time, Temporary
• Location: In-person, Williamsport, MD
• Pay: $20 hourly
• Team: Reports to the Canal Quarters Manager
• Mission: To support the preservation, maintenance, and interpretation of historic lockhouses for the Canal Quarters program, enhancing visitor experience and program operations.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace

What You’ll Actually Do
• Maintenance: Perform maintenance tasks and conduct inventory checks on historic lockhouses, including occasional cleaning and monitoring supplies.
• Guest Services: Provide direct guest support, troubleshoot issues, and assist with guest service communication, including weekend on-call duties.
• Program Development: Collaborate on expanding program offerings and enhancing guest experiences, including improving interpretive materials at the lockhouses.
• Logistics Management: Oversee contracted services and manage logistical needs, such as firewood procurement, splitting, and stocking for lockhouses.
• Outreach & Volunteer Coordination: Serve as a point of contact for the Quartermaster volunteer program and support various educational and outreach events.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program, with an interest in nonprofit management and cultural resource preservation.
• Experience: 1+ years of relevant experience in maintenance, interpretation, museums, and/or facilities management.
• Skills: Keen attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, excellent written and verbal communication, strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask, and a high degree of professionalism.
• Bonus: Basic understanding of historic preservation, historic structures, and the C&O Canal is preferred; experience and proficiency working with hand tools, power tools, painting, HVAC systems, and cleaning implements is also preferred.