Northwest Youth Corps

Nez Perce National Historical Park

National Park Service

Lapwai, ID – 16 weeks

Position Title: Trade Skills Internship

Position Summary:

Nez Perce National Historical Park is recruiting two Trade Skills Intern beginning June 2025, working 40-hour work weeks Monday through Friday. This internship will be learning based, and will provide opportunities for the intern to grow, develop, and apply general facility management skills through a mix of training and participation in park projects and operations. Interns will receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced park staff and will work at a pace that allows an appropriate amount of time for learning, understanding, and skill development. Trade skills learned will include carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and masonry skills. Interns will also focus on career building and professional development skills. This will include resume writing, overview of park operations such as interpretation, natural and cultural resource management, and public engagement/community involvement.  These interactions, in conjunction with the specific trades’ skills learned, will allow the intern to gain a better understanding of the overall function of the National Park site and the role of facility management plays within that organization.

About Northwest Youth Corps (NYC):

Northwest Youth Corps was created in 1984 to offer teenagers and young adults an education-based work experience modeled after the historic Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's. Today, we serve over 1,000 youth and young adults each year across a four-state region who restore critical habitat, build trails, lead volunteers, educate youth, and respond to local and national disasters.

Nez Perce National Historical Park, Lapwai, Idaho

The 38 units of Nez Perce National Historical Park form a park unit about a people, for all people. It is not one place, but many. It is not one story, but a multitude. It is not one viewpoint, but many more than one. Approximately 300,000 visitors annually come to Nez Perce National Historical Park to experience and understand the cultural heritage and history of the Nez Perce as well as to see the scenery along two national historic trails: the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, a unit of the National Park Service, and the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service in close partnership with Nez Perce National Historical Park. The majority of visitors discover Nez Perce sites as they travel to and from other destinations but are able to discover the many stories and legends inherently tied to this landscape.

Lapwai, Idaho is Park Headquarters for Nez Perce National Historical Park. It is located in NW Idaho near the Idaho Washington border 12 miles SW of Lewiston Idaho on US HWY 95.  The area is defined by the Clearwater and Snake rivers as they flow through canyons and steep hills and run together in Lewiston. Vegetation in the area is mostly grass and sage, the topography is rolling hills with distant mountains, much of the area is agricultural and planted in wheat. The towns of Lewiston Idaho population 36,000 and Clarkston Washington population 8,000 offer all major services including rental housing, airport, schools, and hospitals. There is no public transportation to the park from the surrounding communities.  Daytime temperatures from June to October frequently reach the high 80’s with numerous days in July and August with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Daytime temperatures in the winter range from the low 30’s to mid-50’s.  The climate is arid at Lapwai which is in the Clearwater River bottom with little rain or snow, both rain and snowfall increase significantly in the higher elevations around Lapwai.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• 70% - Primary duties will include assisting park maintenance staff in the carpentry, plumbing, electrical, masonry, painting, and janitorial activities.
• 20% - Additional duties will be supporting natural resources in invasive species control, cultural resources in museum collections management, and interpretation with visitor interaction.
• 10% - Interns will be required to engage with the local community through organized volunteer opportunities.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to work outdoors in remote settings and inclement weather.
• Ability to lift carry 30lbs.
• Current driver’s license.
• Ages 18-30 (up to 35 for veterans)
• S. Citizen or lawful, permanent resident
• Must pass a background/driver check

Desired Qualifications:

• Willingness to learn and participate in a team environment.
• Personal transportation

Duty Location:

Duties are performed within the greater Lewiston, Idaho area. Interns will be required to make their own housing arrangements in the local Lewiston, Idaho area.

Terms of Employment:

One intern will complete a term of service (640 Hours) starting June 2025 through September 2025 for a total of 16 Weeks. The intern will average 40 hours of labor per week, minus holidays. Interns are responsible for providing their own personal transportation and food. Sick days and off days are allowed per request via the Nez Perce National Historic Park staff.

Program Benefits:

Interns will earn $10,240 living allowance dispersed on a monthly basis throughout the 16-weeks.

The living allowance is taxable. Members are responsible for providing their own housing and food. Personal transportation needed.