Internship

NHS’s paid internship program, taught as the course ENVMT 476F: Occupational Work Experience in Environmental Management, is now accepting applications for the Fall 2023 semester. If you are selected, you will work as a paid intern with one of the 9 partner organizations listed below for 225 hours (an average of 13.25 hours per week) over the duration of the Fall semester (unless otherwise noted), August 21-December 15 (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.” Brad Balukjian (bbalukjian@peralta.edu) is the professor for the course, and you can always come to him with any issues should they arise. In addition to your work for the partner organization, you have some mandatory responsibilities for the course: Attend an orientation on campus on 8/25 from 5-6:20 PM and a capstone session on 12/15 from 5-6:50 PM; participate in weekly online check-ins; and complete a capstone report.

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 greatly from position to position.

Applications are due by May 3, 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. Preference is given to priority populations (e.g. low-income) for some positions due to the stated preferences of those employers.

Nominations will be announced by May 15. Please note: Nomination does not guarantee a position. Once selected, candidates may be interviewed by the partner organization to ensure the proper fit. Once you have been fully approved, you will be given a permission number by Dr. Balukjian 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 you preference for where to work. Please submit your application by 11:59 PM on May 3. 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 8/21/23 to be eligible unless otherwise indicated.

Here is a list of the 19 internships. Detailed descriptions follow:

1. The Watershed Project (TWP); one position available.

2-3. Dig Deep Farms; two positions available.

4. University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Clara County; one position available.

5. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR); one position available.

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

7. Save The Bay; one position available.

8-9. Fresh Approach; two positions available.

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

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

12. East Bay Regional Park District, Tilden Park Operations; one position available.

13. East Bay Regional Park District, Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove; one position available.

14. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Wildlife Monitoring and Data Assessment; one position available.

15. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Interdisciplinary Range Management; one position available.

16. East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Integrated Pest Management (Vegetation Management and Wildland Fuel Reduction); one position available.

17-18. Oakland Unified School District, The Central Kitchen, Instructional Garden, Farm and Education Center; one position available.

19. City of Oakland Environmental Stewardship Department; one position available.

BEGIN INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

1. Organization Name: The Watershed Project (TWP); one position available.

Organization Description: The Watershed Project’s mission is to educate and inspire San Francisco Bay Area communities to protect our local watersheds. Since 1997, headquartered in Richmond, we’ve been working to restore and preserve the unique ecosystems that make up the San Francisco Bay. We bring a watershed perspective to the urban environment, promoting green design, and supporting natural cycles. We undertake large green infrastructure projects and green school installations to demonstrate the power they offer in solving problems like stormwater management, water pollution, and green, healthy environments.

Our Green Collar Corps (GCC) program provides job training and part-time employment for youth and young adults in Richmond, San Pablo, and Oakland. The program’s goal is to support personal and professional growth for local young people, especially those who are underrepresented in the environmental field (such as Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color) and who cannot afford to take an unpaid internship opportunity.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://thewatershedproject.org Instagram: @thewatershedproject_

Scope of Work/Deliverables: In addition to monthly trainings, participation in community events, and maintenance of our green infrastructure sites, interns working with us through the Fall of 2023 may be assigned to the following projects:

Richmond Field Station Rainwater Cistern

Under the supervision of the Greening Urban Watersheds Program Manager, interns will install a rainwater catchment system and cistern at the TWP office in South Richmond.

Rheem Creek Restoration

For over 20 years, the Rollingwood neighborhood has suffered from flooding related to creek overflows. The Rheem Creek project aims to implement nature-based solutions placed throughout the watershed, benefiting people, wildlife, and the economy by restoring and enhancing riparian habitat, providing open space and educational opportunities, and improving the watershed’s ecological function, all of which will build climate change resilience. Interns will provide assistance with sediment monitoring, planting native species along the creek, site maintenance, and plant monitoring.

North Richmond Tree Planting

North Richmond is a mostly unincorporated community, located on the western edge of Contra Costa County. According to the Tree Equity Score website the area has a score of 38, which is one of the lowest tree equity scores in West Contra Costa County. The goals of the project are to first conduct outreach in the community to identify tree adopters. The second goal is to plant around 50 trees in North Richmond through our Adopt-A-Tree program, under the supervision of TWP’s Restoration Manager.

K-12 Classroom and Field Trip Support

Interns will support the Education Department with K-12 classroom lessons, field trips, action days, and materials preparation.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? A majority of the work is in-person, either at our office in South Richmond or at various school or restoration sites in West Contra Costa County. Occasionally assigned tasks may be done remotely.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? West Contra Costa County is burdened with enormous environmental challenges, like flooding, illegal dumping, and poor air quality from refineries and highway/railway pollution. These challenges were created by a history of industrial contamination and environmental injustice. The projects listed above aim to address these challenges by educating the community and creating community-driven solutions to improve environmental quality. Specifically, we focus on increasing climate change resilience by increasing the urban tree canopy, restoring creeks, educating the public, and implementing environmentally sustainable solutions.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess some of the following knowledge, skills, and experience:

Interest and/or experience working with K-12 students.
Enjoy physical outdoor field work such as gardening.
Bilingual in English and Spanish is a big plus.
Flexibility, enthusiasm, dependability, and the ability to work effectively with many different types of people.
The ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team and to take individual responsibility.
Familiarity with or ability to learn computer applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite.

Special Requirements:
Interns are expected to have a reliable form of transportation to our office in South Richmond. Please note that our office is a bit far from most transportation hubs. In order to work toward our goal of increasing equitable access to employment in the environmental field, we will prioritize applicants that: come from a low-income community, identify as a person of color, LGBTQIA, or person with a disability.

2. Organization Name: Dig Deep Farms; two positions available.

Organization Description: Founded in 2010, Dig Deep Farms is a social enterprise with a dual mission of providing access to healthy, nutrient-dense food and creating job experience and employment opportunities to populationsthat have historically been denied access to both.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.acdsal.org/food-equity-1

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Become familiar with organic, regenerative agriculture and permaculture practices. Focus on farm upkeep and maintenance, ensure entry of data pertaining to day-to-day operations, provide action-oriented assistance of direct day-to-day operations.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? Internship will primarily be in person.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Access to land and locally grown produce. Food insecurity. Soil, plant and community health.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Interest and passion for organic, regenerative agriculture and permaculture practices.

Special Requirements: Ability to arrive on site on time (34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont, CA 94555). Ability to lift, carry and move up to 50 lbs. Attention to detail.

3. Organization Name: University of California Cooperative Extension – Santa Clara County; one position available.

Organization Description: University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) connects California’s communities with UC research and education in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, and youth development to improve the lives of all Californians. This Urban Agriculture and Food System Program focuses on the Silicon Valley region, working with community-based organizations, local government agencies, food system networks, and urban farmers and gardeners to strengthen the regional food system and increase the viability of urban agriculture.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://cesantaclara.ucanr.edu/, https://www.centralcoastfarms.org/, https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/martial-cottle-park

Scope of Work/Deliverables: The intern would help with the operation of our urban agriculture research and demonstration site at Martial Cottle Park in San Jose. At the start of the semester this would entail caring for and harvesting summer crops. Later we’ll prepare the beds for fall planting and raise seedlings to transplant/direct seed fall crops. Remote work would include helping us tell the story of our new research and demonstration plot by developing signs as well as website and social media posts. The intern may be asked to assist with other urban agriculture extension projects, such as updating our Bay Area Urban Agriculture Map (https://ucanr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=ef68873e3906426c81a8cb6f1a0b9f1a).

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? This internship is intended to be 50% remote, 50% in-person. In-person work would primarily be done in San Jose at our demonstration site at Martial Cottle Park (5283 Snell Ave., San Jose). The tentative schedule would be to travel to San Jose one day every other week.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? This urban agriculture research and demonstration site is focused on food production in urban environments. Issues we may explore include: benefits of compost application on soil health and carbon sequestration, water conservation, and selecting varieties that are well suited to the local environment. More broadly, urban agriculture as a form of green space can contribute to cooling, air quality, and biodiversity within cities.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Interest in food production. Experience with farming or gardening is desired, but not required. Interest in public outreach (i.e., sharing information about urban farming and gardening with the public). Good oral and written communication skills. Strong problem-solving abilities.

Special Requirements: Transportation to and from the South Bay will be needed to carry out the in-person component of this internship. The urban agriculture research and demonstration site has uneven ground (e.g., dirt, gravel, and woodchips), so the intern should feel comfortable moving in that type of environment. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

4. Organization Name: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR); one position available.

Organization Description: The mission of UC Cooperative Extension Marin, part of the statewide division UC Agricultural and Natural Resources, is to sustain a vital agriculture, environment, and community in Marin County by providing University of California research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management, healthy living, and youth development. We consult with individuals and organizations, conduct seminars and workshops, produce information for mass media, and publish newsletters.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://cemarin.ucanr.edu/ and https://ucanr.edu/sites/MarinFoodPolicyCouncil/

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Working with the North Bay Food Systems Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension Marin, the intern will create a policy platform for the Marin Food Policy Council outlining the Council’s food and agriculture policy priorities. The Intern will:

Learn about policy, systems, and environmental change strategies related to food and agriculture
Expand their knowledge related to a set of high priority policy topics
Network with a wide range of food systems stakeholders

The Intern will work with the advisor to:

Research and identified food systems policy priorities
Synthesize information to a draft document
Solicit and incorporate edits from stakeholders
Condense information into a succinct policy paper
Disseminate policy paper to stakeholders via workshop, presentation, factsheets, infographics, social media posts, etc.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 95%-100% remote

What environmental issues will the work address? Local agriculture and food systems sustainability

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications:

Responsible communicator – responds in a timely manner
Passionate about food systems and policy.
Self-motivated, well-organized, and able to work independently and in teams.
Able to meet virtually and/or in-person – up to the intern and advisor to arrange.
Show proof of COVID-19 vaccination if entering UC offices.
Ability to collect, organize, and synthesize information.

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

Organization Description: The UCCE Small Farm and Specialty Crops advisor and program staff assist small-scale and socially disadvantaged farmers to thrive economically through extension support, training, research on specialty crops, and policy communication. Our work supports farmers of a diversity of cultures who operate a wide variety of farming operations, often with limited resources. These include a large population of Chinese and other Southeast Asian immigrant farmers in Santa Clara, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.centralcoastfarms.org, https://cesantaclara.ucanr.edu/, https://sfp.ucanr.edu/Scope of Work/Deliverables:

Learning Agenda/Duties:

The Intern will:

Expand their knowledge of topics related to crop production, irrigation management, nutrient management, integrated pest management, soil health.
Have an opportunity to gain experience in farmer outreach program planning, design, implementation, and evaluation.
Meet and network with professionals who are working on various aspects of crop production.

The Intern will help:

Organize workshops for small farmers, urban farmers, and/or socially disadvantaged farmers
Assist with field research on climate resilience in agriculture, integrated pest management, irrigation management, nutrient management
Work with program staff to identify a crop production problem
Conduct a review to ascertain what has been done to address the problem
Visit and interview farmers to better understand crop production issues they are facing
Develop outreach materials, including factsheets, reports, and social media posts.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 80 Highland Avenue, Bldg K, San Martin, CA 95046

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? The intern has the option to work on a specific project related to either soil health or integrated pest management.

Pay: $15.97 per hour

Desired Qualifications:

Responsible communicator – responds in a timely manner.
Passionate about farming
Self-motivated, well-organized, and able to work independently and in teams.
Have a means of transportation to be able to travel to fields/program locations
Able to meet in-person, virtual, or a hybrid method – up to the intern and advisor to arrange.
Show proof of COVID-19 vaccination as required by UC policy to enter UC offices.
Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data is desired.

Special Requirements (if applicable): Need a car to drive to farms or grower fields.

6. Organization Name: Save The Bay; one position available.

Organization Description: Over two decades, Save The Bay has become a Bay Area leader in the science and practice of habitat restoration, focused on tidal marsh transition zone habitat at landscape-scale for recovery of endangered species, and for ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change. We enlist thousands of volunteers annually to restore the shoreline and educate Bay Area students to be the next generation of Bay stewards through hands-on experiential education and on-line learning. Save The Bay’s Fellowship Program is a highly regarded and professional program delivering critical support to staff to ensure a thriving and healthy San Francisco Bay. Fellows actively contribute to the organization and receive hands-on experience and individual mentorship as team members of Save The Bay’s talented and passionate staff.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://savesfbay.org/

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Save The Bay’s Habitat Restoration Field and Office Fellows receive valuable exposure to skills in restoration ecology and community engagement. Restoration Fellows will gain experience in native plant propagation and out-planting, invasive species removal, native seed collection, as well as assist in our native plant nurseries. The Fellow also gains experience in environmental education and program design, helping our staff create content and lead programming for our Bay Discovery programs.

Assist restoration specialists out in the field, planting native plants and weeding invasive species at sites inaccessible to the public.
Help with plant propagation tasks at Save The Bay’s nurseries, including seed sowing, transplanting, divisions, fertilization, culling, and nursery maintenance.
Enter project record data into Salesforce weekly for monitoring and reporting our work.
Shadow and support environmental education programming for students from around the Bay Area.
Help Education Program Coordinator develop environmental education materials for use in the field and online.
General administrative duties as assigned
Produce final project regarding relevant conservation issue at Save The Bay

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 4 hours a week will be remote work, conducted from your home office. 16 hours per week will be in the field. Save The Bay has work sites around the Bay (Oakland, Hayward, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park) and the fellow will have the opportunity to work at all these sites.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Climate Change, Sea Level Rise, Habitat Restoration, Environmental Justice.

Pay: Internships require a commitment of 6 months and can be extended up to 12 months total. These positions are compensated at $16/hour, Part-Time (20 hours) in addition to a Home Office Stipend of $75/month and travel reimbursement for field days. Note: this position requires a commitment of 20 hours per week.

Desired Qualifications:

Interest in San Francisco Bay environmental issues and enthusiasm for Save The Bay’s mission and programs.
Minimum commitment of at least 20 hours a week for 6-12 months
Active participation and adherence to COVID-19 guidelines
Ability and interest in working in the field with variable weather conditions.
Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
Completion of at least two years of undergraduate education or relevant experience
Knowledge of basic HTML, web-based tools, and software programs
Ability to complete tasks independently and work well on a team.
Ability to lift 40lbs repeatedly for specific field and nursery tasks.
Clean background check

Special Requirements:

Interns must have access to a car they can use to drive to work sites around the Bay (Oakland, Hayward, Palo Alto, and Redwood City). Commute times may be up to three hours throughout a day. Interns will be reimbursed for all transportation from their home to the work sites. Drive time from your home to the site and back is considered part of your workday.
Current driver’s license is required.
Clean background check is required.

7. Organization Name: 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 as well as sustainable small-scale food production. 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.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.freshapproach.org/

Program Specific:

https://www.freshapproach.org/mobilemarket/

https://www.freshapproach.org/veggierx/

https://www.freshapproach.org/collectiveroots/

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Working under the direction of the Food Access Program Manager, the Food Access Program Intern supports the on-site Sales Coordinator of the Mobile Farmers’ Market program. The intern is primarily responsible for customer-facing interactions at sales sites and outreach in the local community. We are seeking interns with availability during weekdays. The intern will support one Mobile Farmers’ Market route per week for the duration of the internship. Additional hours may occasionally be added for outreach on a second day.

Primary Duties: Support the on-site Sales Coordinator for a weekly Mobile Farmers’ Market market day (approximately 8 hours per week)

Provide customer service at market sites by encouraging customers to try new products, helping them budget their produce money, identifying the farmers who grew the products, and providing information about cooking and health.
Accurately administer cash, credit, and EBT sales transactions to customers.
Cull produce throughout the day, take precise inventory of products, donate unsellable product, and track this data in database
Complete cleaning tasks as requested by the Sales Coordinator, including wipe-down of shelves,
Organizing stock, and properly storing products

Conduct outreach in the community (approximately 5 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 for Fresh Approach
Represent Fresh Approach to develop, build and sustain community-based partnerships

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? This position will require support in the city of Concord and Antioch/Richmond. Each intern will support one route day per week 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, CA 94520), and East Family Justice Center (3501 Lone Tree Way, Antioch, CA 94509), or Richmond Civic Center Plaza (2569 Nevin Ave, Richmond, CA 94804). Optional: The intern is able to ride along on the Mobile Farmers’ Market truck from the Concord office when supporting the route day.

East Bay:

Tuesdays in Antioch (8 hours per week)
Wednesday in Richmond (8 hours per week)
Additional hours can be spent remotely working on projects that further connect the work of the organization with the desired learning outcomes of the course (5 hours per week)

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? The adoption of the industrialized food system can easily be considered one of the greatest contributing factors to modern environmental degradation. Characteristics such as mass production of monocrops, heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, depletion of soil nutrients and biodiversity have all contributed to a conventional food system plagued with problematic practices with far reaching ramifications on ecosystems, as well as human and non-human lives.

Working to create and support localized food systems, which rely more heavily on environmentally sustainable best practices and the small farmers that utilize them is one way that Fresh Approach aims to build long standing change in the food systems of the San Francisco Bay Area. This work of connecting local produce with food-insecure community members, couples the success and longevity of the public and local growers which is proven to yield greater resistance in the face of global climate change, and growing resource scarcity.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications:

Demonstrated interest in 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 and product merchandising, especially with produce
High level of comfort with technology, especially for learning mobile-based applications such as point of sale and database platforms
Proficiency with computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and social media platforms
Ability to complete tasks accurately, independently and in a timely manner
Willingness to show initiative and creativity
Spanish language skills are highly desirable

Special Requirements:

Ability to lift 30lbs
Comfort and willingness to interact with people of diverse backgrounds
Access to reliable personal transportation (having a car is preferred for the greatest ability to arrive at program sites on time).

8. Organization Name: 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 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: $23 per hour.

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: Applicants must be 18 years old or older, U.S. Citizens, and comply with our Covid-19 Policy. 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.

9. Organization Name: 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.

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 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

10. Organization Name: East Bay Regional Park District, Tilden Park Operations; one position available.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.ebparks.org/, https://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Work with Gardener Jeff Church to install 1-2 native plant gardens for beautification, pollinator and mammal resources, and restoration. Flexible project but could include removing invasive species, mulching, soil amending, planting plants, caging plants, watering, installing and troubleshooting irrigation, and fence building and repair.

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

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Native plants, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, greening urban infrastructure.

Pay: $19.87 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Passion for environmental issues ideal. Excitement for native plants and gardening preferred.

Special Requirements: Must have a car. Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs with support from another person. Must be comfortable outdoors including in inclement weather. All East Bay 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

11. Organization Name: East Bay Regional Park District, Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove; one position available.

Organization Description: The Doug Siden Visitor Center is part of the East Bay Regional Park District. The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful parklands in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to the east of San Francisco. The system comprises 73 parks spanning across 125,000 acres; 1,250 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline. Learn about our Mission and Vision, History, and our contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

At the Visitor Center you can plunge into San Francisco Bay without getting wet, or travel back in time to Alameda’s colorful past. You can see bay creatures in the 800-gallon aquarium system, use interactive stations for varying age groups to view microscopic animals, build a crab from the inside out, or get a lug worm’s view of the mudflats. You’ll see amazing depictions of the underwater world of San Francisco Bay.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.ebparks.org/

https://www.ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/crab-cove

Scope of Work/Deliverables: Present animal information to the public, perform basic aquarium health checks, support Naturalist programs, and lean basic care for reptiles.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 100% in person

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Marine debris, human impact on the shoreline, resilience of bay ecosystems/mud flats.

Pay: $19.87 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Learning mind-state, interest in wildlife biology/ conservation/ecology studies/ or science-related field.

Special Requirements: Access to phone and reliable transportation. All East Bay 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

12. Organization Name: East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Wildlife Monitoring and Data Assessment; one position available.

Organization Description: The East Bay Regional Park District (“District”) comprises nearly 125,000 acres in 74 parks in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The District mission is to acquire, preserve, protect, and operated regional parklands in perpetuity for public use, while conserving these lands for natural resources. As such the District performs routine park maintenance to maintain existing facilities and structures, improve watersheds and coastal shoreline conditions. The effects of these activities on wildlife are constantly monitored. Over 90 percent of District lands are protected and operated as natural parklands.

Relevant Links for More Information: Healthy Parks Healthy People | East Bay Parks (ebparks.org)

Scope of Work/Deliverables: The Park District’s Hundred Camera Grid (HCG) program currently collects images of wildlife in remote areas throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The student intern would be responsible for collecting and processing images collected from the HCG program. This intern would review and catalogue a portion of the existing 3.5 million images that have been collected by the HCG program over the past 2 years. Images are sent to a company called Wildlife Insights, which provides us with an AI based photo recognition program. Wildlife Insights helps catalogue each image and summarize the data with information about species, intensity of use, etc. However, Wildlife Insights is not 100% accurate and therefore requires human verification. The intern would learn how to use the Wildlife Insights program. In addition, the intern would assist EBRPD biologists with maintaining cameras in the field. The intern would learn how to set up wildlife cameras, maintain cameras and collect and upload data from the cameras.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 60-70% remote and approximately 30-40% in the field

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? The data collected from the HCG will strengthen our understanding of regional trends in biodiversity and help guide conservation action. The student would evaluate parkland areas for suitability to provide wildlife corridors. The student intern would provide assessments of areas that may be designated as core conservation areas.

Pay: $19.87 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Strong interest in wildlife survey techniques, biodiversity and the intersection of technology and habitat assessments. The intern should have excellent computer skills and be excited by the prospect of identifying species from images.

Special Requirements: Ability to hike in remote areas while carrying camera equipment. Ability to use Apple iPad and handheld GPS to navigate and collect data. All East Bay 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

13. Organization Name: East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Interdisciplinary Range Management; one position available.

Relevant Links for More Information: Healthy Parks Healthy People | East Bay Parks (ebparks.org)

Scope of Work/Deliverables: This internship will provide an introduction to the art and science of range management on recreational public lands. The candidate will learn about interdisciplinary nature of grassland management and resource protection practices utilized by land managers. The intern will support the implementation of range improvement and habitat restoration projects. Potential deliverables included:

Inventory fencing at Garin and Thurgood Marshall Regional Parks and develop a basic grazing plan
Assist with tasks to support pond restoration and range improvement projects
Review biochar literature for applications in rangelands
If applicant has creative design experience, looking for new logos for grazing program

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? 40% remote and 60% in person

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? This work will support rangeland management on public land and the protection and restoration of wildlife habitat.

Pay: $19.87 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Interest in rangeland management and habitat restoration

Special Requirements: Ability to hike in remote areas. Ability to use Apple iPad and handheld GPS to navigate and collect data. A car may be beneficial but not a requirement. All East Bay 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

14. Organization Name: East Bay Regional Park District, Stewardship Department, Integrated Pest Management (Vegetation Management and Wildland Fuel Reduction); one position available.

Relevant Links for More Information: Healthy Parks Healthy People | East Bay Parks (ebparks.org)

Scope of Work/Deliverables: The Park District performs regular vegetation management work to maintain defensible space and reduce vegetation fuel loading in the wildland-urban interface of the East Bay hills. This intern will primarily work with staff in the Park District’s Stewardship and Fire Departments to assist in fuels reduction and vegetation management projects to control and manage invasive species. Duties will include assisting with invasive weed control, collecting data to assess the success of vegetation management and habitat restoration projects, maintaining equipment, and other duties as assigned.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? This position is mostly field-based (70-80%) with some office-based work (20-30%). The office-based work has the option to be performed remotely.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? The student’s effort will contribute to the Park District’s goals outlined in the Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan to reduce hazardous fuel loads and manage vegetation within the parks of the East Bay hills. The work the student performs will support the reduction of fuel loading in parklands and will also assist with invasive weed control using a variety of techniques. This resource management work will benefit the ecological health and biodiversity of parklands.

Pay: $19.87 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Strong interest in ecology and plant identification (knowledge of SF Bay flora a plus); basic computer skills, ability to learn how to use GPS/GIS mapping software to collect quality data in the field; excellent work ethic and attention to detail; enthusiasm for working outdoors; strong interpersonal and communication skills

Special Requirements: Tasks include manual labor in vegetation management and monitoring requiring bending, stooping, kneeling, and hiking on uneven terrain and surfaces; work may occur in adverse weather conditions and in noxious vegetation including poison oak; around stinging insects and other wildlife. Valid Driver’s License and clean driving record required for travel to different parks. All East Bay 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 early start (before August 21) and for more than the 225 hours required for the internship course.

15. Organization Name: Oakland Unified School District, The Central Kitchen, Instructional Garden, Farm and Education Center; one position available.

Organization Description: The OUSD Central Kitchen, Instructional Garden & Farm, and Education Center (The Center) is the home of the school meal program and is the hub for the District’s school food program, living schoolyards and environment, food and garden education and programming.

Relevant Links for More Information:

https://sites.google.com/ousd.org/thecenteredprogramming/home

Scope of Work/Deliverables: The Center offers a rich variety of opportunities for individuals interested in school food, nutrition, farm-to-school programming, school gardens, environmental literacy, TK-12 education, systems building, program management and evaluation. Interns will work at The Center and have the opportunity to support our programming:

The Center Instructional Garden: Steward landscaping, trees and raised beds at The Center instructional garden and support programming for school gardens, such as the Seed and Start, Tool Lending Library, off-site garden repairs, farm to school, potential field trip engagement opportunities, etc.

Internship location/How much of the work is remote versus in-person? The Center (2850 West St., Oakland). This is an in-person hands-on engagement. There is minimal remote work however if there is a situation where remote work needs to be assigned, accommodations can be arranged.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? The interns will be assisting in land stewardship and restoration work, food production and processing, vermiculture, composting, and much more. Through this work interns will be contributing to our goal of being honorable land stewards, restoring land to healthy conditions by planting and caring for native plants and trees, maintaining our bioswales, building soil, closing the loop, and so much more. Being an education center, interns will be able to contribute directly and indirectly to exposing Oakland students to topics related to environment, food, and garden. They will also assist in our Seed and Start greenhouse program that provides healthy starts to OUSD schools for their gardening programs.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Gardening or farming, fruit tree care, restoration, horticulture basics, composting knowledge, and nursery background are all preferred skills but all are not necessary in order to apply.

Special Requirements: Ability to lift up to 40lbs, bend, carry, operate tools, and work in the outdoors in the elements

16. Organization Name: City of Oakland Environmental Stewardship Department; two positions available.

Organization Description: Join a dynamic team of individuals that are working to improve the environment as part of the Environmental Stewardship Team within the Oakland Public Works Department. The Stewardship Team develops innovative environmental programs and initiatives to engage the public in cleaning up and/or beautifying the City Of Oakland.

Relevant Links for More Information: https://www.oaklandca.gov/topics/environmental-stewardship

Scope of Work/Deliverables: As part of this team you will have an opportunity to work on the Coastal Clean-up event, the development of related volunteer-resources (such as tool inventory) and public outreach campaigns, and working on GIS projects. As part of our team you will be working closely with staff to perform program planning, research, analysis and development, and will provide assistance to community organizations and volunteers on the day of events.

Internship location/Remote vs. In-person: 50/50 remote and in-person, with in-person hours done in the Public Works offices in downtown Oakland.

What environmental issues/problems will the work address? Beautification and restoration of natural spaces; improved access to public parks; improvement of eco-literacy; pollution; public involvement.

Pay: $15.97 per hour.

Desired Qualifications: Interest in city government work; ability to work with the public and as part of a team.

Special Requirements: This position will require you to have a driver’s license and access to a car and the ability to work some evening and weekend events.

END POSITION DESCRIPTIONS.

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