Work at Boston Harbor Islands

If you’d like to make the Boston Harbor Islands part of your career, there are plenty of seasonal work opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Department of Conservation & Recreation

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) hires seasonal interpreters to work on DCR-managed islands within the park. Positions began in late spring and run through Labor Day.

National Park Service

The National Park Service (NPS) hires Boston Harbor Islands interpretive park rangers and visitor use assistants to provide parkwide information and orientation from the Boston waterfront. Some programs are also offered on boats and at Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. Seasonal positions are usually from mid­May until the end of September. Boston Harbor Islands hires from a local registry of applicants, rather than the national registry. Seasonal positions are announced in late winter/early spring on USA Jobs.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center

Thompson Island Outward Bound is looking for qualified instructors to lead middle and high school-aged young people on exciting outdoor expeditions. We operate our Outward Bound courses on the waters of Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. Above all else, you must like to work with a diverse group of kids. And, you must be competent in a wide range of outdoor skills. Be a catalyst for change. Foster self-reliance and teamwork. Encourage compassion. Join Thompson Island Outward Bound!

Green Corps

Green Corps is a seven-week summer work program. Young people conduct service projects on the Boston Harbor Islands while developing leadership skills. The Green Corps also engages youth in the broader national park system. Participants address backlog maintenance projects in Massachusetts for the NPS while developing a strong work ethic and gaining awareness of career opportunities.

Island Ambassadors

The Island Ambassadors program includes career exploration, leadership development, environmental stewardship projects, and public outreach. Island Ambassadors are full-time summer employees who promote the principles of Leave No Trace, assist with ongoing habitat restoration projects, and conduct public outreach by leading programs and demonstrations for park visitors and community groups. These internships open doors for Boston’s urban youth and help secure their participation in and awareness of environmental issues and careers in the future.