The Ultimate Guide to GeoCorps America Internships

Updated October 2026

TL;DR

GeoCorps America is a paid, short-term geoscience program run by the Geological Society of America (GSA) in partnership with public land agencies. You apply to specific projects that may involve geology, hydrology, soil science, mapping and GIS, paleontology, or other geoscience-related work. The minimum pay rate listed by GSA is $15 per hour, although rates and housing arrangements vary by project. You must be at least 18 when you participate, be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, pass the required background checks, and have a valid U.S. driver’s license with a good driving record. If you’re looking for an online research opportunity, explore the Horizon Academic Research Program.

If you like geology and want to work outdoors on real projects, GeoCorps America is one of the best-known ways to do it. Depending on your placement, you may collect field data, help with mapping, analyze geospatial information, or contribute to resource-management work. Projects are filled through a competitive selection process, and each listing has its own requirements. This guide explains where the work takes place, when to apply, what the program pays, who qualifies, and what to consider if you’re still in high school. For more opportunities, see our list of geology research opportunities for high school students.

What is GeoCorps America?

GeoCorps America pairs you with paid, short-term projects on U.S. public lands. GSA runs the program with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and the projects cover science work that the agencies might not otherwise have time or staff to finish.

Depending on the project, you could work in geology, glaciology, soil science, hydrology, paleontology, minerals, geohazards, caves and karst, or mapping and GIS. You might collect field data, help with research or resource management, build maps, or write materials that explain the science to visitors and local communities. The tasks depend on the position, so read each description closely.

GSA picks people through a competitive selection process. Most of the people it picks are early in their careers, and a summer at a National Forest or BLM unit gives them hands-on experience in the field. Some agencies also post bigger projects that need a particular background or a stay of up to a year.

Where do you work?

GeoCorps has no single location, so you work wherever your project is, and the host agency sets the schedule and the place. Past sites include Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, the BLM Moab Field Office in Utah, Klamath National Forest, and National Park Service sites.

Many projects put you outdoors for much of the day. Some sit in remote areas, and a few expect you to bring your own vehicle. The project description lists these details, so check the location, the road access, and the housing before you apply. A project that looks perfect on paper can be hard to do if you cannot reach the site.

When do GeoCorps applications open and close?

As of October 2026, GSA has not published exact dates for the 2027 application cycle. Its current application page says applications are closed, although additional off-season projects may be posted. The dates below show the usual pattern, not confirmed deadlines for the next cycle.

GSA also posts off-season projects as agencies send them in, and those list their own deadlines in the project description.

One rule changes how you plan: each project accepts only the first 100 people who apply. After that, the project closes, even if the main deadline is still weeks away. Set up your profile before positions open, then pick your projects as soon as they appear.

How much does GeoCorps pay?

You earn an hourly wage, so you pay no tuition and no program fee. GSA lists a minimum of $15 per hour. Some projects pay more, especially when they do not include free housing.

Housing works differently from project to project. Some sites give you a place to stay at no cost, and others give you a higher wage so you can rent somewhere. A few remote projects reimburse your travel to and from the site, and the project description says how much. Add up pay, housing, and travel for each project before you decide, because two projects with the same hourly rate can leave you with very different take-home money.

Who can apply to GeoCorps America?

You must:

• Be at least 18 years old by the time you start
• Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident with a Green Card
• Pass a federal background check and an employment background check
• Have a valid U.S. driver’s license and a good driving record

Temporary visa holders are not eligible, and GSA does not sponsor visas. You do not have to be in college right now, and you do not have to belong to GSA. The program has accepted undergraduates, graduate students, recent graduates, people with advanced degrees, postdoctoral researchers, teachers, and retirees.

Your degree does not have to be in geoscience. People from chemistry, physics, computer science, meteorology, social sciences, ecology, engineering, math, and the humanities have applied. That said, many projects ask for college-level geoscience classes or specific technical skills, so read the requirements for each one.

Projects with the U.S. Forest Service add more rules. You must be between 18 and 30 years old, or up to 35 if you are a military veteran, and you must have a high school diploma or a GED. GSA encourages applications from groups that are often left out of STEM, including people from racially and ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ communities, and people of all gender identities.

If you have done GeoCorps before, you can apply again. GSA suggests you stop at two projects, and you cannot repeat a project you already finished.

Can you apply to GeoCorps while you are in high school?

Yes, but only in a narrow case. You need to be 18 or older, and you need to have completed some college-level geoscience coursework. Most projects add their own requirements on top of that, so few positions suit someone who is still in high school.

If you are not there yet, you have good options now. Our list of geoscience internships for high school students covers programs that take younger applicants, and building experience through one of them can set you up for GeoCorps later.

How does the GeoCorps application work?

You apply through GSA’s online system only. GSA does not accept anything sent by email or mail.

1. Create your profile. You answer one set of application questions, even if you apply to several projects.
2. Choose your projects. You can apply to up to five GeoCorps projects per agency partner each season.
3. Write a cover letter for each project. Address it to the contacts listed in the project description or to the project mentors. Do not address it to GSA staff.
4. Ask for a recommendation. You need one letter, and you can include up to three. You send the requests through your profile, and your references submit them online.
5. Enter your courses and grades. You type them into the system. GSA does not want transcripts.
6. Submit before the deadline. GSA ignores materials that arrive late, and it cannot promise to consider an incomplete application.

After the deadline, agency supervisors contact the applicants they want to interview, about three weeks later. Offers go out about six weeks after the deadline. You can accept only one project offer per season, so rank your choices before the calls start. If you will be away during the interview weeks, make sure you can still answer your phone or email.

How are GeoCorps projects set up?

GeoCorps is a set of separate projects, not one course. You apply to a project and, if you are selected, you work with an agency staff member who supervises it.

The work: Each project has its own goal. You might collect field data, make maps, organize geospatial information, research mineral or soil resources, monitor hazards, or prepare education materials. Some projects mix outdoor fieldwork with office work. One project, for example, combines remote fieldwork with office time using NAIP imagery, LiDAR data, geospatial databases, spreadsheets, and mapping tools to plan access routes and check land ownership.

Your supervisor: An agency staff member acts as your mentor. They explain the goals, set your schedule and timeline, provide the resources you need, and check in with you regularly.
How long it lasts: Most spring and summer projects run at least 10 weeks, and many people spend the whole summer at a National Forest or BLM unit. Some projects last up to a year when the work needs longer commitments or special skills.
Before you start: You receive the project goals, the background, the location, the resources, and the equipment list. You also complete pre-program surveys. Depending on the position, you might get training in field methods, equipment, vehicles, or safety.
What you hand in: Most projects end with a clear product, such as a report, a map, a presentation, a brochure, a lesson plan, a data sheet, or interpretive material. At the end, you complete final materials and an evaluation, and your supervisor sends GSA an evaluation too.

Is GeoCorps America prestigious?

Yes. GeoCorps is a competitive and respected choice if you are interested in geology, environmental science, hydrology, GIS, or public land management. You work with agencies such as the Forest Service and the BLM on real geoscience projects, and GSA runs a competitive selection process.

GSA does not publish an overall acceptance rate or a typical group size, so no honest percentage exists. For a sense of scale, 55 projects received 1,738 applications in 2016, and 152 people took part in 2014. Those numbers are old, so use them as context and not as a prediction. GSA also has more than 26,000 members worldwide and publishes journals such as Geology and GSA Bulletin, which gives the program a strong name in the field.

What skills do you build?

You pick up practical geoscience skills because you work on real projects. Depending on where you land, you might collect and analyze field data on geology, water, soils, fossils, or hazards. You might use topographic maps, satellite imagery, LiDAR data, spreadsheets, and GIS tools to map resources and study conditions on the ground. Some projects take you to springs, streams, caves, karst systems, or abandoned mine lands.

You also practice the quiet skills that carry over to any job. You manage data, write technical reports, prepare project materials, and explain results to people who are not scientists. Working next to agency scientists shows you how land managers use geoscience data to make decisions and reduce hazards. Along the way, you build planning, leadership, and critical thinking, because you work toward a goal with a deadline.

If you want to practice some of these skills before you turn 18, our guide to environmental science research programs for high school students is a good place to start.

What do people who have done GeoCorps say?

GSA has published participant feedback and program evaluations that provide a historical picture of the GeoCorps experience. In its 2013 annual report, 98% of participants said they enjoyed working with their host agency, and 94% described their overall experience as positive and rewarding. The remaining 6% were neutral, and none described their experience as totally negative.

The 2014 annual report reported that 61% of responding mentors rated the program outstanding, while 38% said it exceeded their expectations. The report also recorded 152 individual participants in 2014. In the 2016 annual report, GSA recorded 55 projects and 1,738 applicants.

The reports also identify practical challenges, including finding short-term housing near remote project locations when the host agency does not provide accommodation. Check the current project description carefully before accepting an offer.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

• You do real work. The projects come from public land agencies, so you contribute to something the agency needs.
• You learn from professionals. Your supervisor guides your work and checks in with you, and you see how geoscientists work in land management, research, education, and hazard planning.
• You get paid. Pay starts at $15 per hour, and some projects pay more. A few remote projects also reimburse travel.
• You try different tools. Depending on your project, you might use GIS, mapping, LiDAR, field data collection, and technical writing.
• You see how public lands run. You learn how agencies use scientific data to manage geological resources and respond to natural hazards.
• People rate it well. Past reports show high marks from both the people who took part and their mentors.

Cons

• The requirements are strict. You need to be 18, a citizen or permanent resident, a licensed driver, and able to pass background checks, and some projects add more.
• Few projects fit a high schooler. Most look for college coursework or technical skills.
• Sites can be remote. Some are far from a city, and some expect your own vehicle.
• Housing varies. Some projects include it, and others leave you to find a place, which can be hard in remote areas.
• Competition is real. GSA selects through a competitive process, supervisors interview carefully, and each project closes after 100 applicants.

How can you make your application stronger?

Start early. Because each project closes after 100 applicants, a late application can lose out before the deadline arrives. Build your profile before positions open, and apply the day they go live.

Read each project description twice. Apply only to projects that match your coursework and your situation, including driving, housing, and the equipment the project expects. Write a short, specific cover letter for every project, and say why that site and that work interest you. A generic letter sent to five projects will read like one.

Ask your references early, and ask more than one person if you can. GSA suggests requesting two or three recommendations, so you have a backup. Finally, finish everything ahead of time, since GSA does not consider materials that arrive after the deadline.

What should you do if you cannot apply yet?

Use the time. You can build field and research skills now through programs open to high schoolers, then apply to GeoCorps when you are 18 and have coursework behind you. Our list of earth sciences summer programs for high school students is a good starting point, and the geology research opportunities list has more.

You can also start a project of your own. Pick a local question, such as how a nearby stream changes after rain, and collect data for a few months. Even a small project shows an agency supervisor that you can plan, measure, and report.

Conclusion

If you are interested in geoscience and want experience outside the classroom, GeoCorps America is a strong option. You work on a paid, short-term project with a public land agency, and you can gain experience in geology, hydrology, GIS, paleontology, soils, or geohazards.

Keep the rules in mind. You must be at least 18, and some projects need particular coursework or technical skills. Many sites are remote, so check the location, the transportation, and the housing before you apply. If you meet the requirements and find a project that matches your interests and experience, GeoCorps can show you what a career in geoscience looks like and whether it fits you.

One more option: the Horizon Academic Research Program

If you want a competitive, mentored research program in areas like political theory, data science, machine learning, biology, or chemistry, consider the Horizon Academic Research Program. It is a selective online program where you do advanced research and write a paper on a topic of your choice. Horizon has worked with more than 1,000 high school students and offers more than 600 research specializations.

Questions to ask before you apply to GeoCorps America

Image source: Horizon Academic Research Program