What We Offer 

This internship is an on-call position, which means it is a part-time, hourly role. The City and County of Denver offers a competitive pay rate to commensurate with education, with the pay for this position at $19.29. This position is eligible to enroll in the City and County of Denver’s 457b retirement plan. This position is not eligible for other additional benefits. On-call positions may have routine or variable work schedules. 

Location Flexibility 

The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model with a required 3 days in office. Employees work where needed to support business at Denver International Airport (DEN). We do not offer housing or relocation assistance for this position. Employees must work within the state of Colorado. 

Internship Duration and Hours 

This is a 10-week internship from Monday, June 1, 2026 - Friday, August 7, 2026, with typical hours not exceeding 39 hours a week. 

Who We Are & What You’ll Do 

Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do.  

 
Through the DEN Intern (nicknamed “DENtern”) Program, students gain real world experience in aviation and workforce development while building professional skills. DENterns participate in a cohort-based model that emphasizes networking, collaboration, and professional growth, attending all scheduled professional development sessions, tours, and engaging in impactful projects across the airport.  
 
The Volunteer Program team in Customer Service is actively seeking a Volunteer Support High School DENtern to contribute to their division. As part of DEN's Strategic Plan, Vision 100, which envisions reaching 100 million annual passengers, DEN’s Volunteer program plays a pivotal role in transforming the aviation industry.   
 
The Volunteer team manages over 375 volunteers that serve as either an Ambassador or Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) volunteers.  We are responsible for the onboarding, training, retention and recognition of volunteers at DEN and pride ourselves on making the volunteer program at DEN one of the top programs in the nation.  The Volunteer team focuses on creating impactful volunteer programs that support our passengers as we navigate Vision 100 and plan for Operation 2045.  

 As a DENtern you will get to experience working on projects such as, but not limited to:  

Project #1: Volunteer Meeting Planning & Content Creation 

• Support the development of the monthly Volunteer Team Meeting by helping create engaging, student‑friendly elements such as: 

• Assisting staff in preparing materials for the meeting and organizing followup items 

• Creating short “microtraining” activities (2–5 minutes each) that build skills or share helpful tips with volunteers 

• Designing simple visual slides or handouts to support meeting topics 

Project #2: Volunteer Recognition & Appreciation Program 

• Help enhance how DEN celebrates volunteers by improving the monthly recognition process, including tasks such as: 

• Assisting track and organize recognitions  

• Brainstorming new ideas to make recognition feel more personal and meaningful 

Project #3: Support Community with Our Office 

• Foster a fun and welcoming community within the volunteer office focusing on networking and connections 

• Creating opportunities for CATS members to engage and build community 

Project #4: Aviation Megatrend Research 

• Collaborate with a team of fellow DENterns to conduct discovery research on a key aviation megatrend. This includes gathering data, interviewing industry experts, and analyzing findings. At the end of the summer, your team will present insights to DEN’s executive leadership to help shape strategic innovation and prepare the airport for the future.  
   

What You’ll Bring 

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following skills, characteristics, and interest:  

• A passion for helping people and like the idea of supporting a large and friendly volunteer community 

• A curiosity about airports and aviation, and want to learn how volunteers help passengers at DEN 

• A positive attitude and like creating welcoming, fun spaces for people to connect 

• A creative mindset, whether that’s making simple slides, coming up with ideas, or helping plan engaging activities 

• Someone who enjoys working with others, meeting new people, and being part of a supportive cohort of fellow DENterns 

Desired Skill Set: 

• Communication: Strong verbal and written abilities for reports, presentations, and engaging with others 

• Interpersonal Skills: Building positive relationships and working effectively with others 

• Flexibility: Embraces the idea that people can be productive no matter when or where they perform their work and that priorities can change quickly 

• Creativity: Thinking outside the box and coming up with new and unique concepts. Someone who takes those creative ideas and turns them into practical and valuable outcomes. 

• Time Management: Proactively taking on new challenges and responsibilities; effective time management to prioritize activities and achieve project deadlines 

 Minimum Qualifications 

• Education Requirement: This position is open to 16 to 19 year olds who are currently enrolled in high school, are homeschooled, or up to one year post high school graduation. 

• Experience: None  

• Education and Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.  

Mandatory documentation required to be considered for this position: 

• 1–2-page resume 

• Transcripts – either official or unofficial; dated within your current academic term. This is only used to verify amounts of credits; grades will not influence decisions. 

Optional Documents 

• Cover letter detailing why you are interested in this position and 3-5 new skills, experiences, or tools you are hoping to take away from this experience.  

Application Deadline   

This position is expected to stay open until Monday, February 23, 2026. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than February 22nd at 11:59 PM.