Current Opportunities
Blue Ridge Parkway
Dates: May 3-10, 2026
The opportunity: The Clemson University Institute for Parks, the George Wright Society, School of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation announce an exciting opportunity for graduate students. Applications are being accepted for participation in a Park Break Program on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited unit in the National Park Service system, focused on viewshed management. To manage the quality and beauty of viewsheds along the parkway, organizations including the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, through initiatives such as Blue Ridge Rising, have partnered with the National Park Service, local communities, and other community organizations to establish a baseline assessment of the viewsheds at major overlooks. The Park Break program will undertake a part of this effort by conducting baseline qualitative assessments for each viewpoint between milepost 202 and milepost 317.5 in North Carolina. This Park Break will produce a report with 1) completed Scenic Viewshed Evaluation Forms, which include baseline qualitative narratives and ratings for each designated viewpoint and 2) a library of photos of “each viewpoint” that will document the characteristic features and typical scenery.
What is included? Park Break is an all-expenses-paid, park-based service-learning program for graduate students who are thinking about a career in park management or park-related research. The program provides students with an opportunity to visit a national park unit for five-seven days and collaborate with scholars, managers, and partner organizations to solve real world problems.
Who is eligible? Graduate students (Ph.D. or master's level) who are studying in fields related to parks, protected areas, cultural sites, marketing, tourism, and other relevant fields. We especially invite folks with expertise in visitor management, photography, and qualitative assessments to apply.
Park Break puts you on the path to success: Many Park Break fellows have been hired by the land management agencies including the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. Other Park Break alums have embarked on Ph.D. programs. Park Break makes you and your skills visible!
For more information and how to apply: Visit Clemson Institute for Parks to learn more about the opportunity, and use the application link to apply. For questions or additional information contact Bob Powell, Director of the Institute for Parks, at rbp@clemson.edu.
Deadline for applications is March 15, 2026
