Summer forestry internships open for applications across South Carolina
October 4, 2026
The South Carolina Forestry Commission is now accepting applications for its 2027 summer internship program, giving students and others interested in forestry careers a chance to gain hands-on experience in the field.
The commission offers three types of internships: State Forest, Forest Inventory and Analysis, and Forest Health. Positions run from May through August, and the agency said some flexibility may be available for start and end dates.
State Forest internships
Eight State Forest internships are available at five locations around the state. Harbison State Forest, Manchester State Forest and Sand Hills State Forest will each host two interns, while Wee Tee State Forest and the Niederhof Forestry Center will each host one.
Interns in these roles will help with forest management work such as timber cruising, timber marking and inventory cruising. They will also help prepare forest product sales, including setting sale boundaries and assisting with timber and pine straw sales. Other duties include marking property boundary lines and operating light and medium equipment to maintain state forest grounds.
Forest Inventory and Analysis internships
Two Forest Inventory and Analysis internships are based in Columbia. Interns will work on two-person crews that locate forest inventory plots and take measurements such as tree length and diameter. The work must meet accuracy standards set by the Forest Inventory and Analysis unit of the U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station. Interns will also chain into and out of plot locations and between inventory points.
Forest Health internships
Four Forest Health internships are available, with two based in Columbia and two serving Pickens and Oconee counties. These interns will survey for invasive species, map where they occur and track geographic and seasonal trends. They will also help control and manage invasive species where needed and attend public events to teach residents how to identify and manage them.
How to apply
Applications are being accepted through the state of South Carolina’s online jobs portal. Applicants can find each posting at the links below.
State Forest internships: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/jobs/5481137/forestry-technician-i-state-forest-internship
Forest Inventory and Analysis internships: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/jobs/5480977/forestry-technician-i-fia-internship
Forest Health internships: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/jobs/5481337/forestry-technician-i-forest-health-internship
For more information about the internship program, contact the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
