13 Summer Internships for High School Students in Wyoming
Summer internships help high school students build their resumes, gain professional experience, and understand what different jobs are like. Participating in an internship allows you to explore a field you’re curious about and develop skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. They also give you valuable experience you can discuss in your college application essays and interviews, which is especially useful if you’re applying to top colleges.
What summer internships are available for high school students in Wyoming?
If you’re a high school student in Wyoming, there are plenty of local internship options worth exploring. The state offers opportunities through community organizations, research groups, and outdoor programs. Participating in a summer internship in Wyoming allows you to gain professional experience in industries like field ecology, conservation, and state policy that are rooted in the state’s natural landscape. Choosing a local internship can also help you save on housing and commuting costs.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 13 summer internships for high school students in Wyoming that offer quality mentorship and professional experience. Some of these are not traditional internships, but they still offer practical experience and can strengthen your academic profile.
1. Wyoming Outdoor Council: Project-Based Internship
Location: Lander, Wyoming (Headquarters) or Remote (Project dependent)
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically 1–2 interns per specific project
Dates: Typically June – August (8-week duration; flexible start/end)
Application Deadline: Rolling until May 1
Eligibility: High school seniors
In this program, you will take complete ownership of a conservation challenge that aligns with your interests and skills. You’ll cover specialized topics like wildlife migration corridors, public land usage, or renewable energy impacts while engaging in activities such as conducting field interviews, creating GIS maps, or producing short-form documentary content. You can design your own focus, where you work independently under the mentorship of professional advocates to create a final product, like a research paper or community outreach plan, that the Council actually uses. It’s an ideal way to see your individual work contribute directly to the protection of Wyoming’s natural heritage.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 19%; typical cohort of 70–100 students
Dates: Programs run year-round in 8–12 week sessions during spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November); apply here
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, or gap year students who can work 10–20 hours a week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a remote program that connects high school students with nonprofits and startups worldwide. Many of these organizations are backed by Y Combinator or led by individuals with experience at McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. Started by Harvard graduates, the program offers internships in areas like health tech, finance, nonprofits, mental health, AI, environmental science, software engineering, consulting, and journalism. As an intern, you’ll work on real projects for your host organization and present your work at the end of the program. You’ll also get guidance from a Ladder coach and a site manager throughout your internship.
3. Wyoming Department of Administration & Information Internships
Location: Wyoming Department of Administration & Information, Cheyenne, WY
Stipend: Most internships are unpaid, but a few paid opportunities may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by agency need; most divisions take 1–3 interns at a time
Dates: Year–round opportunities are available
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Wyoming state agencies offer internship and externship opportunities that allow you to learn how government works through pre-professional roles. Options may include the Department of Audit, Department of Corrections, Department of Family Services, Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, the Governor’s Office, the Insurance Department, the Public Service Commission, State Parks and Cultural Resources, the Wyoming Department of Health, and others. Many universities, colleges, and community colleges offer academic credit for completing an internship. It is up to you to check with your school or advisor and follow their credit guidelines. In most cases, approval from both the school and the state agency is needed before the internship begins.
4. Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Location: Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, WY
Stipend: $10.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; ~40 enrollees
Dates: Session 1: June 14 – July 15; Session 2: July 19 – August 18
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students ages 15–18 who are U.S. citizens/Permanent Residents
In the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps, you’ll spend a month living and working in the world’s first national park while handling preservation projects. This residential program covers a broad range of topics, including ecology, geology, and indigenous cultures, all while you help maintain the park’s vast wilderness. You will find yourself installing bear-proof storage boxes, rehabilitating backcountry trails, and even assisting scientists with water sampling or wildlife data collection. What makes this experience truly unique is the "no-phone" policy, which challenges you to trade digital screens for deep, real-world connections with your peers and the landscape. You develop essential leadership skills, technical maintenance abilities, and a profound sense of independence.
5. Grand Teton Association – Youth Conservation Program (YCP)
Location: Grand Teton National Park (Moose/Colter Bay, WY)
Stipend: Paid, amount/rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 15–20 students per summer
Dates: 10 weeks, typically from mid-June to mid-August
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students ages 16–19 who are US citizens or permanent residents and able to perform physical labor outdoors
In the Grand Teton Association’s Youth Conservation Program (YCP), you will spend 10 weeks as a steward in one of the nation’s most iconic landscapes. Your days involve a mix of physical labor and education, covering essential topics like fire management, wildlife ecology, park history, and search and rescue operations. You will gain hands-on experience by rebuilding backcountry trails, constructing bridges, and preserving historic structures alongside professional National Park Service crews. Throughout the summer, you develop practical skills in trail engineering and tool use, while also sharpening leadership and teamwork abilities.
6. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Internships are available in all 50 U.S. states, including Wyoming, along with opportunities in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and the Pacific Islands
Stipend: $3,000 stipend and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20–45 students
Dates: 8 weeks between June and August; the internship dates are flexible and decided by the mentor and the student
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who will be 16 or older by the internship start date
This program introduces you to careers in fisheries and aquatic science by matching you with a professional mentor within a 45-minute commute from home. You’ll get hands-on experience in fisheries biology, habitat restoration, conservation, and management. Projects can focus on fisheries management, ecosystem health, aquatic populations, habitats, physiology, biodiversity, toxicology, or socioeconomics. Your work setting will vary by site and may include time spent outdoors, on boats, in labs, or in offices. You might help with microscope-based specimen work, water-quality testing, fish surveys, electrofishing, habitat restoration, data organization, snorkeling, or youth education activities.
7. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship Programs
Location: Remote or in person at any of NASA’s ten field centers across the U.S. Some opportunities might be available through the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium, Laramie, WY
Stipend: Students may qualify for a stipend based on their academic level and internship duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 5%; around 1 to 5 students per year
Dates: 10 weeks from late May/early June to August (Summer Session)
Application Deadline: February 27 (Summer Session)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 16 or older, enrolled full-time as a student, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers internships that give high school students experience in science, engineering, business, IT, and finance. Depending on your role, you might develop technology, design experiments, operate telescopes, log data for a NASA team, analyze mission data, or help with mission prep. You’ll work with mentors, including engineers and research scientists, exploring areas such as robotics, space science, aeronautics, ecology, astronomy, space microbiology, and science communication. You can also participate in virtual talks with astronauts and other space professionals. These internships can be full-time or part-time at a NASA center or facility. They will help you get real-world experience, develop your skills, and strengthen your resume.
8. Wyoming Catholic College Summer Internship — Summer Intern at COR Expeditions
Location: Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically 6–8 interns per summer
Dates: Typically May through August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until full
Eligibility: High school students with a valid driver’s license and good communication skills can apply; you can check other requirements here
In this internship, you’ll help manage backcountry gear, including inventory, maintenance, assigning gear to trips, ordering, and packing. You’ll assist with backcountry food, including ordering, packing, budgeting, and handling special dietary needs. You’ll represent COR professionally when interacting with clients or student groups, help with transportation needs like driving students, and support the Director, Assistant Director, and other staff. You’ll also assist with PEAK high school programs, coordinating outdoor activities, food, and gear. You may help with WCC’s Wilderness First Responder course, including attending the training for free and assisting instructors with gear setup. You’ll also provide logistical support for the Freshman 21-Day Trip in August.
9. UW Teton STEM Academy
Location: University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; maximum 24 students
Dates: July 12 – 19
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Rising 9th, 10th, and 11th graders from Wyoming
The UW Teton STEM Academy is a free, week-long residential summer program at the University of Wyoming for high school students. The program is designed to build interest in STEM through hands-on activities and mentorship. Led by Professor Chip Kobulnicky, the academy often follows a Journey to Mars theme to connect ideas across different fields. The curriculum includes physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, and robotics. You’ll work on projects like building space heat shields, programming robots, constructing telescopes, and testing soil for signs of life. You’ll also go on excursions to nearby mountain ranges and visit research sites such as the Wyoming Infrared Observatory.
10. Wyoming Outdoor Council: Legislative Internship
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Stipend: $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically 2–4 students per session
Dates: Occurs during the Legislative Session (typically Feb/March for 1 week)
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications usually open in Late Fall/Early Winter (check in Nov/Dec)
Eligibility: All high school students
In this program, you’ll cover a range of topics, including public land management, wildlife conservation, and clean water protection, while seeing how a bill moves from idea to state law. During your week, you’ll spend your time tracking active legislation, sitting in on high-stakes committee hearings, and researching policy to help create informational fact sheets for the public. The program provides an on-the-go mentorship, where you work side-by-side with professional lobbyists and even get the chance to testify before committees or speak directly with your own local representatives. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with sharp skills in professional communication, policy analysis, and strategic advocacy.
11. CyberWyoming: "Design Your Own" Internship
Location: Hybrid/Remote (You work with a local nonprofit in your town)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; you work one-on-one with a mentor
Dates: Flexible (Typically follows a school semester or an 8-10 week summer block)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: All high school students
The CyberWyoming "Design Your Own" Internship is a flexible, community-focused program that empowers you to take the lead in securing local organizations. You’ll learn about critical topics like phishing prevention, password management, and remote work security, using the Cyber Readiness Institute’s business-friendly framework to guide your progress. Throughout the semester, you will actively mentor a local nonprofit, write professional letters to outline your security plan, and serve as the organization's "cyber leader" to implement practical safety measures. You don’t need to be a computer science major to succeed, as it welcomes students interested in marketing, criminal justice, or social work.
12. University of Wyoming Native American Summer Institute
Location: University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 40–50 students per year
Dates: June 7 – 13
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Native American high school students from the Wind River Reservation, nearby communities, and the town of Laramie
The Native American Summer Institute (NASI) is a residential pre-college program focusing on college readiness, leadership development, and relationship building. You will stay in UW residence halls and experience college life through academic workshops, campus and off-campus activities, and Native American cultural experiences that support and strengthen cultural identity. The program will help you develop leadership skills and connect with peers, UW faculty and staff, and current Native American students at UW. It encourages higher education by helping you explore UW and prepare for future goals while creating strong connections with tribal communities, the university, the city of Laramie, and the state of Wyoming.
13. University of Wyoming’s Summer High School Institute (HSI)
Location: University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded except for a $325 activity fee / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 75 students
Dates: June 7 – 27
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: Current 10th-grade students who live in Wyoming, attend a public or private school, or are homeschooled, and plan to return to a Wyoming school next term
In this program, you’ll learn in small classes taught by UW faculty while living in the dorms, with access to campus spaces like the gym, library, and student union. You’ll take two college-style classes, one focused on the physical and natural world and one on human culture, meeting four times a week. Past classes have included topics like robotics, criminal justice, energy, acting, politics in pop culture, and DNA in society. You’ll join community service projects, attend on- and off-campus events, and participate in activities such as guest talks, workshops, field trips, and games.
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