By now, many students are knee-deep in internship applications, scrambling to decide how best to spend their summers. But who wants to send out cover letter after cover letter just to end up in a poorly ventilated office tapping away at your keyboard all summer?

Marco De Leon was a down to earth, ukulele-playing MPA candidate at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. He'd tackled epic road trips across Argentina, Chile and England, and knew he craved more from an internship than being the low rung on the totem pole. I wanted something that offered substance, structure, and support, says Marco. Luckily, a wise career counselor suggested a program right up his alley: the National Parks Business Plan Internship.

An explorer tries working closer to home

Having explored the world, Marco was anxious to get to know someplace closer to home, where he could contribute something valuable. He was happy to discover he'd landed a placement at the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) National Park, just three hours north of his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. The park celebrates our country's presidential heritage and offers nearly 1,600 acres of historic ranchland and wildflowers to roam.

When he touched down, Marco discovered this was no average internship - he'd be serving as an on-site consultant for his host park. His project began in earnest as he evaluated LBJ's operations, modeled the costs of programs, and worked with staff to distill park priorities.

Marco quickly came to learn that, in spite of his new surroundings, his academic work had more than prepared him for the experience. It was a perfect amalgam of the core courses from my first year at school: quantitative analysis, strategic problem solving and planning, financial management, and public communications, recalls Marco. But there were other lessons to learn, he says, things well beyond the scope of work - how to tell a good story, how to rope, ride, and herd; how to enjoy your environment.

Putting his summer consulting to work

Since the program's completion, Marco continues to feel the lasting effects of his experience. During his 10 weeks at LBJ, he drafted a strategic plan that will influence changes at the park for the next three to five years.

And with this experience under his belt, he's able to position himself as a compelling worker in a cutthroat job market. It's not only a great ice breaker, he explains, but it also allows me to highlight the rigorous work I completed while there.

Want to spend your summer as a BPI consultant?

For those seeking a transformative experience in business consulting, resource management, and sunshine, Marco offers a bit of advice: follow your instincts. Show what you can offer, but open yourself up to all the things - unexpected or otherwise - you'll learn.

And as you weigh your options for the summer months, recall one of Marco's major takeaways from the experience: I've found the program makes you instantly more interesting. Getting the opportunity to stretch your body and business skills in the great outdoors definitely can't hurt, either.

Held every summer, the National Parks Business Plan Internship combines students' business and leadership skills with their passion to make a real difference through the work they do - all against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. You can read more about NPS interns in action and even apply to be one when the application launches in September!