Internship Career and Leadership Workshop 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome, interns, to the Career and Leadership Workshop!
This workshop is a key component of your internship program, offering a week-long opportunity to expand your knowledge of various career fields while honing your leadership skills. Throughout the week, you will join fellow interns in showcasing the outcomes of your summer projects through presentations.
You’ll also have the chance to connect with industry professionals through engaging panel discussions, skill-building sessions, and interactive activities. This workshop is designed to enrich your experience and evaluate the program’s impact—celebrating successes and identifying opportunities for future improvement.
We hope you make the most of your time in Washington, DC. Take advantage of this incredible networking opportunity, and don’t forget to have fun!

Click to meet the interns: HBCUI Mosaics internXL LHIP GOGA

You can see recorded Livestream Events via Microsoft Teams Links -
August 5, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST - NPS Internship Career and Leadership Workshop

August 6, 2:00-4:30 p.m. EST- Art Culture Presentations: LHIP/HBCUI

Captioning URL: https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=BIS-NPS-4781612

@NPSYouth #NPSYouth #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #Internships #NationalParkService #NPS

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6:30am EDT

Breakfast - MIS, LHIP and GOGA

Tuesday August 5, 2025 6:30am - 7:30am EDT

State Plaza Hotel

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. Savor a delightful breakfast spread offering a range of options to suit every palate. Take this opportunity to mingle with fellow attendees, fuel up for the day ahead, and make meaningful connections

Tuesday August 5, 2025 6:30am - 7:30am EDT
State Plaza Hotel 2117 E St NW, Washington, DC, 20037

Food

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

7:00am EDT

Breakfast - HBCUI/InternXL

Tuesday August 5, 2025 7:00am - 7:50am EDT

Met Cafe The Venue

Breakfast served at Met Cafe Savor a delightful breakfast spread offering a range of options to suit every palate. Take this opportunity to mingle with fellow attendees, fuel up for the day ahead, and make meaningful connections.

Tuesday August 5, 2025 7:00am - 7:50am EDT
Met Cafe The Venue 1750 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006

Food

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

7:35am EDT

Check-in at the Department of the Interior

Tuesday August 5, 2025 7:35am - 7:50am EDT

DOI C Street Entrance

Check-in at the Department of the Interior. Everyone should be wearing their respective program name tag.

Tuesday August 5, 2025 7:35am - 7:50am EDT
DOI C Street Entrance U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Administrative/Logistics

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

8:00am EDT

WELCOME and Thank you for your service!

Tuesday August 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am EDT

Yates Auditorium

The workshop will commence with Tracy L. Baetz, Chief Curator of the Interior Museum, providing a brief history of the Department of the Interior. Following this, a special thank you will be extended to all who have served the National Park Service.
The ceremony will include recognition of outstanding contributions from mentors/supervisors, interns, and those who have been recently hired.
The speakers for this portion are Jamie Crispin (National Park Service), Shatiba Bradley (Greening Youth Foundation), Candice Price (SODAS Life), and Susan Bonfield (Environments for the Americas). Outstanding service awards will be given, and Rita Moss, Associate Director for Workforce and Inclusion, will deliver a message of gratitude.

Moderators

Eduardo Chaidez

Acting Supervisory Park Ranger | Interpretation, Moderator, National Park Service

Born and raised in Deep East Oakland, CA, and now residing in New York City, Eduardo Chaidez is a first-generation American and alumnus of the Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP 2016-18), Civicorps (2003), and the Backcountry Trails program in Yosemite National Park (2003).At... Read More →

Speakers

Jamie Crispin

Youth Programs Manager, National Park Service

Experienced volunteer manager with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit and national service sector. Skilled in coaching, leadership, event planning, and non-profit program development. Believes in the power of civic engagement and volunteering as effective ways to enact... Read More →

Rita Moss

Associate Director, Workforce & Inclusion, National Park Service

Rita Moss is the current Associate Director of Workforce & Inclusion at the National Park Service. Rita has held various HR positions at different companies over the past 20 years. Rita started their career as the Director of Human Resources at the Appalachian Regional Commission... Read More →

Tracy L Baetz

Chief Curator, Department of the Interior Museum

Tracy Baetz joined the staff of the U.S. Department of the Interior Museum in 2013 as Chief Curator. In this role she has curated several gallery and online exhibitions, the most recent of which opened at the Department of the Interior last summer. Baetz earned a Master’s degree... Read More →

Tuesday August 5, 2025 8:00am - 9:15am EDT
Yates Auditorium U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Plenary Session

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

9:15am EDT

Keynote Speaker -

Tuesday August 5, 2025 9:15am - 9:35am EDT

Yates Auditorium

Special remarks by Brenda Mallory.

Speakers

Eduardo Chaidez

Acting Supervisory Park Ranger | Interpretation, Moderator, National Park Service

Dr. Brenda Mallory

Tuesday August 5, 2025 9:15am - 9:35am EDT
Yates Auditorium U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Plenary Session

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

9:35am EDT

Secretary

Tuesday August 5, 2025 9:35am - 10:00am EDT

Yates Auditorium

Secretary Deb Haaland will stop by to thank the interns for their service, followed by a group photo.

Tuesday August 5, 2025 9:35am - 10:00am EDT
Yates Auditorium U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Plenary Session

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

10:00am EDT

BREAK

Tuesday August 5, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am EDT

Lobby area outside of Yates Auditorium

We will now take a 15-minute break. Please use this time to stretch, grab a refreshment, and recharge. We will reconvene promptly at 10:35. Thank you!

Tuesday August 5, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am EDT
Lobby area outside of Yates Auditorium

Administrative/Logistics

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

10:15am EDT

DHA-RA and InternXL Interns Oral Presentation

Tuesday August 5, 2025 10:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Yates Auditorium

Join us for a compelling session with eight DHA-RA and InternXL interns. Each presenter will have 12 minutes to share their research and program achievements, followed by a 3-minute Q&A session. It's going to be an inspiring exchange of ideas!

Carmen Artiles, LHIP Park Planning Fellow, Midwest Regional Office/Planning and Compliance/Planning
Kai Guevara, LHIP Interdisciplinary Community Planner, Death Valley National Park/Division of Maintenance/Project Management Branch
Pranneil Thankavel, MIS Science Communication Assistant, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Tonya Messam, MIS Visitor Use Management Assistant, Rocky Mountain National Park
Antonio Hill, InternXL Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services, and Research and Exhibit Enhancement Intern, Camp Nelson National Monument
Christian Harvey, InternXL Digital Interpretation and Exhibit Enhancement Intern, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
Ruqiyyah Muhammad, InternXL Interpretation and Cultural Resource Intern, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
Braxton Broady, HBCUI Public History Fellow, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Tuesday August 5, 2025 10:15am - 12:15pm EDT
Yates Auditorium U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Plenary Session

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

12:15pm EDT

Lunch

Tuesday August 5, 2025 12:15pm - 1:10pm EDT

DOI Bison Bistro - Basement Level Kiowa Room

Take a well-deserved break and treat yourself to a delicious hour-long lunch. Enjoy a variety of delectable options to satisfy your cravings and recharge for the rest of the day.

Tuesday August 5, 2025 12:15pm - 1:10pm EDT
DOI Bison Bistro - Basement Level Kiowa Room U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Food

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

1:15pm EDT

DHA-RA and InternXL Interns Oral Presentation continue

Tuesday August 5, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm EDT

Yates Auditorium

Continuing with nine more riveting presentations from DHA-RA and InternXL interns.

Cameron Tyler Jackson, InternXL Visitor Services and Education Intern, Freedom Riders National Monument
Nya Bell, InternXL Pullman Steam Outreach Ambassador Intern, Pullman National Monument
Michaela Hart, InternXL Education and Interpretation Intern, Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
R'Eion Featherstone, HBCUI Training and Professional Development Internship/RAI, National Parks of Boston
KaNya Turner, HBCUI Park Planning Fellow, Midwest Regional Office
Valeria Caballero, LHIP Community Outreach and Interpretation Internship, Salem Maritime National Historic Site & Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
Mia Pizzi, LHIP Cultural History Education Intern, Everglades National Park
Michael Borbolla, MIS Natural Resource Management Assistant, Biscayne National Park/
Fiorella Fernández, LHIP Natural Resource Intern, Biscayne National Park/ Natural Resource Management/ Fish and Wildlife Inventory & Monitoring Program

Tuesday August 5, 2025 1:15pm - 3:15pm EDT
Yates Auditorium U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240

Plenary Session

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

3:15pm EDT

BREAK

Tuesday August 5, 2025 3:15pm - 3:30pm EDT

Lobby area outside of Yates Auditorium

Last break of the day, and we're giving 15 minutes to refresh and refocus. Take this opportunity to stretch your legs, grab a quick snack, or simply take a moment to recharge.

Tuesday August 5, 2025 3:15pm - 3:30pm EDT
Lobby area outside of Yates Auditorium

Administrative/Logistics

Host Organization NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Youth Programs Division

6:00pm EDT

National Parks Trivia Dinner

Tuesday August 5, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Alero Restaurant

HBCUI and XL interns invite ALL INTERNS to participate in the National Parks Trivia dinner as a group at the Alero Restaurant Each person will cover their own meal, but there will be exciting prizes for the trivia winners! Please RSVP to Eboni Preston at epreston@hbcui.org or Mikeriya Bond at mbond@gyfoundation.org by Monday, August 5. We hope to see you there!

Speakers

Dr. Eboni Preston Goddard

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship Program Lead, SODAS Life Inc.

Led by a call to action, Eboni is a management professional with a background in non-profit administration, program operations, partnerships, advocacy, and workforce development. She has spent the last decade working with public land management agencies on youth programs, DEI programming... Read More →

Mikeriya K. Bond

Associate Director of Programs, Greening Youth Foundation

Mikeriya K. Bond was born in Macon, Georgia and raised in the Metro Atlanta area. Interestingly, she did not begin to talk until she was 2 ½ years old. As a teen still struggling to find her voice and emerge from her shell, she trained in a performing arts troupe under the direction... Read More →

Tuesday August 5, 2025 6:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Alero Restaurant 1301 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, United States

Food