The Gary E. Everhardt Park Break Program is a week-long, park-based fellowship and field seminar for graduate students who are seriously thinking about a career in park management or park-related research and education.  Students explore topics of importance to the host park and interact with park researchers, natural and cultural resource managers, and policymakers.

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Since being created by GWS in 2007, over 100 students have participated in Park Breaks.  Starting in 2019, Park Break is co-organized by the Clemson University Institute for Parks and the George Wright Society. The program now honors Gary E. Everhardt, the ninth director of the US National Park Service (NPS).

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Park Break is a fellowship program -- all student expenses are covered!

 

What’s unique about Park Break?

• Top-level students: Masters & PhDs; 8 per session

• Students interact with park professional staff and external partners

• Mix of classroom and field-based activities

• Each session has a specific theme; for example:

  • Energy development impacts on park

  • Making NPS historic sites more relevant to diverse communities

• Students assigned a specific project related to theme; for example:

  • Students created a lesson module on energy impacts for a local environmental education center

  • Students reflected on their own experiences (6 of the 8 students were people of color) with heritage preservation sites

• Highly competitive: over 100 applicants for each of the past two sessions

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The next Park Break will take place in 2025. Check back here often and we'll post details when plans are complete.

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