From the Classroom to the Country’s Largest National Park

This summer, Prince William Sound College student Rein Davis turned a passion for nature into real-world experience through an internship at Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve — the largest national park in the United States.

Originally from southwest Virginia, Rein completed PWSC’s OEC programs in Natural Resources Technician (NRT) and Marine Natural Resources Technician (MNRT) before securing a position as an interpretive intern through the college’s partnership with the National Park Service.

Based at the Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center in Copper Center, the internship offered hands-on experience in:

Park Operations & Visitor Services: Welcoming and assisting hundreds of visitors each day.

Interpretive Programs: Leading ranger talks, guided hikes, and educational presentations — including a daily plant ID hike inspired by skills learned at PWSC.

Educational Projects: Creating a new plant catalog and designing children’s coloring sheets for the visitor center.

Professional Development: Building confidence in group management, visitor engagement, and teamwork in a high-volume, high-impact environment.

This internship provided Rein with valuable career experience and helped solidify her goal of pursuing a career in natural resources and park interpretation. It also offered a rare opportunity to gain paid, hands-on training with the National Park Service while exploring Alaska's iconic landscapes.

“I always had a big passion for nature, but I never realistically saw it turning into a career. After a year here — and this internship — I’m confident I can stay in this field. It’s an amazing feeling to think that I could have a job that I really enjoy.” — Rein

Rein’s internship was made possible through a Cooperative Agreement between Prince William Sound College and the National Park Service, providing students like her with meaningful, career-building opportunities in Alaska’s wild places.