Natural Resources Internship Program

Overview of the Natural Resources Internship Program program:

The Natural Resources Internship Program is administered by Career Launcher and funded by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) under the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) – Green Jobs stream. It helps employers across Canada hire youth (aged 30 and under) for full-time internships that contribute to a more sustainable, innovative, and inclusive natural resources sector. This program provides financial support of up to $32,000 per intern to help cover wages and related employment costs. Employers in natural resource fields—such as forestry, mining, energy, and Earth sciences—can apply to receive subsidies to hire youth for internships lasting 6 to 12 months. The goal is to accelerate youth employment while advancing Canada's climate and environmental goals. Interns gain valuable hands-on experience in green jobs and build skills that are crucial for future careers in sustainable resource management and technological innovation. Eligible employers include private-sector companies, non-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, post-secondary institutions, and research facilities working in the natural resource economy. Interns must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or have refugee status, and must be unemployed or underemployed at the time of hiring. The program promotes diversity and equity by prioritizing applications from organizations that hire interns from underrepresented groups, including Indigenous youth, women in STEM, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and newcomers.

Benefits of the Natural Resources Internship Program program:

• Up to $30,000 per intern in wage subsidies
• Opportunity to hire youth talent for green and technical roles
• Supports projects in energy, forestry, mining, Earth sciences, and sustainability
• Increases capacity and productivity of employers in the natural resources sector
• Offers 100% funding for interns from equity-deserving backgrounds
• Helps employers contribute to climate action and environmental goals
• Builds the next generation of clean resource professionals
• Supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM and natural resource careers

Eligibility criteria of the Natural Resources Internship Program program:

• Employer Eligibility:
• Must be a Canadian organization working in or supporting the natural resources sector
• Can include:
• For-profit companies
• Non-profits and charities
• Indigenous organizations and governments
• Academic institutions
• Municipal or provincial governments
• Must offer an internship in a green or sustainable job role
• Must have capacity to pay the intern up front (funds are reimbursed)
• Intern Eligibility:
• Must be 30 years old or younger at internship start
• Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with refugee status
• Must be unemployed or underemployed
• Cannot be a full-time student during the internship
• Cannot have previously participated in a Green Jobs internship under this program
• Priority is given to:
• Women in STEM
• Indigenous youth
• Youth from racialized communities
• Youth with disabilities
• LGBTQ2S+ individuals
• Youth living in rural or remote areas