14 Summer Internships for High School Students in Alaska
If you are a high school student, a summer internship can be a worthwhile way to explore a field you’re interested in. Summer internships for high school students help you develop practical skills, add credible experience to your resume, and show you how professional environments operate. They allow you to explore your interests early, so you can choose your college major with confidence. Even short internships can build confidence, independence, and future employability.
Alaska is a good place to look for summer internships for high school students. Programs span various fields, including science, healthcare, public service, research, and policy, reflecting Alaska’s industries and community. With its natural environment and research-driven institutions, Alaska offers you experience in fieldwork, research, and corporate settings. To help you get started, we’ve put together 14 summer internships for high school students in Alaska, focusing on programs that provide clear roles and meaningful work.
1. Kawerak Internship
Location: Nome
Stipend: $25 per hour starting wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 10 - 12 weeks between May and August
Application deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who identify as Alaska native/American Indians with a GPA of 2.0 or higher
The Kawerak summer internship program is a paid opportunity for Alaska native and native american students who have completed high school or are enrolled in postsecondary education. You will work for 10 to 12 weeks in the Bering Strait region, gaining professional experience in areas such as administration, natural resources, or social services. Placements are matched to academic interests when possible, and the work is complemented by required leadership and skill-building sessions. These sessions cover public speaking, resume development, business communication, and Alaska Native policy issues. This summer internship for high school students in Alaska also focuses on cultural awareness, arctic-related topics, and the Alaska native claims settlement act.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a selective, fully virtual program that places high school students with fast-growing startups across industries such as technology, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Over eight weeks, you work remotely on real-world projects aligned with the startup’s operational needs. Each intern receives dual mentorship from a startup manager and a ladder coach. The responsibilities typically include research, analysis, content development, or operational support, depending on the company and role. At the end of the internship, you present your completed work to the startup team. Apply now!
3. Alaska Coastal Studies High School Program
Location: Multiple locations in Alaska, including Inspiration Ridge Reserve, Peterson Bay Field Station, and Wynn Nature Center
Stipend: $15 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 20 hours per week between June and August
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
The Alaska Coastal Studies High School Internship Program offers hands-on experience at field-based education and research sites such as the Wynn Nature Center and Peterson Bay Field Station. This summer internship focuses on areas such as scientific monitoring, environmental education, land stewardship, and gardening. You work closely with naturalist mentors while spending much of the summer outdoors in coastal environments. Responsibilities may include assisting with ecological data collection, leading educational activities, or supporting public outreach programs.
4. Alaska Department of Fish & Game – Alaska EXCEL
Location: Multiple field stays near the Aniak River
Stipend: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 12 days in the summer (exact dates to be announced)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade who are 15 - 19 years old and have attended two Math-Science Expeditions
The Alaska EXCEL fisheries internship allows you to apply math and science skills while assisting biologists with salmon monitoring and river ecology research. You participate in a multi-day river-based field experience, floating between five study sites and collecting biological and habitat data. Tasks include sampling fish populations, recording measurements, and documenting environmental conditions. The program integrates required curriculum components that connect fieldwork to scientific concepts in natural resource management. Upon successful completion, you earn a stipend and partial high school credit.
5. First Alaskans Institute Summer Internship Program
Location: Work sites across Alaska, near Anchorage, Kake, Juneau, and Fairbanks
Stipend: $20 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 17 - August 9
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Alaska natives, American Indians, Indigenous, and rural community members who have just graduated from high school or an equivalent
The First Alaskans Institute Summer Internship Program places Alaska Native, Indigenous, and rural students in full-time, paid internships with organizations across the state. You will work in a full-time position and participate in structured leadership development sessions. The summer internship begins with an orientation week, often hosted in a rural Alaska community, with a strong emphasis on cultural knowledge and community engagement. Placements are aligned with careers that support Alaska native self-determination and community advancement. Travel to the worksite is provided, while interns are responsible for securing housing.
6. High School Internships, Alaska Songbird Institute
Location: Creamer’s Field and University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks
Stipend: Interns who complete 85 hours will receive a $500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 12 - July 18
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18 years
The Alaska Songbird Institute’s high school internship program focuses on wildlife research and conservation through hands-on fieldwork. You will receive training in data collection methods such as nest monitoring, bird banding, and data management. Interns work alongside biologists and youth volunteers on the Swallow Ecology Project, which tracks Tree Swallow nesting activity throughout the breeding season. Your responsibilities will include checking nest boxes, recording observations, and assisting with bird capture and banding. As skills develop, some interns learn advanced techniques such as taking morphological measurements.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: All 50 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 3% | 27-33 students make it to the final cohort each year
Dates: 8 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: January (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16+ years
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week, paid summer internship that introduces students to fisheries science through direct mentorship. You will be paired with a fisheries professional whose research focus determines your daily responsibilities, which may take place in the field, laboratory, or office. Tasks include fish population surveys, habitat assessments, water quality testing, and data analysis. Some placements involve extended field trips, depending on the host organization. The summer internship concludes with a multi-day summit focused on college pathways, career exploration, and professional development in fisheries biology.
8. Student Internship Program – Department of Natural Resources
Location: Anchorage
Stipend: $15.20 - $16.11 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years or above, currently enrolled as full-time students
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Student Internship Program offers paid employment for high school juniors and seniors within state government offices. As a student intern, you complete routine administrative tasks, basic technical support, or introductory forestry-related assignments under close supervision. You may interact with professionals in fields such as forestry, land management, or environmental services. Some roles include limited fieldwork, depending on department needs.
9. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) – Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Location: Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates
The internship program at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is a five-week experience that introduces students to healthcare settings through part-time placements within hospital departments. You will be assigned to one hospital department and work up to 15 hours per week, gaining exposure to daily healthcare operations. In addition to departmental work, this unpaid internship offers optional weekly exploration sessions in areas such as the operating room, medical laboratories, and radiology.
10. Summer Transition Program – Alaska EXCEL
Location: Anchorage
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (14 - 60 days)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 12th grade and graduate students
The Summer Transition Program through Alaska EXCEL helps rural students gain entry-level work experience while developing independent living skills. You will receive guided support throughout the entire employment process, including finding relevant positions, applying, interviewing, and working in paid positions. Alongside employment, the program provides instruction in practical life skills such as budgeting, grocery planning, using public transportation, and renting housing. Volunteer placements with nonprofit organizations are also included to build service experience. The program length varies from two weeks to a full summer, depending on individual goals.
11. Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP) Summer Bridge Program
Location: University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) campuses
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: Alaska native high school seniors who are graduating
The ANSEP Summer Bridge Program supports Alaska native students transitioning from high school to college through academic and professional preparation. During the summer, you will participate in skill-building activities focused on college readiness, workplace expectations, and STEM career pathways. The program includes a paid internship with one of ANSEP’s strategic partners in fields such as engineering, science, or business. You also complete a college-level math course to strengthen your academic foundation before beginning university coursework. Mentorship and peer support are core components integrated throughout the experience. Students who complete the program may become eligible for scholarship funding at the University of Alaska.
12. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Limited stipends offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Spring: February – May; summer: June - August; fall: September - December
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students authorized to work in the U.S.
Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute allow you to work within a professional think tank focused on international relations and global policy. You assist scholars and policy professionals by contributing to research, writing, communications, or event coordination. Weekly seminars feature guest speakers who discuss current foreign policy issues and related career pathways. Interns also gain access to FPRI’s public programming, both virtual and in person. Depending on your role, you may draft research articles for possible publication in the FPRI’s Intern Corner.
13. PHC Group High School Summer Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the position
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The PHC Group High School Summer Program is a paid, fully virtual summer internship for high school students in Alaska focused on public health, leadership, and digital communication. You will work with senior leadership and the Public Health Director on projects related to community engagement and outreach. Intern tasks often include social media management, trend analysis, content creation, and participation in planning meetings. You also gain experience using professional tools such as Microsoft Office while collaborating in a remote team environment.
14. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid and unpaid (academic credit) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Internships are offered all year round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
The APA Remote Internship Program offers students exposure to how psychology is applied across research, education, public policy, and communications. You will be assigned to a specific department and contribute to ongoing projects such as data analysis, digital resource development, or public education materials. The internship is fully virtual, allowing you to participate from any location. Each intern reports to a supervisor who provides guidance and feedback throughout the program. Optional workshops and networking sessions introduce different career paths in psychology. Some positions are paid, while others may offer academic credit.
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