Trail Development Internship - Summer 2026

Description

Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC) is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community of more than 1 million strong—dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Founded in 1986, Rails to Trails Conservancy's national office is located in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, and Milwaukee. For more information, visit www.railstotrails.org. Connect with RTC @railstotrails on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Job Summary

RTC’s Trail Development Team is looking for an intern interested in working on stakeholder engagement, resource development and/or trail planning and development. The selected intern will participate as a member of the team and will be included in staff and social meetings. Hours are flexible to accommodate class schedule(s) or other commitments.

This 12-week internship program begins in June 2026. Interns will have the flexibility to work 20-35 hours per week on a regular, consistent schedule.

Job Location

This position is located in our Washington, D.C., National Headquarters office. In-person presence is standard on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with remote work scheduled on the remaining days.

Job Duties

The Trail Development Intern will assist with the following duties:

• Assist the TrailNation Collaborative Lead in partner engagement activities to develop long-standing relationships with those developing multi-use trail networks across the country
• Lead and participate in interview phone calls and video calls with project partners, including preparing research before calls
• Synthesize interviews into trail network strengths and weaknesses to guide future engagement and resource development
• Develop case studies or blogs spotlighting innovation and best practices
• Identify common theme and challenges among trail network practitioners to be addressed through RTC’s resource development strategy including webinars, peer working groups and other activities
• Assist with Project Trail Data Audit
• Conduct online research and occasional outreach to determine the status of project trails and update records accordingly
• Verify and update trail project records, such as name changes and trail statistics, and collaborate with staff to ensure accurate public updates
• Support resource development projects, including updates to the TrailNation Playbook and Trail-Building Toolbox
• Work alongside the Trail Development and Policy teams to produce TrailNation Collaborative webinars
• Gather and write 3-5 case studies to support work happening in TrailNation project communities
• Any other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications and Personal Attributes

RTC is seeking an undergraduate or graduate student working toward a degree in planning, public policy, journalism, communications, or a related field. Applicants should be highly organized, able to work independently and manage time efficiently and possess a strong interest in the topics of health, the environment, sustainable transportation, pedestrian issues, bicycling, or trails.

Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, including Excel, and strong research skills are required. Familiarity with ArcGIS Online, experience with database management is a plus. Candidates should have excellent organizational and writing skills and an eye for detail. Candidates should be comfortable with cold calling via phone/video to engage partners in conversations about their trail projects and networks, with exceptional emotional intelligence and conversational skills to build rapport, and the ability to accurately capture, summarize, and organize information in writing.

Applicants whose permanent residence is in one of the states where we operate will be considered for this internship program. This criterion aligns with our strategic goals and operational requirements. We are looking forward to discovering motivated and talented individuals from CA, CO, DC, FL, MD, NJ, ME, MI, MT, OH, OR, PA, VA, or WI.

Work Environment

Normal office setting with low to moderate noise level.

Employer’s Rights

RTC reserves the right to revise, change, or reclassify this job description at any time in accordance with RTC’s business needs. This job description is by no means an implied contract.

Commitment to Diversity

Rails to Trails Conservancy seeks diverse, passionate, and qualified individuals who want to make a difference in the world. RTC is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, and other legally protected characteristics.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please e-mail careers@railstotrails.org and provide the nature of your request and your contact information.