A Gateway to Impact: Wrapping Up SWCA’s Record-Breaking 2026 Internship Program

Earlier this summer, we celebrated National Intern Day by highlighting the hands-on, immersive ecosystem that defines the SWCA internship experience. We shared how we refuse to leave emerging talent on the sidelines, instead integrating them into the active projects that shape our environment. Now, as the summer concludes, let’s look back at the tremendous success of our 2026 cohort.

This year, we welcomed 59 interns, marking our largest group to date. These emerging professionals were spread among 23 offices and 12 departments, bringing fresh perspectives and new energy to every corner of our company. Over the past few weeks, 54 of these interns delivered presentations detailing the incredible work they accomplished. From surveying endangered species in the field to building out sustainability marketing metrics and auditing human resources programs, the scope of their contributions was staggering. Most importantly, our internship program continues to be a highly effective gateway into the environmental consulting industry. Of the 59 participants, an impressive 34 individuals are continuing their journey with SWCA—seven hired into regular-status positions and 37 extended as on-demand employees. This represents a remarkable retention rate of nearly 58 percent, proving the long-term value of the experience.

Validating the Path Forward Through Our Internship Program

For many students, the transition from academia to the professional world is about discovering where their true passions lie. Time and again, our interns expressed that their summer at SWCA validated their career choices and opened doors they had not previously considered. Environmental Planning Intern Maddy Moss noted that her involvement in community engagement and tribal outreach projects provided unexpected and rewarding business development experience. “These two projects really solidified me wanting to go into environmental consulting, which I didn’t even know what it was before [this internship],” she shared. Civil Engineering Intern Amelia Baron experienced a similar realization after working on solar development projects and concept site plans. “This internship has been an incredibly meaningful experience for me and I’m so glad to have found work that I am truly passionate about,” she said. For GIS Intern Troy Diaz, navigating the Wyoming environmental desktop review tool provided absolute clarity. “The biggest thing I gained from this internship is confidence that GIS is the field I want to keep growing in,” he observed.

Fostering an AlwaysLearning Mindset

A successful internship program is a two-way street that relies heavily on the dedication of our tenured employees. Throughout the summer, SWCA supervisors embraced the opportunity to teach and coach, creating an environment where questions were welcomed and confidence was built. Civil Restoration Engineering Intern Austin Sykes credited his supervisor for equipping him with new technical skills. “My supervisor was great about teaching me and I’m super grateful for the opportunity to learn about CAD, because I’m sure that will come up in the workforce and the classroom in the next few years,” he noted. Mentorship was also the key to overcoming field hesitation for Ecological Restoration Intern Nate Ainge. “With [supervisor Ada Fox’s] feedback I got the confidence needed to work better,” he explained. Natural Resources Intern Helena Hitch summarized the company culture perfectly: “I can say for certain that SWCA does live out its core values, especially when it comes to pushing people to pick up as many skills as possible”.

Real Work, Meaningful Impact

Our interns did not just observe; they actively advanced our business and supported our clients. Cultural Resources Intern Julius Pagan, a double major in economics and anthropology, found that the consulting environment perfectly blended his studies. “This internship gave me a much better understanding of how cultural resource management works from both the office and the field perspectives,” he said, noting that the experience bolstered his technical skills and confidence. Ecological Restoration Intern Kaity Roberts took a self-described “choose your own adventure” approach, spending her summer building out a process workflow and toolkit framework for SWCA’s nature-based solutions program. Meanwhile, Business Application Analyst Intern Bhavya Sri Sai Sontineni improved search scalability for a company-wide application. Throughout her projects, she observed that “understanding the business problem is just as important as building the solution itself.”

Looking Ahead

To the 2026 cohort: thank you for your curiosity, your hard work, and the fresh perspectives you brought to our teams. It takes a specific kind of ecosystem to grow an environmental consultant, and you are the living proof of what happens when that ecosystem thrives. We are incredibly proud of the foundation you have built this summer. To the 34 interns continuing their careers with us—welcome to the next chapter. We cannot wait to see how you continue to grow, innovate, and shape the future of environmental consulting within the SWCA ecosystem.