Environmental Internships

Two Great Sources of Internships

Wisconsin Conservation on the Land summer internships.
> Many paid summer internships across the state. New internships posted periodically. Deadlines vary with internship. Keep checking this website.

Student Conservation Association (SCA) Internships

General listings of various internship possibilities

CoolWorks
Internships in the U.S. with outdoor centers, conservation corps, resorts, national parks, summer camps, etc. Humanitarian and environmental internship opportunities also available in many countries around the world.

Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)
Internship listings from government agencies and non-profits across the country.
Also, a search engine for internships.
Highly recommended, although most of these are out of state.

Idealist.org.
Listings for various idealist internships and jobs

Federal Government

Federal Career Intern Program

Agency for International Development
> Internships

Department of Agriculture
> Internships

Department of Energy
> Internships

Department of Interior
> Internships

Department of State
> Internships

Environmental Protection Agency
> Student Fellowships

Forest Service (Department of Agriculture)
> Internships

National Park Service (Department of Interior)
> NPS Internships
> SCA Internships

Natural Resources Conservation Service (Department of Agriculture)

National organizations: policy & advocacy

American Rivers.
Its mission is to protect and restore America ’s river systems and to foster a river stewardship ethic.

Audubon Society
Seeks to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

Brookings Institution.
A famous thinktank based in Washington , D.C. Their mission is to write reports that bring issues (including environmental issues) to the attention of policymakers.

Campus Ecology, 
A program of the National Wildlife Federation, Campus Ecology promotes environmental responsibility at colleges and universities. They also have listings of internships, jobs, and fellowships.

Center for Policy Alternatives
Engages a new generation of leaders across the states to envision and realize progressive solutions for America 's future.

Earth Justice
The nonprofit law firm for the environment, representing—without charge—hundreds of public interest clients, large and small. Founded in 1971 as Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Earthjustice has played a leading role in shaping the development of environmental law. From eight offices across the country Earthjustice attorneys take on powerful special interests and win. Throughout our history, we have achieved many landmark legal victories.

Earth Team
Works to reduce soil erosion, conserve water and improve water quality, and developing pride in our country’s natural resource heritage. Volunteers can help on the land (with professional conservationists who are working directly with farmers and ranchers), in schools (with high school, college, and university students). Through camps and classes, you can introduce young people to the wonders of nature). You can help with organizations like youth groups, professional societies, or civic groups. All types of organizations are joining together to sponsor water quality education campaigns, community beautification, and erosion control projects. Opportunities are also available in offices: helping SCS or your conservation district with clerical assistance, organizing information in a computer, preparing newsletters, or educating others about natural resource conservation. ( Raleigh ) Note—There are offices in every US state as well as Guam and Puerto Rico.

Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)
Founded in 1972, The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) is a national, non-profit organization that develops professionals for the environmental field through paid environmental internships that provide highly professional, on-the-job learning experiences for bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral students and recent graduates

Environmental Defense 
A prominent national environmental organization with over 300,000 members. They are a leading advocate of economic incentives as a new approach to solving environmental problems.

Environmental Law Institute
Plays a pivotal role in shaping the fields of environmental law, policy, and management, domestically and abroad. ELI is an internationally recognized, independent research and education center.

Friends Committee on National Legislation
FCNL Legislative Intern. Washington D.C.
As an intern, you have the opportunity to use your skills and knowledge to further FCNL's legislative goals. While your specific duties will depend on the issues you cover and the lobbyist you work with, you might Advocate: Encourage constituents and members of congress to take action by providing them with information. Gather information: Attend committee hearings and coalition meetings; analyze documents and reports. Write: Draft action alerts, letters, and background reports to keep constituents informed and to express fcnl's views to congress and the administration. Encourage action: Support and communicate with grassroots advocates.

Green Corps
Green Corps' mission is to teach the next generation of environmental leaders the strategies and skills they'll need to win tomorrow's environmental battles while providing critical field support for today's pressing environmental problems. There are internships available with the organization.

Land Trust Alliance
Washington, D.C. Internships that preserve the land.

The Nation Institute Internship Program
The Nation Institute, in conjunction with The Nation magazine, has provided a practical and comprehensive intern program for college students and recent graduates interested in magazine journalism and publishing. The Nation Institute is a nonprofit foundation that supports research, conferences, seminars, educational programs and independent media with an emphasis on social justice, civil liberties and cultural politics. To gain editorial experience interns check facts, conduct research, read and evaluate manuscripts and are encouraged to write editorials, articles or reviews for possible publication. On the publishing side interns assist advertising, circulation and promotion staff with day-to-day business, and help create and carry out developmental and research projects for the magazine and the Institute. Intern duties also include filing, photocopying, running errands and other routine office work. An additional position is available in The Nation's Washington D.C. office. This intern works closely with the magazine's Washington editor, attending press conferences and Congressional hearings as well as conducting research and providing clerical assistance.

National Wildlife Federation
The nation’s largest conservation education organization. NWF created Campus Ecology to help college and university communities educate themselves about how they can conserve natural resources on campus. Campus Ecology promotes action now to make environmentally sound practices a reality, coalition building to foster diverse environmental leadership and continuity in projects to create long term change. Volunteers are needed to be leaders on their college or university campus. Ten-month field coordinator interns provide assistance to colleges and universities in designated regions working on campus greening projects, such as ecologically sound purchasing and investing decisions. Applications and interviews are required for internships.

The Nature Conservancy 
Famous organization whose mission is to aquire and manage land to preserve biodiversity. Ph: (919) 403-8558, e-mail: lwinston@tnc.org.

Orion Grassroots Network
A non-profit support network for grassroots environmental organizations in North America. It offers an Internship and Career Services website.

Physicians for Social Responsibility
Has internship opportunities in their environment and health program, violence prevention program and nuclear disarmament and security program.

Planet Drum 
A leading bioregional organization, based in the San Francisco area. A list of current internships and jobs can be found at their website.

Population Connection 
A national nonprofit organization based in Washington , D.C. working to slow population growth and achieve a sustainable balance between the Earth's people and its resources. Fellowships and internships.

Program in Ecological Agriculture and Society (PEAS)
This program combines traditional academics with hands-on work at an urban, organic farm that produces tens of thousands of pounds of fruits and vegetables each season for low-income Missoulians. The internship - available for both undergraduate and graduate credit - is offered fall, summer, and spring. Students may farm for a season, a year or longer. The longer you stay, the more responsibility & learning you take on. Students also visit other organic farms & ranches & learn about local food processing and marketing. They learn to help reconnect people to the land through local food. Students bond by sharing work, knowledge, and food they grow and prepare.

Rainforest Action Network
RAN is looking for people who are interested in interning in San Francisco over the Spring and Summer periods.  Most of our interns work as organizers or researchers, and volunteer for a minimum of 12 hours a week. This is an upaid internship. Interning at RAN is a great opportunity to learn about activism with one of the most succesful, dynamic and hard-hitting environmental groups in the country. If you are interested in applying for an internship at RAN, please email your resume and cover letter to sarah@ran.org.  Please state which campaign you would like to work on. (2/2/05)

Sierra Club
National jobs and internships from a leading environmental organization.

Student Conservation Association
Each year, the Student Conservation Association helps thousands of people 18 and over find a way to make a difference. SCA offers 3-to-12 month, expense-paid internship opportunities in all 50 states, in more than 50 professional fields with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and state and local agencies, among others. Most SCA interns work one-on-one alongside conservation professionals, while a few others work in small groups, under SCA supervision, doing wilderness restoration, exotic plant management, fire fuels mitigation, and environmental education.  The benefits are tangible -- you will perform hands-on conservation work at natural or cultural resource sites. The benefits are also personal – you can earn academic credit, defer student loans, be eligible for a $1,000 education grant, and make contacts that may lead you to a fulfilling career. These internships not only give you a fun and fulfilling summer, but your experience can help you get the job you want, especially with National Park Service. Deadlines for summer internship are usually February 15, but there is also a March 15 deadline for internship starting in July.

The Washington Center
Provides internships in D.C. in the private, public and non-profit sectors.

Worldwatch
Conducts research into an environmentally responsible and socially just world.