“In Their Own Words” is an ongoing series featuring the experiences of Middlebury students at their summer internships. This summer Luke Elder ‘13 interned with The Nature Conservancy in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. 

What did you do?

Luke Elder ’13 and Max Hoffman ’14 interned for The Nature Conservancy this summer.

I worked as a conservation intern for The Nature Conservancy, specifically doing land stewardship and management. We did invasive species control, native plant nursery work, vegetation monitoring, and were involved with a few studies that the TNC Island Office have been conducting for a few years.

What did you learn?

I learned a great deal about what it means to have a field job. My previous environmental or conservation work experience has only been composed of office research jobs, but working for TNC in the field truly showed me what is takes day to day to be a field biologist. For anyone interested in biology, botany, ecology, land conservation and management, I would recommend this internship without hesitation. The experience has taught me a lot about botany and plant work, something that I had never really been exposed to before. I realized that I think I have more of a passion for wildlife work (which I got a little exposure to through this internship as well). But regardless, getting the experience to help me navigate through figuring out what I like and what I don’t like has been so helpful.

What are your plans for the future?

Working for The Nature Conservancy has been a formative experience that has solidified my passion for conservation work. I plan to continue finding work in the field of conservation biology, and after my experience working for TNC I could easily see myself finding a job working for TNC in the future. I had an incredibly positive experience with the organization and have nothing but good things to say about what they do.

Think this experience sounded pretty cool? Check out opportunities like this and more on MOJO.

If you’ve spent any time on MOJO recently, you’d notice that there are a lot of exciting and valuable environmental internship opportunities now available for Middlebury students–a lot of which take advantage of the great resources and local organizations in Vermont! Since I know many of you haven’t, you’re lucky because I’ve summed up a few of the awesome nature/science/environmental/farming internships just for you! Check out these four positions, but be sure to stop by MOJO to learn more and to find other great internships. Hurry, the deadlines for many are coming up in the next week or so!

1. PAID Summer Climate Fellowship at Clean Air-Cool Planet in Portsmouth, NH

Deadline to Apply: February 24

Clean Air-Cool Planet is an action oriented nonprofit that works with campuses and communities to find and promote solutions to climate change by providing practical solutions that demonstrate the economic opportunities and environmental benefits of climate leadership. CACP offers over 15 different fellowships across the country and in a variety of specialties. Fellows receive supervision, mentorship, and unique research opportunities in their area of interest. For more information check out their website.

2. Invasive Plant Internship at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Crested Butte, CO

Deadline to Apply: March 1

This hands-on and exciting opportunity, provided by Midd alum Dr. Jennifer Reithel ’95, involves working with invasive plant management and plant restoration. The intern’s duties will include assisting with ongoing experiments to control the spread of Canada Thistle, Smooth Brome, and Yellow Toadflax, active management of invasive plants by manual removal and spot applications of herbicides, coordination of adult volunteers, using GPS equipment to map plants, and assisting in revegetation of disturbed areas.

3. PAID Summer Internship at the Center for Whole Communities at Knoll Farm in Waitsfield, VT

Deadline to Apply: March 1

The overall mission of the Internship Program is to provide a unique experience as part of a dynamic learning community living close to the land. As an intern, you will help to accomplish this by both supporting the faculty and participants in the retreat center and maintaining the physical plant systems of Knoll Farm, where the retreats are held. Interns will learn basic skills including carpentry, grounds maintenance, plumbing, trail maintenance, gardening, composting, animal husbandry and more. Abigail Borah ’13 did this internship last summer!

4. PAID Food Access and Gleaning Intern at Rutland Area Farm and Food Link in Rutland, VT

Deadline to Apply:  March 1

Midd alum Kristin Smith ’08 is offering this great chance to get involved with a local organization in Vermont! The Access and Gleaning Inter will coordinate with farmers, volunteers, and RAFFL staff members to organize on-farm gleanings and to collect fresh produce from farmers’ markets. Responsibilities also include working on the grassroots level to increase food security in the Rutland region and be a key organizing member of RAFFL’s Grow-a-Row program.

1. Maintain a positive attitude
   As an intern you may be asked to do tasks that you may consider beneath your talents. This pretty much comes with the position of being an intern (and sometimes as a professional). Stay positive and show that you are willing to do what it takes to the overall mission of the organization.
2. Show Respect and Professionalism
   Treat everyone in the organization with respect and foster positive relationships with those who could become your mentors. You want to begin your first day demonstrating that you are capable of representing the organization well in public. Respect also means arriving to work and meetings on time (even early!) and dressing appropriately.
3. Take the Initiative
   If you have finished your projects and have nothing to do, take the initiative to ask your supervisor for more work. Also, see if you can help someone else in the department and make known throughout the office that you are willing to help out. There is always something that can be done–look around! People will notice you, and this will only lead you to gaining further experience and developing new skills.
4. Network
   Many organizations provide interns the opportunity to participate in events  to meet other interns, employees, and senior management with the company. This is an excellent way to learn within the organization! Utilize these contacts to pursue informational interviews with people or departments you may have an interest in for the future. If your organization does not provide these structured events, take the initiative to meet other people outside your department.
5. Take note of your accomplishments
   At the end of your internship write down the things that you have accomplished. Maybe you coordinated a conference, developed marketing materials, gave a presentation, etc. Your notes will come in handy when you are updating your resume and interviewing for future jobs.

Here are some other helpful links for you to check out before you start your internship:

• A New York Times piece about how Internships are growing as a company recruiter tool.
• http://www.hampshire.edu/corc/files/Making_most_of_your_internship.pdf
• http://www.wetfeet.com/advice-tools/internships/make-the-most-of-your-internship

Gotta get that boom boom pow, or in layman’s terms, we got to save that environment y’all. Mother Earth is the sweetest lady we all know, fact…so why do we do her dirt? Great question, I know. Besides the pun being the second lowest form of humor, environmental issues are real and if you love Mother Earth and like to dabble in Chinese, then we have got something special for you.

It’s called an internship at The Global Environmental Institute (GEI) and it is a Chinese non-profit, non-governmental organization that was established in Beijing, China in 2004. Their mission is to design and implement market-based models for solving environmental problems in order to achieve development that is economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable. GEI is looking for some awesome Middlebury students to join their team.

So why is this jump off so sweet? For a number of reasons, actually. First, if you want to be in China and get a lot better at your Chinese then this is opportunity pretty tubular. Second, you’re not just doing tree hugger stuff but you’re working on how to develop the country both economically and socially while being sustainable to the environment; you’ll get experiences left and right. Lastly but not leastly, you’ll be doing a pretty good thing and you’ll get some sweet and spicy chipotle for that resume. Here’s a little blurb about GEI:

Read the rest of this entry »

Last Winter Term Middlebury continued to expand its partnership with the Monterey Institute of International Studies by sending a group of students to take intensive graduate-level courses for internship credit both in California and Sierra Leone. Three of the students who participated in this new program came in to the Career Services Office to share their diverse experiences with the program: Sarah Buck ’10, Liz Edouard ’10, and Sughey Ramirez ’10.

Read the rest of this entry »

Green beans, green thumbs, and green frogs, what do they all have in common? Well, they are green, and the government is trying to do the same thing. Isn’t that just super duper?! I know it is. And if you so kindly agree then I suggest that you take a gander at the Careers in the Common Good blog to find out more information about Annenberg Speaker Ashley King who is coming to Middlebury College for three public events to talk about her experience as an environmental scientist working to promote climate protection policy, alternative markets and energy efficiency through the EPA and abroad.

Go to http://sites.middlebury.edu/middccg/ to get more information! Yahooooooo!

WHAT: The U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) is currently hiring paralegals for their 2010 Honors Paralegal Intern Program.

WHO: ENRD is looking to hire paralegals who:

• are 2009/2010 college graduates,

• have an overall GPA of at least a 3.0,
• are organized, analytical, have strong research and writing skills
• can work both independently and collaboratively,
• can start on or about July 19, 2010.

**U.S. Citizenship, security clearance and drug test are required.

WHERE: Positions will be located in Washington, D.C. and Denver.

ABOUT Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD)

ENRD is the largest environmental law firm in the country and has represented virtually every federal agency in courts nationwide. ENRD has primary responsibility for litigation on behalf of the United States regarding:

• Prevention and Clean Up of Pollution
• Wildlife Protection
• Environmental Challenges to Federal Programs and Activities
• Acquisition of Property for Federal Needs
• Native American Rights and Claims
• Stewardship of Public Lands and Natural Resources

DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION

Duties of the paralegal include:

• Administrative case preparation
• Trial support
• Cite checking
• Legal research utilizing Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, etc.
• Freedom of Information requests

The starting salary for a GS-7 (entry level for federal employees) is approximately $41,000. In addition to salary, the federal government offers a comprehensive benefits package and a transit subsidy for individuals who utilize public transportation. Benefits of federal position potentially include:

• Loan Repayment Programs
• Generous Vacation Time
• Many Advancement Opportunities
• Healthcare Benefits
• Flexible Federal Work Schedule
• Federal Hiring Preference in the Future

The Division is conveniently located within walking distance of major museums, restaurants, sporting venues, and theaters.Interns who successfully complete the program will be eligible for a permanent position in ENRD

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply please visit following link: https://applicationmanager.gov. After establishing your userID and password, use 291592 as the Vacancy ID number, then follow the instructions to complete your application. The application process includes submitting a resume (be sure to include your GPA on your resume), an unofficial school transcript and completing an online questionnaire.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

For early consideration please apply by December 31, 2009

All other applicants may apply by January 31, 2010

For more information about one of these opportunities, see MOJO.

Don’t miss these DEADLINES for

Winter Term Internships in Non-Profit and Environment:

Shelter Assistant with the John Graham Shelter Vergennes, VT

Duties of the intern include: Identify and reach out to homeless individuals and families to build trusting relationships in order to foster empowerment and assist with transition from homelessness to housing; Assist with intake process, forms and recordkeeping as needed; Build trust and self esteem with clients through daily interaction via one on one and group activities. DEADLINE: October 9

Advocate Intern with WomenSafe Middlebury, VT

Interns will provide direct service to women and children of diverse backgrounds and status, dealing with sexual violence, domestic violence (SV & DV) and life transitions by responding to crisis calls, in-person meetings and requests for information, provide on-going peer advocacy and on-going emotional support, and provide options and safety planning. DEADLINE: October 15

General Associate Intern with the Roosevelt Institution Washington D.C.

Our temporary staff members will work on a variety of potential projects, depending on the need at the time. This could mean fundraising, communications, publications, etc. All work will be substantive and goal-oriented. DEADLINE: October 9

Caromont Farm Intern Esmont, VA

Assist Gail Hobbs Page and husband Daniel Page in ALL aspects of sustainable farming, food production, and food education. DEADLINE: October 17

See MOJO for more details and application instructions.

Apply as Farmers Market Site Manager Intern with

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)

Deadline: October 1, 2009

Internship Sponsor: Lamoille Valley Year Round Farmers Artisan Market
Supervisor: Amy Walker

Morrisville, VT

Site manager would work closely with board to activate guidelines during market operations. Communicate with venders, volunteers, and special activity people before and during market. Set-up and teardown coordination and lock-up. Help market grow and become self-sustaining. Nourish community, good health, and having fun in all efforts.

Mission Statement: The purpose of the LVYR Farmers Artisan Market is to encourage support for year-round sustainable agriculture & artisan work around Vermont and to provide a year-round outlet for local farmers and artisans to sell products.

Check out MOJO for more details about this exciting and local internship.