INTERNSHIPS
Interns are an integral part of our stewardship community who have the opportunity to explore the environmental conservation career path through fieldwork and hands-on training.
We offer two different internship programs throughout the year. In summer, we offer a cohort-based internship program that explores a variety of working and learning opportunities. From fall through spring, we offer paid positions for interns to engage with the communities we work in and learn new skills alongside our staff.
SUMMER NATURALIST INTERNSHIP Habitat Restoration Training and California Naturalist Certification Program (Applications Now Closed)
All applicants will be contacted by April 12th, 2024. If you have any questions before then please contact Hannah Cunningham at hannah@grassrootsecology.org.
Program runs from June 16th to August 18th, 2024
“It was satisfying to see the results of all the work we did at the restoration sites, and I really appreciated getting the chance to dip my toes into the kind of work a job in the field could expect of me. I’m walking away with a California Naturalist certification and the ability to identify dozens of plants I couldn’t have named before, and I couldn’t be happier about it!”
Grassroots Ecology's 9-week Naturalist Internship provides college students and recent graduates an opportunity to explore a career in environmental conservation and to deepen their understanding of California natural history. Through outdoor education and hands-on field training, interns gain local ecological knowledge, habitat restoration skills, a robust professional network, and valuable experience in the environmental field. This is an unpaid internship focused on training and knowledge-building. Interns will earn the California Naturalist certification (a value of $480) as part of the program. This program is designed to provide an empowering space for growth, with a focus on leadership, communication, and community-building skills.
Questions? Contact Hannah Cunningham at hannah@grassrootsecology.org.
“This internship left me with a deeper understanding of my home landscape and the ecosystems that are a part of it. Not only did I learn more about the open space preserves and natural sites of the Bay Area, but I was also able to directly contribute to them through my internship work. Additionally, through speaking with Grassroots staff, I learned more about the environmental field and gained a better idea of what my own career path might look like.”
PAID HABITAT RESTORATION INTERNSHIP
Applications for our 2023-2024 Habitat Restoration Internship are now closed.
“Beyond the array of new skills and knowledge I have picked up from this internship, I have also gained a newfound sense of self-belief in my abilities to impact the world around me and to accomplish my goals”
Grassroots Ecology’s 10-month paid habitat restoration internship gives emerging professionals the opportunity to explore the environmental conservation career path through hands-on fieldwork, community engagement, and in-depth training. The program's goal is to support personal and professional growth for professionals underrepresented in the environmental movement, especially those identifying as Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and/or first-generation college students. Responsibilities include invasive plant management, native plant revegetation, site maintenance (watering and mulching), volunteer facilitation, and monitoring and data collection. Interns work alongside Grassroots Ecology staff to steward local open space preserves.
Applications for the 2023-24 year are now closed. Check back in spring of 2024 for applications for the 2024-25 year. Please contact valerie@grassrootsecology.org with any questions about the Habitat Restoration Internship.
