NHS’s paid internship program, taught as the course ENVMT 476F: Occupational Work Experience in Environmental Management, is now accepting applications for the Fall 2024 semester. If you are selected, you will work as a paid intern with one of the 6 partner organizations listed below for 162 hours (an average of 9.5 hours per week) over the duration of the Fall semester (unless otherwise noted), August 19-December 13 (17 weeks). You will also be enrolled in 476F for 3 units, which is a requirement for the Certificate of Achievement in Conservation and Resource Management.

Most of your work for the course and program will be spent with the partner organization under the supervision of their designated employee, who will act as your boss. Greg Vose (gvose@peralta.edu) is the professor for the course, and you can always come to him with any issues should they arise. Brad Balukjian (bbalukjian@peralta.edu) will be handling the application and set-up of the class, handing the reins to Greg over the summer. In addition to your work for the partner organization, you have some mandatory responsibilities for the course: Attend an orientation and capstone session on campus (dates and times TBD); participate in weekly online check-ins; and complete a capstone report. Furthermore, since we have put a lot of work into setting this up, if you are at all in doubt of your availability to participate this Fall, please do not apply. We need firm commitments up front. 

These internships provide outstanding paid entry-level work in the environmental field and are open to all (you don’t have to be an existing Merritt student to apply). Please read these descriptions very carefully, as the requirements, setting (in-person vs. remote) and pay vary from position to position.

Applications are due by March 15, and will be reviewed by Internship Coordinator Brad Balukjian. If interest exceeds the number of positions available, not everyone will be selected. In this case, priority will be given to students who need the class to complete their Certificate of Achievement in Conservation and Resource Management, to existing Merritt students, and to the best fit based on application materials.

Nominations will be announced by April 1. Please note: Nomination does not guarantee a position. Once selected, candidates may be interviewed by the partner organization to ensure the proper fit. Once the partner organization has completed their screening, if you are accepted you will be offered the slot by May 1, and will be expected to make a decision to accept or decline by May 7. You will be given a permission number by Dr. Vose in early August so that you can enroll in the course ENVMT 476F (which currently appears as “closed”).

At the bottom of this page you will find the link to the application (it is a Google Form). In the application you will indicate your top three preferences for where to work. Please submit your application by 11:59 PM on March 15. In addition to submitting this application, you need to email a copy of your resumé to Dr. Balukjian (bbalukjian@peralta.edu) by the deadline.

You must be 18 years of age as of 8/19/24 to be eligible unless otherwise indicated.


Here is a list of the 20 internships. Detailed descriptions follow:

1. University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Clara County, Small Farm & Specialty Crops Program; one position available.

2. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, North Bay Food Systems; one position available.

3. University of California Cooperative Extension, South Bay; one position available.

4-5. Fresh Approach; two positions available.

6-11. Planting Justice, 6 positions available (2 at Mother Farm in El Sobrante and 4 at Nursery in East Oakland).

12-15. Oakland Unified School District, The Central Kitchen, Instructional Garden, Farm and Education Center; four positions available.

16. Environmental Science Associates (ESA); one position available.

17. East Bay Regional Park District, Anthony Chabot Park Operations; one position available.

18. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Wildlife Program; one position available.

19. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Water Management Program; one position available.

20. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Pond Management; one position available.


BEGIN INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Clara County, Small Farm & Specialty Crops Program; one position available.

Full PDF description:

University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Clara County, Small Farm & Specialty Crops Program


University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, North Bay Food Systems; one position available.

Full PDF description:

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, North Bay Food Systems


University of California Cooperative Extension, South Bay; one position available.

Full PDF description:

University of California Cooperative Extension, South Bay


Fresh Approach; two positions available.

Organization Description:

The mission of Fresh Approach is to create long-term change in local food systems by connecting California communities with healthy food from California farmers and expanding knowledge about food and nutrition. We accomplish our mission through a variety of programs, including the Mobile Farmers’ Market; VeggieRx nutrition education classes; Collective Roots Community Garden; and the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. We believe that everyone should have equal access to healthy foods, and that the health of our communities and the livelihood of our local farmers should go hand-in-hand.  The Mobile Farmers’ Market program at Fresh Approach is a farmers’ market on wheels whose purpose is to increase access to fresh, locally-grown produce in the Bay Area. It sources produce directly from local farmers to sell to historically underserved areas, where fresh quality produce is not easily accessible.

Relevant Links: https://www.freshapproach.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAoKeuBhCoARIsAB4Wxtc798ZqPfCCQ2pvg73MATreQXnMqWYoPE_TAH2M5BWbReWl_ePAp0kaAll_EALw_wcB , Internships page: https://www.freshapproach.org/internship-opportunities/

Scope of Internship Work/Deliverables:

We are seeking two interns with availability during weekdays. Each intern will support one Mobile Farmers’ Market route for the duration of the internship. Additional hours may occasionally be added for outreach on a second day. Interested applicants should apply for either the Richmond or Antioch position. This is a hybrid internship model. The Food Access Program Intern will work in Richmond or Antioch, the Fresh Approach office in Concord, including some remote work. Working under the direction of the East Bay Food Access Manager, the Food Access Program intern will gain experience in the following:

Primary Duties:

  • Support the on-site Food Access Staff for a weekly Mobile Farmers’ Market route day (8 hours per week)

    • Provide support at market sites by being a food runner, stocking and restocking the truck with produce, and engaging in friendly and educational conversations with customers.

    • Administer surveys and conduct in-person referrals to market shoppers.

    • Complete cleaning tasks as requested by the Food Access staff, including wiping-down equipment, sweeping the floor, organizing stock, and properly storing products

    • Lead nutrition and cooking demonstrations at mobile farmers’ markets and/or assist with filming of demo events.

    • Assist Fresh Approach programs as needed

  • Conduct outreach in the community (2 hours per week)

    • Support outreach efforts toward current and potential recipients of public benefits including WIC, CalFresh (SNAP or food stamps), SSI, SSDI, Medi-Cal, and the Senior Food Program

    • Deliver messages that encourage better choices about nutrition

    • Deliver messages that provide a greater understanding of sustainable agriculture and its role in supporting local food systems

    • Distribute promotional materials

Internship Location/Remote or In-Person? In-Person Dominant hybrid role

What environmental issues will the internship address?
This role and area of Fresh Approach’s work engages closely with the environmental issue of sustainable food access, and sustainable food production
Pay: $16.50 per hour, paid as a student worker by Merritt College
Desired Qualifications:
  • Demonstrated interest in nutrition, cooking, community-based health, local food systems, Certified Farmers’ Markets, or California agriculture highly preferred

  • Familiarity with the communities and organizations we serve

  • Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills

  • Experience with basic accounting, sales transactions, especially with produce

  • Willingness to show initiative and creativity

  • Training or seeking a degree or certificate in public health, nutrition, food systems or a related field

  • Ability to work on a team as well as independently

  • Ability to communicate in Spanish is strongly desired but not required

**Further, we are seeking an individual who values diversity at all levels and is committed to fostering an environment in which community members and co-workers from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive.**

Special Requirements:
  • This position requires some work in an office environment and outside in all weather conditions

  • Must be comfortable speaking in front of groups and working with a wide range of people from all backgrounds

  • This position requires the intern to be able to lift 30 lbs of equipment in and out of a vehicle

  • This position requires the intern to interact with persons of various socio-economic backgrounds

  • This position may require working on the weekends, early mornings, or late evenings

  • This position will require support in the city of Concord and Antioch/Richmond. The intern will support route days on Tuesdays in Antioch or Wednesdays in Richmond from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. The intern must have reliable transportation to the Concord office (5060 Commercial Circle, Ste. C, Concord), Nick Rodriguez Community Center (on the corner of W 2nd St and E St, Antioch), Sutter Delta Medical Center (3901 Lone Tree Way, Antioch), San Pablo Senior Center (1943 Church Ln, San Pablo), or Richmond Civic Center Plaza (2569 Nevin Ave, Richmond). Optional: The intern is able to ride along on the Mobile Farmers’ Market truck from the Concord office when supporting the route day.


Planting Justice, 6 positions available

Full PDF Description:

Planting Justice


Oakland Unified School District, The Central Kitchen, Instructional Garden, Farm and Education Center; four positions available.

Full PDF Description:

The Center at OUSD


Environmental Science Associates (ESA); one position available.

Organization Description: ESA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm delivering work that matters.

We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore—projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. Specializing in community and airport planning, environmental planning, analysis and assessment, natural and cultural resources management, environmental restoration and design, and regulatory compliance—ESA scientists, planners, historians, archaeologists, engineers, designers, and technical specialists provide critical thinking, in-depth analyses, and committed follow-through to guide successful policy development and project planning, and deliver enduring multi-objective solutions.

Relevant Links for More Information: About — Environmental Science Associates (esassoc.com)

Scope of Work/Deliverables: The intern will work in the Biological Resources division or a similar division to do the following:

  • Produce technical, business, and/or marketing work products
  • Analyze data and contribute to cutting-edge research
  • Support project, business management, and/or marketing teams
  • Collaborate with diverse technical teams
  • Understand environmental protection regulations and their application
  • Learn about local planning and environmental issues and requirements
  • Conduct field assignments
  • Participate in public outreach and collaboration

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? The intern is welcome to remotely engage with staff from any of our 20 offices nationwide, but are encouraged to work in-person at the office closet to them. Our closest office to Merritt College is in 180 Grand Avenue (at Harrison), Suite 1050, Oakland, CA 94612

What environmental issues/problems will the work address?: We will do our best to support the career interests of the intern and will create opportunities to support their learning experience with us. Example projects can be reviewed at our website.

Pay: $25-26 per hour, paid by ESA.

Desired Qualifications: While open to all, this internship position is focused on engaging and exposing diverse candidates from traditionally excluded groups to the environmental field.

Special Requirements: Please share our JEDI values! Some work experiences require travel to project sites, offices, or client meetings. These are optional and if the intern does not have access to transportation, we will do our best to accommodate them. Some work experiences require walking on uneven terrain or other outside of the office conditions. These are optional and we will do our best to accommodate intern participation.


East Bay Regional Park District, Anthony Chabot Park Operations; one position available.

Organization Description: Regional park agency with 73 parks, 125,496 acres, 1,300 miles of trails, and 55 miles of shoreline. Serves Alameda and Contra Costa County. Internship is based at Anthony Chabot Park.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.ebparks.org/https://www.ebparks.org/parks/anthony-chabot

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Learn the Park District’s hazardous tree assessment program, and utilize the program to evaluate and rate hazardous trees in Anthony Chabot Park. Most of the hazardous tree work will center at the Anthony Chabot campground, which is a historical eucalyptus plantation and is currently the site of a massive fuels reduction project. After evaluating and mapping the trees, decide which trees are highest priority for removal based on hazards and successfully assist in running a government tree contract from start to finish.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? Anthony Chabot Park/All in-person

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Public safety, invasive species removal, afforestation reversal, forest management.

Pay: $19.87/hour, paid by East Bay Regional Park District.

Desired Qualifications: Passion for outdoor recreation, forestry, and tree evaluation preferred.

Special Requirements: Must have a car. Must be comfortable outdoors including in inclement weather. Must be willing to learn and/or comfortable with technology such as mapping units and computer work. All East Bay Regional Park Regional District employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  Note: The position may be available for more than the 162 hours required for the internship course.


East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Wildlife Program; one position available.

Full PDF Description:

East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Wildlife Program


East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Water Management Program; one position available.

Full PDF Description:

East Bay Regional Park District Water Management


East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Pond Management; one position available.

Full PDF Description:

East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Pond Management

END POSITION DESCRIPTIONS.


To apply to any of the positions above, please click here to fill out the Fall NHS Internship Application.