Photo by Melina Walling
West Internships
Every summer, the Bill Lane Center for the American West offers many opportunities for Stanford undergraduates (including graduating seniors, co-terminal and master's students) to work with organizations throughout the West. Through these internships, students can explore careers in natural history, conservation, ecology, land use, museum curation, resource management, water, energy, literature, policy, politics, and more.
Students who complete any Bill Lane Center internship are also eligible for the public service Cardinal Quarter certification, offered in partnership with the Haas Center for Public Service. Students receive a notation on their transcript after completing all Cardinal Quarter requirements.
Host organizations are confirmed during by early December and student applications are available on the SOLO portal by mid-December.
The student application deadline will be Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11:59pm for the summer 2025 opportunities.
To learn more about the application process, visit our Internships Overview page and visit the FAQs page.
Questions? Email Education Manager Corinne Thomas.
Please note: The two types of internships offered by the Bill Lane Center are known as the West Internships and the Shultz Energy Fellowships. Visit the Shultz Energy Fellowship page to learn more about that program.
Below find information about our West Internship opportunities. Internship locations fluctuate by year, though many organizations partner with us on an ongoing basis.
Summer 2025 West Internships
| HISTORY & ARChaeology | INTERNSHIP Role | Internship Location | Link To application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown Public Library | Archives and Preservation Intern | Lewistown, MT (in person only) | Apply here |
| Yellowstone National Park Archaeology Program | Archaeology Program Intern | Gardiner, MT (in person only) | Apply here |
| Yellowstone National Park Heritage and Research Center | Museum Intern | Gardiner, MT (in person only) | Apply here |
| Politics & Policy | INTERNSHIP Role | Internship Location | Link to application |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Conference of State Legislatures | Elections Intern | Denver, CO (in person and hybrid) | Apply here |
| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Emergency Management Intern | San Francisco, CA (in person and hybrid) | Apply here |
| Ecology & Conservation | INTERNSHIP RoLe | Internship Location | Link to Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Rivers | Urban Stream Revitalization Intern | Sacramento, CA (remote with in-person meetings and field visits) | Apply here |
| Blue Forest Conservation | Biodiversity and Climate Finance Intern | Bay Area or Sacramento, CA (remote with in-person workshops and field visits | Apply here |
| California Trout | Source Water Initiative Intern | Mt. Shasta, CA (in person only) | Apply here |
| Deschutes Land Trust | Resilient Lands Intern | Bend, OR (hybrid) | Apply here |
| Henry's Fork Foundation | Snow Hydrology Intern | Ashton, ID (in person only) | Apply here |
| Redwing Ranch | Regenerative Ag Educational Program Assistant Intern | Gardner, CO (in person only) | Apply here |
| San Francisco Estuary Institute | Resilient Landscapes Program Intern | Richmond, CA (hybrid) | Apply here |
| Smithsonian Institution | Insect Surveys Intern | Owyhee County, Idaho (in person only) | Apply here |
| Smithsonian Institution | Prairie Dog & Black-Footed Ferrets Intern | American Prairie, Philips County, MT (in person only) | Apply here |
| Community Engagement & education | INTERNSHIP Role | Internship Location | Link To Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heyday | Editorial Intern | Berkeley, CA | Apply here |
| Natural History Institute | Media Arts Intern | Prescott, AZ (in person only) | Apply here |
| Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne Meadows | Tuolumne Meadows Interpretive Intern | Tuolumne Meadows, CA (in person only) | Apply here |
For Prospective Host Organizations
The Bill Lane Center welcomes new additions to its internship host organizations and reviews its partnerships regularly. Visit this page for more information on how to become a host organization for the Bill Lane Center's internship program.
Current and Past West Internship Organizations
Click on the links below to read student reflections on their experiences at the different host organizations. Before deciding which internship to apply for, it helps to hear from the students themselves about what each organization is like.
The DLT works cooperatively with central Oregon landowners to conserve land for wildlife, scenic views and local communities.
Galatée Films is a French film production company heavily focused on nature and the environment. BLC interns often work on research projects related to upcoming film projects.
GNPC works to protect and preserve Glacier National Park for future generations. Interns support the organization by working on one or more of the Conservancy's projects. We hope to send an intern to Glacier in coming years.
Located in Ashton, ID, the Henry's Fork Foundation works to conserve, protect, and restore the unique qualities of the Henry's Fork river and its watershed.
Heyday is a non-profit publishing house located in Berkeley, CA.
The NCSL advances the effectiveness, independence and integrity of state legislatures and fosters interstate cooperation and facilitates the exchange of information among legislatures.
Located in Prescott, AZ, NHI provides leadership and resources for a revitalized practice of natural history that integrates art, science, and humanities to promote the health and well-being of humans and the rest of the natural world.
SFEI gives scientific support and tools for decision-making and communication through collaborative efforts. We provide independent science to assess and improve the health of the waters, wetlands, wildlife and landscapes of San Francisco Bay and beyond.
Located in Carmel, CA, the Santa Lucia Conservancy is a steward to the unique natural resources of the Santa Lucia Preserve. Interns are deeply involved in a field work project along with a personal, independent project.
Situated in the beautiful Sawtooth mountains, the SNRA offers interns an opportunity to work with mapping and geospatial tools.
TPL creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Interns often support the "Parks for People" initiative, interfacing with communities to get parks built.
USACE delivers vital public and military engagement engineering services; partnering in peace and war to strengthen national security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters.
Washington Water Trust is a neutral, non regulatory nonprofit, dedicated to improving and protecting stream flows and water quality throughout Washington state.
We offer two opportunities at Yellowstone. The Heritage and Research Center houses the National Park's cultural and natural artifacts. The Archeology Program manages the park’s archaeological heritage where students work with the Park's archeologist.
We offer two opprortunities, the archives and the museum. Interns dive into work at the archives where they help categorize and preserve many of the Park's unique treasures. The museum preserves the Park's cultural artifacts and natural specimens.