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SPONSORS / PARTNERS
GSA Foundation GSA Foundation
• GeoCorps Fund
National Park Service National Park Service
• Geologic Resources Division
see participating parks
USDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service
see participating forests
US Bureau of Land Management U.S. Bureau of Land Management
see participating lands
American Geological Institute American Geological Institute
American Institute of Professional Geologists American Institute of Professional Geologists

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If you have questions about the GeoCorps program, please e-mail Wesley Hill at GSA.

top GeoCorps Program Facts

  • Temporary paid summer positions (3 months) working on National Parks, National Forests, & BLM lands .
  • Geoscience professionals, retirees, and college students are eligible to apply .
  • Positions are available in a wide variety of geoscience fields.
  • GeoCorps participants receive a $2,500 living stipend, plus on-site housing or an additional housing allowance if housing is not provided.
  • Positions are announced every December and applications are sent to GSA by February.
  • Applicants MUST be a member of GSA to apply. Not a member? Join GSA Now!
  • Participants are chosen through a competitive selection process.
  • Finalists are interviewed by phone and selected by the supervisor who will manage position on site.
  • Position offers are made by the Park/Forest/BLM in March.
  • Click here to see a GeoCorps program calendar of annual events.

top Example Positions

Examples of GeoCorps projects/positions:

  • Excavate and prepare fossil specimens for museums
  • Develop and present educational programs to park visitors
  • Conduct stream surveys and watershed assessments
  • Monitor glacier movement
  • Assess soil compaction, trail conditions, erosion, and sedimentation
  • Landslide mapping and hazards assessment
  • Karst mapping
  • Read Field Stories from past participants for more example projects, and pictures.

top Program Description

Through the GeoCorps America Program, GSA places all levels of geoscientists — college students, professionals, and retirees — in temporary summer positions with the National Parks Service, BLM, and the USDA Forest Service. Land managers send position descriptions to GSA, GSA posts the positions and recruits applicants through the GSA web site, a committee screens applicants for those who qualify, and supervisors interview top candidates by phone and make the final selection. Participants receive a living stipend and on-site housing (or housing allowance) during their geoscience project assignment.

The GeoCorps program dates back to 1997 when, through a partnership with the National Parks Service’s Geologist-In-the-Parks Program, GSA placed two college-level students in summer internships in the national parks. By the year 2000, the program was redesigned and renamed the GeoCorps America Program. Since then, the number of geoscience projects has steadily increased across the US.

top GeoCorps Program Goals

The goals of the GeoCorps program are to:

  • Increase the number of geoscientists to conduct education, research, and resource management projects on America's public lands;
  • Enhance resource managers' and policy makers' geoscience knowledge, so that better decisions will be made regarding the management of natural resources and mitigation of geological hazards;
  • Provide hands-on geoscience experience and internships for students who are working toward careers in industry, academia, or land management;
  • Offer seasoned geoscientists the opportunity to share their knowledge with land managers and assist with on-the-ground projects.
  • Raise the public's knowledge and awareness of the value of geoscience resources on public lands;
  • Instill a public land ethic in current and future generations of geoscientists by having the opportunity to learn and understand federal land management;

top Importance of the GeoCorps Program

The need for geoscience expertise on America's National Parks, National Forests, and BLM lands is great. Geoscience is not adequately addressed in education, resource management, geological hazards mitigation, and research. The Geological Society of America, through the GeoCorps program, strives to increase the number of geoscientists on-the-ground assisting with public land management and protection of geologic resources.

top List of Participants and Locations

Read Field Stories from geoscientists who have participated in the GeoCorps program in the past.

Note: There may be more than one position in a location listed below.

Year Total # of
participants
National Parks National Forests Geoscience
Companies
BLM
2005 38 24 12   2
2004 23 12 10 1  
2003 38 20 15 3  
2002 34 20 14    
2001 32 24 8    
2000 16 12 4    
1999 10 10      
1998 6 6      
1997 2 2      

 

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Last Revised on 4 January, 2008

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