If you are a student looking for an internship opportunity, consider Willistown Conservation Trust. The Trust can be a great learning experience – a chance to work with and learn from some of the best in the field of conservation. The Trust accepts a variety of interns throughout the year.
Three areas of focus are offered: Community Farm Program, Stewardship, and Visual Communications. Read the descriptions below, explore our web site to learn more about us, and think about what interests you. To be considered for an internship, send your resume and a cover letter expressing your area of interest to land@wctrust.org.
Stewardship Internships
If you have an interest in land conservation, watershed conservation, native plants, birds, habitat restoration, field research, or outdoor education and like to get your hands dirty working outdoors, an internship can be structured around your interests.
Community Farm Program Internships
The mission of the Willistown Conservation Trust Community Farm Program is to support the Trust mission by modeling sustainable agricultural practices and promoting the values of open space, natural resource protection and healthy local food production to a broader community. By bringing together community members, farmers, and land in a mutually supportive relationship, the farm program contributes to the growth of local, sustainable food networks and connects people of all ages and backgrounds more closely with the rural landscape and agricultural heritage of the Willistown countryside.
The Community Farm Program at Rushton Farm provides interns with hands on experience growing food and providing educational outreach to the community through the farm’s CSA, volunteer, and service learning programs. Interns work closely with the Rushton Farm staff to grow 3 acres of mixed vegetables, operate a CSA, ensure the safety and proper management of volunteers, and educate all visitors to the farm about the mission of the WCT Community Farm Program.
We are seeking a dependable, good natured individual, ideally with an interest in pursuing a career in sustainable agriculture or food systems related advocacy work. No farm related experience is necessary but applicant must be able and willing to perform physical labor in various weather conditions and be comfortable speaking with the public. Compensation consists of a small weekly stipend and produce. In some cases, on-site housing may be provided.
Tasks include but are not limited to:
* Propagation and greenhouse management- seed starting, seedling care, record keeping and watering duties on alternate weekends in the spring and early summer.
* Bed Preparation and Planting- both manual and mechanical tillage and bed preparation activities.
* Field Irrigation- Intern will be expected to learn, implement, and operate both overhead and drip irrigation systems.
* Harvesting and CSA setup- Intern will be directly involved in the harvesting and distribution of CSA shares every Tuesday and Friday morning throughout the season, schedule permitting.
* Other possible opportunities include- Working with school and youth groups through our developing education programs; working with volunteers throughout the summer; and developing composting systems for field-scale production systems.
Applications are taken on a rolling basis until the position has been filled by the desired candidate. Take a closer look at Willistown Conservation Trust Community Farm Program information on our web site. Interested applicants should e-mail their resume and cover letter to land@wctrust.org.
Visual Communications Internships
Visual Communications Internships work in a variety of areas to support and assist the Manager of Communications. Using your creative vision along with your page layout, digital photography, videography and/editing skills, you will have the opportunity to help further the Trust’s mission by capturing and sharing the rural beauty of Willistown and the Trust’s work to preserve it. You’ll also assist with developing e-communications using email marketing software and web communications using WordPress. Using these graphics skills, you will assist on projects working closely with staff members and co-workers from other departments, assimilating and evolving the look and feel of the Trust’s visual communications. Depending on the individual’s interest or skill set and the needs of the Trust, this may be a design, still photography, video, e-communications project or a mix of all media. The candidate should be developing skills with Adobe Creative Suite and be interested in the natural world. A passion for land conservation, sustainable agriculture, and birds is a plus.
Watershed Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate
Willistown Conservation Trust (WCT) seeks a Field Study Site Intern/Conservation Associate who will be tasked with assisting the Field Study Site Coordinator in implementing the WPF grant, by participating in research and education in our Field Study Site and working to further WCT’s watershed protection initiatives. Pursuant to the terms of the WPF grant, at least 50% of the activities of the Intern/Conservation Associate will be focused on watershed-related research, education, and/or outreach projects, allowing for cross-disciplinary work in our other program areas should such opportunities arise in the course of the work.
Responsibilities:
- Intern/Conservation Associate will assist Field Study Site Coordinator in identifying specific watershed related initiatives to pursue, guided by a stream reach assessment to be conducted by the Academy of Natural Sciences/Drexel University (ANS/Drexel). Using methodology developed in the Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI), ANS/Drexel will analyze streams in the area, assess baseline water quality, recommend locations for on-going water quality monitoring, and assist WCT in identifying watershed related research and remediation scenarios. Intern/Conservation Associate will assist in data collection and field work related to watershed protection, as well as incorporating watershed protection work into WCT’s education and outreach programming.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science in environmental sciences or related field, or demonstrated coursework in pursuit of an equivalent degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
- Excellent communication (oral & written) and interpersonal skills, as well as ability to collaborate effectively with project partners;
- Personal passion and commitment to protecting the environment and furthering our understanding of the natural world and watersheds;
- Facility in working in a varied environment, with some work in an office and some work in the field, and/or experience in water quality monitoring and data collection.
- Computer competency including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
