THIS POSITION IS BEING OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSERVATION TRUST FOR NORTH CAROLINA (CTNC) THROUGH THE MAX INTERNSHIP: SEEDING RACE EQUITY IN CONSERVATION.
INTERNSHIP POSITION TITLE
Youth Environmental Leadership Program (YELP) Assistant
HOST SITE
Asheville GreenWorks
LOCATION
2 Sulphur Springs, Asheville, NC 28806
DURATION
May 22 - July 30 2021 (10 weeks)
POSITION SUMMARY
The CTNC intern will be active in the day to day workings of and serve as a co-leader for a dynamic, educational, work-based paid internship for youth of color (ages 15 to 19) with one other co-leader. Due to COVID we are ready to adjust to the situation at hand. Historically, we have had several interns serving at one time and the CTNC intern would assist leading the group. This summer if needed we are prepared to “hire” youth to work in one to two week blocks and or on special projects such as video production or community outreach. This would allow us to still provide youth opportunities for learning while managing the number of people safely in indoor and outdoor settings. The CTNC intern will assist with keeping these block rotations organized and serve as a leader for the service work day.
The CTNC intern will be performing environmental work in the field led by experts from partnering organizations, including those from The National Park Service and non-governmental agencies. At least thirty days will be spent in the field completing physical work projects while leading and learning. These projects may include river cleanups, removal of invasive vegetation, citizen science data collection, cleaning out trash collection devices in streams, working in the GreenWorks nursery, and pollinator habitat restoration. The intern will also provide outreach education.
The purpose of the position is to complete needed service work for Asheville GreenWorks and assist the Director of Education with an educational work-based paid internship for youth which helps Asheville GreenWorks work towards its commitment in creating a more inclusive environmental movement through equity, education, and opportunity.
JOB DUTIES
Program Co-Leader – 30%
● Work as a leader for a paid youth internship program
● Daily organization of visual media for the program
GreenWorks service work – 60%
● Working in the field completing projects such as river cleanups, removal of invasive vegetation, cleaning out trash collection devices in streams, working in the GreenWorks nursery, and pollinator habitat restoration.
● Working with partnering agencies such as the National Park Service completing Citizen Science Data Collection
Outreach Education – 10%
● Preparing social media posts and videos for the community about GreenWorks summer projects
QUALIFICATIONS
Required knowledge, skills and experience:
The position requires a willingness to get dirty, serve as a leader, learning and working alongside youth on outdoor project related tasks sometimes in hot weather and in remote areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as in the Asheville urban area. The intern will need to be reliable, self-motivated, and work with partnering agencies in order to get the day’s job accomplished. Organizational skills are important as well as promptness. Training will be provided for experiencing nature in the outdoors.
A valid driver’s license is required and a clean driving record preferred. Due to COVID restrictions and precautions personal transportation will be needed to get to job locations.
Preferred knowledge, skills and experience:
Working with youth.
Unique considerations that this position demands:
Position does include some weekend, early morning, and evening work and use of the applicant’s private vehicle in the local area. A quarter to half of the work days will be in the field, lifting up to 20 lbs, hiking up to two miles and canoeing in the French Broad River.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Please include a resume.
If you have questions or require more information about this position, contact Joéle Emma at joele@ashevillegreenworks.org or at 828-254-1776. Learn more about Asheville GreenWorks at ashevillegreenworks.org.
ABOUT THE MAX INTERNSHIP
Founded in 2008 in honor of late board member, Max Mukelabai, the Max internship provides a platform for high school graduates and college students of color – including people of Asian, Black, Latinx, multiracial, and Native American descent – to engage in and help shape conservation work. Rising leaders of color from across the state participate in paid 10-week summer internships, gaining real-world, hands-on experience. CTNC provides compensation, one-on-one mentorship, and professional networking to equip interns with a strong foundation for successful careers in conservation and beyond.
During the program, host sites learn about conservation through a lens of race and power. Through a combination of individual and group learning, host site supervisors build their capacity to facilitate discussions about race within their organizations, understand their relationships to power, and develop strategies for transforming a culture based in race equity practice. COMPENSATION
All interns will receive a $5,000 stipend, divided and paid bi-monthly over the course of their internship.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Lacey Frownfelter at lacey@ctnc.org
Please note that interviews are scheduled and conducted through the host site.