Environmental Education Intern

The Center for Climate Action and Sustainability (CCAS) at the The Evergreen State College is excited to announce a joint-internship opportunity with the Thurston 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. CCAS will have base requirements for check-ins and their externship site supervisor check-ins.

Thurston Conservation District is looking for a dynamic, energetic, and creative educator with a strong interest in youth and environmental education work for the South Sound GREEN (SSG) position. 

The South Sound GREEN (SSG) Education Intern will work closely with the SSG staff to bring environmental education programs to youth in Thurston County. The intern will assist with the implementation and teaching of water quality monitoring field- and classroom-based lessons and will support a program that, every year, engages thousands of Thurston County students in hands-on scientific testing. Interns are not expected to be experts in education or environmental science. This temporary internship position aligns with the Evergreen State College spring quarter schedule. 

NECESSARY & HELPFUL EXPERIENCE 

• Strong interest in educating K-12 youth in classroom and field-based settings.
• Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, and the ability to complete projects on time.
• Experience/Interest in utilizing Microsoft Suite software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher).
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must pass a background check for working with youth and in schools.
• Knowledge of or interest in environmental science, natural history, and water quality.
• Valid WA State Driver’s License or ability to obtain one.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WORKSPACE 

The Thurston Conservation District our employees and the people we serve come from all walks of life. All employees, interns, and volunteers receive consideration without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Please let us know if you need accommodation to participate in the application process. 

SCHEDULE & WORKING CONDITIONS 

This intern position is a temporary, part-time position with flexible work hours. Local travel, occasional evening and weekend hours are possible and negotiable. Education programs typically occur during weekdays between 9 am-2 pm at various sites around Thurston County – interns must be available two days per week for these programs for the majority of the internship. A computer, access to the internet and Microsoft Word or Open Office, and the ability to use video conferencing software are necessary to complete the internship. 

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.

Externships and CCAS:

CCAS handles the majority of the administrative operations for these positions (resolving timesheets, pay day issues, etc.). Regular check-ins help CCAS know if the externship is bringing in positive experiences for students. As well as if future iterations of the externship should be revised. Since CCAS is funded through purely donors and grants (and by extension so are intern/externship positions), it is also required for us to document pieces of student experiences. 

We accomplish this through: 

• three check-in meetings (virtual or hybrid) a quarter
• submitting alternating weekly reflections through a CCAS form
• a final end-of-quarter student review of the experience

In addition to the host externship’s site supervisor, Evergreen’s Student Employment Office (SEO) and CCAS staff can also provide additional professional development opportunities and support for students. 

Applications submitted by Saturday February 24th, 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. 

How to Apply?

Please submit the following:

1. A letter of interest that includes the following:
   1. How do you meet the above-mentioned qualifications?
   2. How many hours per week are you available, and when are those generally
   3. What would you like to gain from this experience?
   4. How does this internship fit with your career goals?
2. 2. A resume/CV
3. Submit either via Handshake, or via email with the subject line “CCAS Internship Application”
   1. If via email, send to Director Anthony Levenda (Anthony.Levenda@evergreen.edu) and CC’ Assistant Director Michael Joseph (JosephM@evergreen.edu).