CCAS: Environmental Education and Community Outreach Intern
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 seeks an enthusiastic intern to assist with our K-12 Environmental Education and Community Outreach programs. The intern will play a vital role in educating students about environmental topics aligned with grade-level learning standards. Lessons will be conducted both in classrooms and at field experience sites, which include Twanoh State Park, Skokomish Estuary, Little Skookum Shellfish Farm, Cranberry Lake, Hilburn Preserve, and Skokomish Valley Farm.
In addition to student education, the intern will engage with the broader community to raise
awareness about Mason Conservation District’s programs, resources, and opportunities,
promoting environmental stewardship and encouraging active participation in conservation
initiatives.
Mason County’s rich agricultural and natural resource history has shaped its identity, but
economic shifts have created challenges for the community. Many families in Mason County,
including Shelton, face economic stress, with poverty levels higher than the state average.
These hardships limit children’s access to enriching experiences beyond the classroom.
Environmental education addresses this gap by providing opportunities for students to connect with their local environment, fostering curiosity, stewardship, and a deeper understanding of their community’s natural resources. By offering hands-on field experiences and interactive lessons, the program aims to build environmental literacy, inspire pride in Mason County’s natural heritage, and equip students with the knowledge and skills to address future environmental challenges.
As part of this role, the intern will facilitate in-class lessons and outdoor field experiences for
kindergarten through 12th-grade classes in the Hood Canal, Shelton, and Pioneer School
Districts. There will also be opportunities to lead outreach initiatives, assist with educational
activities, and explore additional conservation topics, offering a diverse and rewarding
experience in environmental education and community engagement.
Interns with Mason CD will gain experience in planning and coordinating environmental
education events, training and managing event volunteers and chaperones, implementing
strategies to create meaningful outdoor experiences, providing in-class and outdoor student instruction, building and planning community agricultural spaces, and serving as an exemplary natural resources steward. These activities include:
• In-Class Lessons – The intern will assist in developing lesson plans for in-class visits
for 1st through 8th grade classes in Shelton, Hood Canal, and Pioneer School
Districts. Lessons will be developed based on the grade-based curriculum learning
standards in conjunction with environmental education best practices to cultivate
lifelong stewardship in the youth of our community.
• School Site Natural Resource and Food Production Stewardship – The intern will
engage with community members, project partners, and schools to steward and
manage school gardens and natural landscapes. The intern will educate and
encourage participation in natural resource conservation and local food production
at these events.
• K-8 Field Investigations Development and Coordination- The intern will assist in
the scheduling, planning, and coordinating of outdoor field experiences. In
preparation for these events, the intern will help with volunteer training, collecting,
and distributing supplies, and leading groups or stations at the events.
• 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 habitat projects in urban and rural settings.
• Participation in riparian restoration or other conservation district activities.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Assist Environmental Education Coordinator with programing and coordination.
• Assist district planners in facilitating garden programs and creation.
• Assist with development of outreach and community engagement strategies.
• Assist with the coordination of community volunteer events
• Engage with students and members of diverse communities, some of which may be
of limited or non-English languages.
• Coordinate with schools and community partners such as CIELO, Salish Roots Farm,
HOPE Garden Project, Pacific Shellfish Institute, Puget Sound Estuarium, Capitol Land
Trust, Skokomish Valley Farms, etc.
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-in
Qualifications:
• Willingness to learn classroom management strategies
• Passionate about providing students with meaningful outdoor experiences and
connecting with diverse communities
• Confidence in one’s ability to teach and manage a large group of students
• Basic understanding of major natural resource concerns (biodiversity, water quality,
soil health, etc.)
• Basic experience using Microsoft Office and Google Programs
• Strong communication skills (written, oral, and interpersonal)
• Able to prioritize multiple tasks, manage time effectively, and be adaptable
• Able to work effectively with others as part of a small team
• Critical thinking
• Reliable personal transportation
• Willing and able to perform internship duties in a variety of outdoor settings 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 because of Dust Bowl era soil erosion concerns.
Conservation Districts are special purposed, non-regulatory governmental districts. Staff
currently engage in community education and stewardship, river restoration activities,
salmon recovery, forestry, native plant restoration.