SAF Internships

SAF established the Henry Clepper Forest Policy Internship in memory of Henry Clepper, long-time executive director of SAF and a leader in the forestry community. The newly redesigned program will offer students and recent graduates a unique opportunity to work closely with SAF’s policy and public affairs team while learning from and contributing to the entire SAF organization. Applications will open every January and close during the month of February for summer internships.  

Meet the 2026 Henry Clepper Intern 

SAF is excited to introduce our 2026 Henry Clepper Forest Policy Intern, Nyla Jones. Nyla is a 2026 graduate of Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource and Environmental Conservation. She intends to continue her academic education as an incoming Master of Public Policy student at Harvard Kennedy School.

Nyla became intrigued by natural resources from a young age, particularly focusing her attention on forest and water conservation during her college years. She studied this nexus of conservation issues as an undergraduate researcher, focusing on forest hydrology, and her work culminated in a senior honors thesis. Outside of research, she participated in conservation-oriented opportunities, ranging from serving as an ambassador for her college to serving as vice president of her campus’ student-led sustainability organization.

She is interested in the efforts that environmental nonprofits undertake to advance federal conservation priorities. The intersection of these issues motivated her to pursue opportunities that highlighted the importance of nonprofit organizations focused on environmental policy, including serving as the Government Affairs Intern at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and participating in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Junior Summer Institute as a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow.

Nyla is thrilled to work alongside SAF’s Policy and Public Affairs Team this summer. She hopes to strengthen the skills necessary for public policy analysis and gain a broader understanding of natural resource conservation efforts.

 

Program Details

 

Eligibility 

All applicants must be:

  • Undergraduate students (current or rising juniors and seniors preferred), graduate students, or recent graduates (degree conferred in May or June 2026); 
  • Based in the United States; and
  • Interested in pursuing a career that impacts forestry or related natural resources. 

Commitments

Ful time internship (~40 hours per week)

  • Hybrid is based in Washington, DC (at least 2 days/ week in the office, or remote
  • Three-month term with flexible start and end dates from June-September 

Stipend 

$1,650 / month stipend 

Other Benefits 

  • One year of SAF membership 
  • Complimentary registration to the SAF National Convention

Activities

The SAF team does its best to tailor intern activities to the individual's interests and career goals. Activities will vary based on a number of factors but may include:

  • Tracking and attending congressional hearings
  • Researching legislation and proposed administrative rules 
  • Creating content for the SAF website and social media
  • Helping draft letters, testimonies, and other public statements 
  • Writing articles for SAF publications 
  • Helping organize SAF forums, webinars, and other events
  • Connecting with SAF local unit leaders and student chapters 
  • Participating in meetings with partner organizations, agencies, and congressional offices
  • Networking with SAF leaders

How to Apply

The application period is now closed! 

What Past Interns Had to Say

SAF was an incredibly fun, motivating, and productive work environment. Many internship experiences are not as involved and personalized as mine was through SAF, and I appreciate the effort by the national team to include me in meetings and projects, treating me as a contributing member of the overall production.”

Arjeta Bajramaj, Summer 2021

It’s hard to express in one page all the benefits this short internship has provided me -- inside knowledge of the policy process, fluency in budget numbers, knowledge of federal programs, deep insight into the workings of nonprofits, the chance to network with forestry leaders...the chance to publish my writing, and first-hand interaction with congressional staff, to name a few."

Don Radcliffe, Spring 2017

My SAF internship has been such a rewarding experience. Whether researching legislation in the office, attending meetings with congressional staff, or connecting with partner organizations in DC, I not only had an excellent opportunity to see natural resource policy in action, but developed an invaluable professional network.”

Catherine Masingill, Summer 2017

I was given the fantastic chance to witness and interact with almost every aspect and level of environmental policymaking from grassroots organizing to senatorial debates over multi-billion dollar budgets. These experiences, among other things, helped me to hone my communication, organizational, analytical, and writing skills to a degree that I would have not thought possible beforehand.”

Connor Stephens, Summer 2016