Paid summer internship applications open until 1/30/26 at 11:59pm!
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences works alongside other agencies and departments to increase our internship offerings. We are proud to be a host site for the State of North Carolina Internship Program and the NC State VetPAC Museum Medicine Internship.
Applications for Summer 2026 are open December 1st, 2025 - January 30th, 2026.
Duration: Summer, 10 weeks (May 18th - July 24th, 2026)
Time Commitment: 40 hours per week
Compensation: $15.00 per hour
The State of North Carolina Internship Program is a highly competitive program that provides students with professional work experience that connects their classroom experiences and potential career choices. They participate in meetings, educational tours and other activities designed to broaden their perspective of public service and state government. There are numerous internship positions available during the summer at various state agencies located throughout North Carolina. Projects and interns are screened and selected by the North Carolina Internship Council, part of the NC Department of Administration.
Please note that the State of North Carolina Internship Program application dates, requirements, and application process differ from other museum internships.
Job Duties:
Facilitate natural science learning experiences for children and families through playful exploration and direct contact with natural specimens in the Discovery Room and other museum spaces, including the outdoor play space at Prairie Ridge Ecostation.
Major Task to be Performed:
Engage with visitors in the Discovery Room to facilitate learning and exploration. Interact with Museum staff, docents, and visitors in a professional manner to maintain, develop, field test, and evaluate current and new exhibits and programs in the Discovery Room. Assist with other educational Museum support such as work in the education Teaching Collection and at Prairie Ridge Ecostation. Experience the breadth of the Museum as an educational and research facility.
Please see the Children & Families Science Education Intern position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
Job Duties:
Learn effective science communication skills
Create and deliver educational and accessible activities highlighting natural history collections and Museum research for diverse audiences
Engage with Museum visitors in the Naturalist Center, a hands-on gallery of 28,000 specimens (e.g., rocks, fossils, skeletons, and study skins) with approximately 30,000 guests during the summer months
Major Task to be Performed:
Intern interacts with visitors daily, interpreting and communicating science topics in the Naturalist Center and in exhibit halls. In the Naturalist Center, intern will: give orientations informing guests how to properly handle specimens; learn basic techniques related to specimen preparation/maintenance; assist with use of equipment and resources. Internship provides training by experienced Museum educators along with behind-the-scenes access to research collections and scientists.
Please see the Communicating the Importance of Natural History Collections Intern position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
Job Duties:
The Teen Programs Intern will serve on the leadership team for planning and hosting two week-long summer programs. The Resilience Ambassadors Program engages 16 high school students in exploring impacts of natural disasters and extreme weather and investigating strategies for increasing resilience in communities. Students participate in hands-on data collection and analysis, connect with professionals in a diversity of climate resilience fields, and discuss solutions to impacts. The Girls in Science Residential Camp engages 16 middle school girls and nonbinary students interested in science and nature topics in hands-on science experiences, connects participants to diverse, inspiring women in STEM and creates a safe atmosphere where diversity is celebrated and natural curiosity can flourish. Residential camp involves living onsite at Blue Jay Point County Park Lodge with students, Museum staff, and a high school volunteer intern for a full week of intensive, immersive programming. The intern will take an active role in organizing, preparing, and co-leading activities for both camps, as well as assisting with clean up and evaluation following both programs. The intern will have opportunities to explore areas of personal interest within the Museum, network with staff, and assist with other Museum teen programs as time allows.
Major Task to be Performed:
Participate as a co-leader for both summer programs, including activity development, planning, and implementation of the camps. Help prepare participant information materials, activity planning, and scheduling of activities. Maintain an active list of participants and the status of their applications. Assemble instructor notebooks, collection of waivers and forms, organize camp supplies, and develop activities for camps. The intern will co-lead activities in keeping with their own interests, knowledge, and comfort level, while being actively encouraged to push their own boundaries, learn, and grow throughout this experience.
Please see the Education/Youth Programs Intern position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
Job Duties:
Intern will gain effective science communication skills through the development of and participation in educational programming such as carts, classes, camps and/or Museum events designed to present relevant science information and accessible activities for all ages and backgrounds. Internship will take place at the downtown location of NCMNS (www.naturalsciences.org) and includes training by experienced Museum educators and scientists. This project directly increases the Museum’s ability to connect with and engage visitors from across North Carolina using innovative and interactive demonstrations of basic science concepts.
Major Task to be Performed:
Intern will assist in running and maintaining hands-on activities, exhibits and educational carts in the Investigate lab. This includes daily interaction with Museum guests as well as interpreting and communicating a variety of natural science related topics. Intern will create and lead science related activities during a one-week long summer camp for middle school students. Collaborating with Museum education staff will expose the intern to different science education techniques and opportunities.
Please see the Investigate Lab Summer Intern position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
Job Duties:
Internship will teach effective science communications skills through science cart programs and informal interpretive interactions with NC Museum of Natural Sciences visitors. Intern will help create a mobile “Moment of Science” cart that incorporates short, fun activities covering a wide range of science topics. These educational carts provide relevant science information and accessible activities for all ages and backgrounds and are designed to illustrate how science fits into our everyday lives. Internship includes training by experienced Museum science educators. Project directly increases Museum’s ability to connect and engage with visitors using innovative and interactive demonstrations of basic science concepts.
Major Task to be Performed:
Interact with Museum visitors daily in exhibit halls, communicating and interpreting natural science topics through cart programs and small audience science presentations. Gain experience with existing cart programs before selecting natural science topic of relevant and current interest. Work with staff to create finished “Moment of Science” programs that will be presented daily to visitors at carts and adapted for presentations in one of the Museum’s small audience venues. Intern may also gain experience in other interpretive spaces in the museum.
Please see the Natural Sciences Communication Specialist position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
Job Duties:
We are looking for enthusiastic and adventurous interns to join our team at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Day Camps! We spend our days helping with different camp activities while getting our hands dirty and making amazing discoveries. As an intern, you will be a key part of the magic helping our campers connect with the natural world.
Major Task to be Performed:
Get ready to learn how to run a summer camp! Before the day camp starts, you will get an in-depth look at the fun activities, crafts, and curriculum our campers will enjoy this summer. During this time, you will become familiar with the camp program, our procedures, and how to assist our instructors during camp. Our day camp program starts in the middle of your internship and that is where the fun really begins! You will assist alternating weeks either as an assistant instructor or a member of our Camp Administration team! As an assistant instructor, you will assist with our camps where you will be a mentor and role model for our campers by helping them ask questions and discover the world around them. You will get to hang around some pretty cool children while helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. When your role reverses to being a member of our Camp Administration Team, you will help man our program behind the scenes while you work with our K-12th grade campers. Your duties will change daily, even hourly. Some examples are holding one of our Animal Ambassadors during a program, assisting in launching rockets, building bird nests, eating lunch with our campers, and more!
Please see the Summer Camp Intern position description for additional information, including skill and experience requirements, and to submit an application.
In collaboration with VetPAC at NC State University, the Museum's Veterinary Sciences unit offers internship opportunities for NCSU pre-vet students. Museum Veterinary Sciences interns will gain experience in the medical management and husbandry care of exotic species maintained in the Museum's Living Collection including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. Interns will work with the Museum's Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Daniel Dombrowski. They will interact with visitors at the Museum's Window on Animal Health (Window), while assisting with medical exams and veterinary procedures in the Museum's clinical veterinary medicine laboratory. Interns will also assist with diagnostic sample collection and wellness evaluations. Upon completion, students will gain a better understanding of veterinary medicine as it relates to public education and a natural sciences museum. Lastly, interns will receive a certificate of completion from VetPAC.
Please note that the Museum Medicine internship application dates, requirements, and application process differ from other museum internships.
