Virginia State Parks is celebrating a significant achievement. The Department of Conservation and Recreation announced that the park system has been named a 2026 Top Virginia Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Virginia State Parks offer a range of hands-on experiences through its internship programs, including the new Ranger Conservation Corps, which launched in 2025, and participation in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program for transitioning service members. The Ranger Conservation Corps is designed to immerse students in natural resource management, environmental education and park operations.

This honor celebrates employers who go above and beyond in mentorship, professional development, workplace culture as well as giving students real opportunities to contribute.

The first summer of the program; RCC welcomed a talented, diverse group of interns from colleges and hometowns across multiple states, each bringing their own passions, backgrounds and perspectives to Virginia State Parks. This year, Cohort 2026 served at 13 state parks, delivered 400 programs and logged over 8K hours in 3 months.

“RCC has proven to be a powerful launching pad for the next generation of conservation professionals, giving interns meaningful opportunities to grow while making tangible improvements to Virginia State Parks,” said Program Manager Jessica German. “I am so proud of all the inspiring conservation interns in Cohort 26, and they inspired me every day this summer.”

Join the Ranger Conservation Corps Program

As interns, participants will immerse themselves in a vibrant environment, building real-world skills in park operations, education, and interpretation. Their work will help uphold the mission and core values of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and Virginia State Parks, fostering conservation and inspiring a love of the outdoors.

Applications open December 18, 2026, so be sure to apply for your chance to immerser yourself into dynamic and real world

For more about the Ranger Conservation Corps program, visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/ranger-conservation-corps. 

About the award

The awards were presented during the 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference. Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation in partnership with the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the conference brought together approximately 500 representatives from Virginia’s business, higher education, K-12, workforce development, economic development and government communities to focus on strengthening the Commonwealth’s talent pipeline. 

Since its launch in February 2026, InternshipsVA has engaged more than 700 employers and partners, trained more than 500 employers in how to establish a high-quality internship program, and supported 845 internships with more than 290 employers through its matching grant. The program helps employers of all sizes and in all industries create and expand high-quality, paid internship opportunities through program design guidance, recruitment tools, employer training and resources, and matching grants for qualifying employers.