CCAS: Community Agriculture, Localized Foods, and Improved Access.
The Evergreen State College

The Center for Climate Action and Sustainability (CCAS) at The Evergreen State College is excited to announce a joint-internship opportunity with Mason Conservation District. CCAS offers external internships (externships) to give students additional opportunities/real-world experiences in their fields of interest. All CCAS intern/externs must be admitted/enrolled Evergreen students during the time they are working. This position is for Spring – Summer Quarter. Mason Conservation District is seeking applicants to assist and expand upon efforts to address local food needs.

Mason Conservation District seeks assistance to support the Farms in Translation – Urban and Community Food Systems Grant Program, with the goal to address food insecurity, climate & environmental justice concerns, and mitigate natural resource concerns. Interns will steward community food spaces and assist district staff in rehabilitating community garden spaces to make them more accessible to underserved communities. Sites include but are not limited to Callanan Park Community Garden, Civic Center Pollinator Food Forest, and Shelton Veterans Village Garden. The Evergreen Intern will help facilitate the Farms to Food Pantry grant program which provides payments to farms for produce destined for food pantries, with a special emphasis on foods of cultural significance. MCD Gleaning Program and assist in connecting local agricultural producers to food banks, assist district staff in workshops and educational programs.

Mason County, Washington’s only incorporated city, Shelton, as well as its residents, are served by the Mason Conservation District. The agricultural and natural resource sectors have historically dominated the economies of Mason County and the City of Shelton. However, those industries are no longer the main local employment sectors; instead, it is now the government, retail sales, hospitality, and service sectors. These jobs typically come with lower salaries. The community as a whole is currently experiencing economic stress, and for more than 20 years, Shelton’s population has had a higher percentage of families living in poverty than the average for the state. Despite these challenges, the county has kept up a consistent farming tradition for more than 160 years, even though the farmers and their crops have changed over time. The number of farmers between 25 and 34 has increased by more than 100% over the last 20 years, indicating that the agricultural community in Mason County is growing.

Other opportunities for directing outreach and educational activities are available, as well as
additional learning opportunities for environmental conservation.

Interns with Mason CD will gain experience in building and planning community agricultural
spaces, implementing engagement strategies, assessing community needs, and stewardship
of natural resources. These activities include:
• Farms in Translation – Assist in implementing micro-grant funding to connect local
producers to community partners engaged in improving access to fresh and local foods.
Participating farms will invoice for produce deliveries with an emphasis on Culturally
Relevant Foods. Assist staff in producing educational materials for local producers on
production of niche CRF crops.
• Sustainable Urban Agriculture – Engage with community members and project partners to
steward and manage urban garden spaces. Encourage community ownership and
participation in local food production. Coordinate and cooperate with project partners that
include municipalities, local tribes, and non-profits.

Additional opportunities will be offered based upon individual interests. These include:
• Natural resources conservation activities
• Potential participation in pollinator habitat projects in urban and rural settings.
• Participation in riparian restoration or other conservation district activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Assist district planners in facilitating garden programs and creation.
• Assist with development of outreach and community engagement strategies.
• Engage with diverse communities, some of which may be of limited or non-English
languages.
• Coordinate with community partners such as CIELO, Salish Roots Farm, and HOPE Garden
Project.

Additional CCAS related duties:
• Attend virtual or in-person meetings and trainings with host internship organization (CCAS)
as available
• Track and log worked hours
• Submit reflections of the internship experience
• Meet regularly with Internship supervisor for check-ins

Qualifications:
• Passionate about connecting with diverse communities
• Knowledgeable about market gardening and local food production.
• Basic understanding of major natural resource concerns (soil health, water quality, etc.).

• Basic experience using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Gmail, Google Calendar,
Google Drive)
• Listening and understanding Cooperator’s goals and objectives.
• Strong communication skills (written, oral, and interpersonal)
• Able to prioritize multiple tasks and be adaptable
• Able to work effectively with others as part of a small team
• Effective time management
• Critical thinking
• Reliable personal transportation
• Willing and able to perform heavy physical labor including digging, bending, handling plants.
Knowledgeable about market gardening and local food production.
• Willing and able to perform internship duties in a variety of outdoor settings, on uneven
terrain and in a variety of weather.

Pay and Other Benefits
• Pay is $17.00 hourly
• Up to 19 hours per week/variable schedule
• During holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Breaks) and summer sessions, one
may work up to 40-hours per week with the permission of CCAS directors.
• In addition to pay, opportunities for academic credit with the CCAS Director, Dr. Anthony
Levenda, are available with an Internship Learning Contract (ILC). ILCs are academically due
1 week before the end of the prior quarter. Expression of interest is required in advance,
usually at the time of application, or 2 weeks before the end of the quarter.

How to Apply?
Please submit the following:

1. A letter of interest that includes the following:
o How do you meet the above-mentioned qualifications?
o How many hours per week are you available, and when are those generally?
o What would you like to gain from this experience?
o How does this internship fit with your career goals?

2. A resume/CV

3. Submit either via Handshake, or via email with the subject line “CCAS Internship Application”
o If via email, send to Director Anthony Levenda
(Anthony.Levenda@evergreen.edu) and CC’ Assistant Director Michael Joseph
(JosephM@evergreen.edu).

Applications submitted by Saturday February 17th, 2024 at midnight will receive priority review (with interviews in Eval Week). Applications received later than this date will be reviewed if the position has not been filled.
*Additional External Organization Information:
Mason Conservation District’s mission is the promoting of the sustainable use, conservation,
and restoration of natural resources for future generations. Established in Mason County in 1956, as a product of national legislation as a result of Dust Bowl era soil erosion concerns.
Conservation Districts are special purposed, non-regulatory governmental districts. Staff
currently engage in river restoration activities, salmon recovery, forestry, native plant
restoration.