2022-23 Earth Grant Student Internships

About the organization:

The Altar Valley Conservation Alliance is a watershed-based collaborative conservation organization founded in 1995 by ranchers who decided to work together on large-scale land management issues in the Altar Valley (a 580,000-acre area of open space southwest of Tucson).  The AVCA works to conserve healthy and productive working landscapes for the next generation through soil and water conservation, wildfire management, habitat conservation and protection of native species, and other environmental issues.

Website: https://altarvalleyconservation.org

About the internship:

The AVCA works through a strongly collaborative, science-based, and community driven approach to sustain and enhance working landscapes.  Our work involves land management projects, workshops, land use planning, and problem solving for complex environmental and social issues. The Outreach Specialist will implement innovative ways to communicate upcoming and past initiatives to help diverse groups to work together towards a common goal.  The Outreach Specialist will work not only with AVCA staff, but also directly with community members including agricultural producers, landowners, government agencies, scientists, and others - both virtually and in person.  Therefore, creativity in using a variety of methods and techniques for messaging will be needed.

Required qualifications:

• Advanced oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with others.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and social media.
• Ability to work independently, organize time and complete assigned work within deadlines.
• General interest and curiosity about natural resource and watershed management and conservation of working landscapes.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with website design and/or maintenance.
• Experience writing newsletters, event announcements, and other types of communications.
• Experience taking meeting notes.
• Experience with EventBrite, Doodle, and/or other event organizing tools.
• Experience working with agricultural producers, government agencies, and/or non-profit organizations

Internship location: Most work will be done virtually, but some events will occur in the Altar Valley of Arizona (see map here: https://altarvalleyconservation.org/about-us/watershed/). Carpooling with staff will be an option for in-person events; this position does not require a car.

Internship hours: Approximately 5-10 hours per week, including a weekly staff call.  Schedule is flexible, with ability to specify available hours, including traditional business hours and/or alternative times.

Mentor: Sarah King, Executive Director

About the organization:

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management provides resources for the prevention and suppression of wildland fire on State Trust Land and private property located outside incorporated communities. The agency provides services for fire prevention, urban and community forestry, forest stewardship, forest health, utilization and marketing, and has a wide variety of grants available.

Website: www.dffm.az.gov

About the internship:

The Arizona Magnificent Trees Program, sponsored by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM), seeks to create a living record of magnificent and majestic trees in our state’s forests and communities. Trees play an important role in the ecosystem and human health and well-being, including environmental benefits, economic benefits, and aesthetic and psychological benefits. The Arizona Magnificent Tree Program connects us to trees, increases awareness of the field of forestry and urban forestry, and encourages people to pay attention to trees as critical ecosystem species. Specifically, the Arizona Magnificent Tree Program is an award program designed to publicly recognize trees that are the largest of their species (Champion Trees), trees that have cultural significance and a direct connection to people (Heritage Trees), and trees that are proven to have been in their same location before Arizona Statehood in 1912 (Witness Trees). We’ve got a database full of magnificent trees that have been nominated over the last 22 years, as well as a list of 50+ trees that need to be reverified, and have recently trained a group of volunteers to help us measure those so we can get back on track in 2022. Depending upon your interests, you can help us with one or more of the following: (1) Measurement of trees located in various locations across the state; (2) Editing and modification of the database that houses the tree measurement and champion tree data; (3) Edits and updates to the AZ Magnificent Tree Program Guidance Manual; (4) Scanning of historical documents from nominations received prior to 2017; (5) GIS/Google Map of publicly accessible nominated trees for sharing with the community; (6) Assisting with or participating in tree measurement workshop in Sedona (in September 2022) and Tucson/Southern AZ (in Spring 2023)

Required qualifications: 

• Communication and writing skills
• Public engagement and participation
• Desire to travel to measure trees, sometimes beyond Tucson/Pima County
• Ability to work in a team environment with volunteers and Dept of Forestry Staff
• Desire to work outdoors in addition to some work on the computer

Preferred qualifications:

• Public speaking skills, desire to help teach others how to measure trees
• Ability to use Google Maps
• Ability to work with Google Spreadsheets and Documents
• Spanish translation skills would be a bonus but not required

Internship location:

Virtual work, occasional in-person work at various locations in Tucson

Internship hours:

5-10 hrs/week. Two workshops will be on Saturdays and we may do a few presentations in the evenings via zoom. Otherwise the schedule is flexible.

Mentor: LoriAnne Barnett Warren, Urban Forestry Specialist

About the program:

Arizona Institute for Resilient Environments and Societies (AIRES) coordinates interdisciplinary groups of faculty, students, and projects across the University of Arizona’s campus, from climate science to public policy, law, the arts, water resources and beyond. AIRES explores and develops solutions with campus and community partners that will serve human and natural communities across the globe. Further, as part of the Office of Research Innovation & Impact, AIRES builds a robust web of environmental connections across colleges and departments.

Website: https://environment.arizona.edu/

About the internship:

This position is ideal for a journalism, English, or communications student interested in science and environmental communication. The intern will have the opportunity to learn elements of journalism, storytelling, and public and media relations, as well as gain recognition for their published stories. The intern will conduct interviews as assigned, write stories for various audiences, and practice different writing styles and communications techniques. Stories produced by the intern will be published through the AIRES website and other channels. The intern may also be involved in storytelling through digital and social media if interested. The position requires a combination of strong, proven writing skills; acute attention to detail; organization; initiative; a willingness to learn; and an interest in the environment.

Required qualifications:

• Strong interest in writing, communications, and/or journalism
• Strong sense of professionalism and interpersonal communication skills
• Interest in the environment, sustainability, conservation, and social resilience
• Ability to work effectively with little supervision
• Ability to communicate in a timely manner and meet deadlines
• Acute attention to detail and clear organization
• Strong, proven writing skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual Spanish/English
• Previous work, classes, or internships in journalistic or popular science writing
• Previous experience conducting interviews for storytelling assignments
• Familiarity with technology, websites, and social media
• Familiarity and/or competency with digital media and other forms of storytelling

Internship location:

Some in-person meetings with the option to work at the Environment and Natural Resources 2 Building on Main UA Campus, or to work and participate in meetings virtually

Internship hours: 10-20hrs/week, flexible hours

Mentor: Shelley Littin, Communications Lead

About this program:

The Center’s Population and Sustainability program addresses the impacts on wildlife and the environment that are caused by human population pressure and destructive consumption and production. We fight for solutions that advance justice, equity, health, and a compassionate world where both people and wildlife can thrive.

Website: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/

About the internship:

The Center for Biological Diversity's Population and Sustainability team uses creative campaigns, outreach projects and educational materials to raise awareness about the impact of human population growth on wildlife and the planet and advocate for solutions that advance human rights, improve equity, and protect biodiversity. The intern will work remotely with our Population and Sustainability Campaigner and Organizer. This intern will assist in researching and summarizing national, state, local and university climate action plans, national adaptation plans, species protection plans and gender action plans. Additional related research, writing and other duties may be assigned as needed.

Main intern duties:

• Find and read conservation and species protection plans looking for mentions of human population growth, human activity, women’s empowerment and/or reproductive rights.
• Summarize research found for each category of plan type.
• Work with Population and Sustainability team members to draft model language based-off any language found in the plans.
• Share model language with select stakeholders to get their feedback and alter the language based-off their comments.
• Write a report summarizing research, model language and potential next steps.
• Write blogs, social media posts and articles about the research.

Areas in which skills and experience will be gained:

• Working with a national conservation nonprofit
• Learning about population, consumption and conservation issues
• Writing for different audiences
• Project Management
• How to work independently with remote supervisors

Required qualifications:

Independent self starter, comfortable with remote work, comfortable with (or open to) virtual communication tools, passion for women's empowerment and reproductive rights, passion for wildlife conservation and environmental issues, Good verbal and written communication skills, Prior experience with online research, Likes working with diverse groups of people, Experience working with a team and independently, Detail oriented

Preferred qualifications:

Comfortable conducting phone interviews, Knowledge around wildlife, family planning, consumption and/or environmental justice

Internship location: Virtual

Internship hours: 10-20 hrs/week, with a flexible work schedule

Mentor: Sarah Bailie, Population and Sustainability Organizer

About this business:

We teach about living more sustainably and plastic-free, host trash pick-up events, and run a reuse/recycling program. We primarily help Tucson residents, but our work has reached outside of the city, too. Our reuse programs benefit unhoused / other community members in need of food and hygiene products: We collect prescription bottles and unused takeout utensils, plus other types of donations, that are reused for hygiene product and food distribution by our partner organizations.

Website: http://cerotucson.com

About the internship:

The intern may be involved in the areas of our business that most interests them.

This may include:

• Reuse & recycling program tasks; Assisting when people drop off, organizing materials, posting materials as available online, delivering/shipping materials, coordinating with organizations for pickup/dropoff,
• Helping to plan and executive sustainability events, workshops, litter pick ups
• Writing blogs about sustainability/zero waste
• Making social media videos about sustainability information and tutorials
• Supporting with regular shop tasks; managing refill products section, managing website, helping with website product listings, cleaning shop, counting inventory etc.

Required qualifications:

Ability to travel to our shop location, comfortable working with computers. Proficiency in writing and social media is helpful.

Preferred qualifications:

Basic understanding of "zero waste" and sustainability concepts.

Internship location:

228 S Tucson Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716

Internship hours:

Ideally available during shop hours, Wednesday-Sunday 2-6pm, sometimes Sat & Sun mornings or evenings for special events. Can be flexible.

Mentor: Val Timin, Co-owner

About this program:

By facilitating collaborative conservation, from project to landscape scale, CCAST’s work supports land managers in improving ecosystem function and meeting management goals. CCAST partners include private landowners, ranchers and farmers, land managers from federal, state, and tribal agencies. Focal areas include drought and climate adaptation, riparian restoration and management of non-native aquatic species, grassland restoration, and pollinator conservation.

Website: Collaborative Conservation and Adaptation Strategy Toolbox (CCAST) (arcgis.com)

About the internship:

This writing-intensive internship is a great opportunity to gain more experience with active water and natural resource management programs, work closely with senior scientists, land managers, and a diverse group of stakeholders to produce publications of value and provide support to the conservation community. The work involves interacting with a team of senior scientists and the diverse stakeholders CCAST supports. This includes drafting and editing case studies for publication on the CCAST website, and support for emerging Communities of Practice (i.e., networks of practitioners, researchers, and policy makers) for non-native aquatic species, grassland restoration, drought management, and pollinator conservation. Internship work will involve regular interaction with scientists and managers across federal, state, and tribal government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and private landowners. 

Duties include: 

• Assist the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation and other partners in the development of CCAST case studies
• Assist with outreach to a diverse group of case study contributors
• Gather and synthesize information about on-the-ground water and natural resource management programs 
• Conduct and transcribe interviews with natural resource professionals about their conservation programs 
• Develop up to five case studies to be published on the CCAST web site  
• Support the editing and publication of additional CCAST case studies 
• Assist in the development of other science communication products 
• Support the development of Communities of Practice (non-native aquatic species, grasslands restoration, drought management, and pollinator conservation) 
• Assist CoP coordinators in organizing meetings, workshops, webinars, and field visits
• Help maintain engagement from a diverse group of stakeholders and ensure balanced representation from a diversity of stakeholder groups in the CoP 
• Gather and synthesize relevant information for presentations and discussions 
• Note-taking and facilitation of regular CoP meetings 

Required qualifications:

A passion for conservation, collaboration, and eagerness to learn and improve/develop strong science communication and writing skills.

Preferred qualifications:

Strong analytical skills — ability to synthesize knowledge from multiple sources into a coherent narrative and identify transferable lessons learned.

Strong writing skills — semi-technical scientific writing.

Ability to learn and integrate skills quickly — receiving edits and feedback on writing and integrating throughout.

Strong communications skills — being able to coordinate through email, zoom, etc with lead coordinators. Being able to conduct interviews with case study contributors. Being able to set and meet deadlines in a self-directed manner.

Internship location:

Weekly team meetings are held on University of Arizona campus. Occasional stakeholder meetings and workshops may be held off campus in Tucson.

Internship hours: 15-20 hrs/week. Scheduled group meetings happen during business hours M-F, much of the internship work is done virtually and individually so can be flexible in both work schedule and location.

Mentors: Program Coordinators Ariel Léger, Anna Weinberg, Krystie Miner

About the organization:

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (CFBSA) and its Board of Directors are committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including climate change, systemic forms of discrimination, and inequitable access to resources. CFBSA moves our region towards the vision of a healthy, hunger-free community through food distribution, food and gardening education, and community development programs.

Website: www.communityfoodbank.org

About the internship:

1. Design and initiate the installation of a native food plant producing space in 2-4 green spaces. The space will focus on producing mesquite trees and chiltepin peppers but possibly nopal and other edible native plants of the southwest. This project is a first step in making mesquite trees available for free or low cost to communities that are most impacted by poverty, climate instability and water stress.
    
2. Support with greenhouse productions of seedlings, saplings and other materials for free and or low cost.
    
3. Support the Health and Garden Education Coordinator with the Farm to Child Program (F2C). F2C supports the development of school gardens and community green spaces across our service area.

Required qualifications:

• Ability to work effectively with little supervision
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Database, Outlook and internet-based communication
• Experience teaching, organizing, and working with individuals and community groups
• Ability to work with people with diverse economic, social and political backgrounds
• Ability to work with community members respectfully and with patience
• Ability to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions including temperatures over 100˚ and Below 40˚
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• A team player with a good sense of humor

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual-Spanish/English
• Sonoran Desert native with strong interest in food justice and social justice advocacy
• Organic vegetable gardening experience
• Ability to teach and address others’ garden interests and needs
• Tree propagation experience
• Greenhouse management experience
• Seedling production experience
• Ability to Comfortably lift up to 40 lbs. repeatedly

Internship location:

Mostly working at Nuestra Tierra Garden 3003 S. Country Club Road, with visits to schools in the Sunnyside School District

Internship hours:

5-10hrs/week, ideally during garden volunteer mornings Wednesdays and Saturdays. Garden volunteer morning times shift as the seasons change: Nov to Feb 8am-12 pm, Mar to May 7:30-11:30am, June to Oct 6:30 to 10:30am.

Mentor: Victor Ceballos, Garden Education Supervisor

About the program:

Started in 2011, Compost Cats was the only organization in Southern Arizona accepting large volumes of food scraps, manure, brush, and other landscaping materials. From 2011 to 2018, Compost Cats diverted over 20 million pounds of organics from local landfills, making it an invaluable component to waste management and broader sustainability efforts at the University of Arizona and across the region. In late 2018, Compost Cats transitioned out of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cooperative Extension and into the UArizona Office of Sustainability. We continue our mission to divert organic waste and raise awareness in the community through our community education, Foodcycle, and Bucket programs.

Website: Compost Cats | Office of Sustainability (arizona.edu)

About the internship:

Regular duties include creation and management of compost/composting systems, waste management, K-12 and community-focused STEM programming/curricula, trainings for commercial business employees, potential operation of small-scale equipment for organic materials processing, collection and reporting of data to the Compost Cats Program Manager and Compost Cats Coordinator, auditing and/or decontamination of food waste loads (please be prepared to get dirty), participation in zero-waste effort events, and more. The successful candidate will inform and inspire the Tucson community about food waste reduction, materials cycling, soil health, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship. Desired leadership role: Oversee compost creation and compost systems on Compost Cats demonstration sites.

Required qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license and successful completion of UArizona defensive driver training is required
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to positively represent Compost Cats and the Office of Sustainability to our campus and community stakeholders
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including a strong proficiency in public speaking
• Ability to push, pull, or lift 25 pounds individually and 50 pounds or more in cooperation with another employee is required
• Ability to work outdoors in extreme cold or warm weather
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment
• Must be available to work in-person
• Must graduate in December 2023 or later.

Preferred qualifications:

• Access to personal vehicle - must be able to provide your own transportation to various off-site locations
• Background/interest in sustainability, environmental conservation/management, and/or social justice
• Experience in writing grants, marketing communications, media releases, business reports and/or outreach materials, or similar documents
• Experience/interest in public education, community engagement, and volunteer recruitment activities.
• Experience with irrigation installation and maintenance.

Internship location:

Office is in ENR2, travel to various locations in Tucson

Internship hours:

10-20 hrs/week, includes some early morning, evening, and weekend hours

Mentor: Dr. Ilse Rojas, Program Manager

About the program:

Started in 2011, Compost Cats was the only organization in Southern Arizona accepting large volumes of food scraps, manure, brush, and other landscaping materials. From 2011 to 2018, Compost Cats diverted over 20 million pounds of organics from local landfills, making it an invaluable component to waste management and broader sustainability efforts at the University of Arizona and across the region. In late 2018, Compost Cats transitioned out of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cooperative Extension and into the UArizona Office of Sustainability. We continue our mission to divert organic waste and raise awareness in the community through our community education, Foodcycle, and Bucket programs.

Website: Compost Cats | Office of Sustainability (arizona.edu)

About the internship:

Assist with educational and outreach activities on and off campus. This includes, but is not limited to, K-12 and community-focused STEM programming/curricula, education and/or outreach events for a wide range of audiences at compost demonstration sites, trainings for commercial business employees, potential operation of small-scale equipment for maintenance of composting systems (please be prepared to get dirty), collection and reporting of metrics or data to the Compost Cats Program Manager and Compost Cats Coordinator; participation in zero-waste effort events, and more. Desired leadership role: Oversee curriculum creation and Compost Cats education efforts.

Required qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license and successful completion of UArizona defensive driver training is required
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to positively represent Compost Cats and the Office of Sustainability to our campus and community stakeholders
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including a strong proficiency in public speaking
• Ability to push, pull, or lift 25 pounds
• Ability to work outdoors in extreme cold or warm weather
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment
• Ability to work 4+ hours in an outdoor setting
• Must be available to work in-person early mornings and weekends
• Must graduate in December 2023 or later.

Preferred qualifications:

• Access to personal vehicle - must be able to provide your own transportation to various off-site locations
• Background/interest in sustainability, environmental conservation/management, and/or social justice
• Experience in writing grants, marketing communications, media releases, business reports and/or outreach materials, or similar documents
• Experience/interest in public education, community engagement, and volunteer recruitment activities.
• Experience/interest in working in an educational setting with K-12 students, college students, or community members.

Internship location:

Office is in ENR2, travel to various locations in Tucson

Internship hours:

10-20 hrs/week, includes some early morning, evening, and weekend hours

Mentor: Dr. Ilse Rojas, Program Manager

About this program:

Cooper Center works with PreK-12 students from across Southern Arizona with hands-on, discovery-based programs in environmental learning, with a focus on Title I schools serving students and families in impoverished and underserved communities. Students are inspired to live more sustainably on our planet through gaining new ecological understandings and building a deep personal relationship with the natural world.

Website: Home | Cooper Center (arizona.edu)

About the internship:

Outdoor environmental teaching positions include working with youth PreK-12 from Southern Arizona public and private schools to encourage students’ connection with the Sonoran Desert. Training is provided based on the Cooper Center’s Mission Statement and the ideals of the Institute for Earth Education in order to “emphasize understanding of basic ecological processes, develop positive feelings for the natural world, and make personal lifestyle changes.”

Duties include:

• Lead and assist educational programs in outdoor and/or virtual settings
• Engage and work effectively with diverse student groups, including but not limited to age, ability, race, ethnicity, culture, and gender
• Participate in program-related tasks including planning, setup, materials design and maintenance
• Assist with curriculum development for new programming initiatives, including digital programming and experiences for preschool and high school learners
• Support the development and facilitation of culturally rich and relevant practices and programming.

In accordance with our mission, The Cooper Center for Environmental Learning fosters the growth of individuals of all abilities. We will create a respectful learning environment, accommodating all individuals’ needs to expand their knowledge and connection to nature. Our aspiration as an inclusive environmental learning center is to provide opportunities for learners of all ages and abilities to have safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experiences in the natural world. We will ensure that all learners who come to the Cooper Center will have the agency to participate fully and as independently as possible in our programs alongside their peers. We believe that everyone has the right to access nature and deserves to engage with both natural and human communities while having their needs met. One key challenge that the Earth Grant intern will work on with Cooper Center staff is to eliminate barriers to accessing natural spaces and environmental learning opportunities, be they physical, institutional, programmatic, or otherwise.

Required qualifications:

Enthusiasm to help students learn about the natural world, comfort working with large groups of people, creativity and flexibility with programs and student engagement, ability to collaborate with colleagues and the community, and a love for working outdoors in a desert setting.

Preferred qualifications:

Non-traditional or classroom teaching experience, pursuing a career in Environmental Learning, Education, or a related field; proficiency in Spanish or other languages spoken in Southern Arizona, comfort with digital platforms for education & communications – (social media, Zoom, etc.)

Internship location:

5403 W Trails End Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745, approximately 20 minutes drive west of UA main campus

Internship hours:

Flexible work schedule from 5-20 hrs/week, decided by student and mentor. Work happens primarily during business hours M-F.

Mentor: Mariah Kuehl, Environmental Educator and Program Coordinator

About the organization:

Ecoblue assists businesses, non-profits and institutions to reduce their indoor water consumption by offering in depth water audits, fixture/product recommendations, installations and follow up service packages. Ecoblue has been involved with Local First Arizona’s SCALE UP program since 2018, which supports businesses in reducing water and energy use, and helps facilitate the water-related portion of the program.

Website: www.ecobluecorp.com

About the internship:

This intern will be instrumental in conducting and managing around 70 commercial water audits, and some residential audits. The student would be trained in how to conduct an onsite water audit and analyze the data obtained. They would be given knowledge of available products, water rebates, specific industry concerns etc. enabling them to provide a comprehensive report with recommendations for every water using fixture on site. They may also be involved in the installation of these fixtures and follow up with the customer. As a side project, the intern may assist in bringing a new product for waterless urinals to market. This project would involve a wide range of activities from assistance with certification and production, sales, marketing, & logistics to actual installation.

Required qualifications:

• Good communication skills will be extremely important in this position.
• Proficient use of spreadsheets and word processing (We are mac users and prefer numbers & pages).
• An interest in water conservation and commercial water usage.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with report writing and knowledge of mail merge function for data extraction from spreadsheet to written report would be a bonus!
• Some knowledge of general plumbing also a big bonus.

Internship location:

305 S Euclid Ave, Suite 101, Tucson

Internship hours: 10hrs/week

Mentor: Damian Cox, Director

About the organization:

Emma Stahl-Wert LLC is a one-woman company who installs rainwater and gray water harvesting landscapes at residences in the City of Tucson and surrounding areas, does certified arborist tree work for water harvesting clients, teaches pruning and water harvesting classes to community groups, businesses, and municipalities, and works to educate each client on the HOWs and WHYs of water harvesting in the Sonoran Desert region. ESW LLC works to improve the urban environment for all its inhabitants - human and non-human, and to engage Tucson's human residents in that work and with each other. I also love collaborating with others and would be looking for an intern who would bring their own ideas and experiences and passion to our work together. I can teach any technical skills someone may need to be able to work effectively on landscape projects, but I am especially looking for an intern who can bring some existing design and communication skills to this position, and also potentially bring experience or interest in community organizing and environmental resiliency.

Website: N/A

About the internship:

ESW LLC is looking for an intern who is interested both in learning how to install water harvesting/sustainable landscaping in the Sonoran Desert AND who brings some basic graphic design/program development experience to apply. An internship with ESW LLC would include hands on (sometimes strenuous) work outside as well as collaborative program planning with the owner to expand and improve the educational and community building aspects of our work. Currently, we operate as a more traditional landscaping company, by doing design/build water harvesting work at people's homes. However, we would like to move towards a model of more or all installs happening through work parties, involving untrained friends or neighbors who can learn while they contribute to the work. This intern would be developing an outreach plan and communications materials (web/print) to make this a truly collaborative and educational landscaping operation!

Required qualifications:

• Experience or education with communications/outreach planning
• Graphic design and web design skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Willingness to work hard and get dirty, desire to learn more about water harvesting in the urban desert environment

Internship location:

In-person work happens at various locations around town (student needs transportation; bike or public transit OK), web and graphic design work can happen virtually

Internship hours: 5-15hrs/week, including at least one Saturday per month

Mentor: Emma Stahl-Wert, Owner

About the organization:

Flowers & Bullets (F&B) started in early 2012 by two childhood friends, Tito Romero and Jacob Robles, Latinx and Indigenous men who have lived all their life in Barrio Centro.  They recognized the need to make this community in Tucson become a sustainable and healthy neighborhood as a response to systemic economic and environmental racism in the area. Through organizing collectively to make street art and t-shirts they began to create opportunities for their peers to have alternatives.  Another key founder, Dora Martinez, is an Indigenous and Latinx woman who helped establish the gardening component to get more people involved and bring healthy grassroots solutions to Barrio Centro. We reclaim our cultural roots and amplify them through sustainability, art, and rebellion to heal and empower our neighborhood, and operate under our Collective Guidelines.

Website: HOME | flowersandbullets

In Tucson, ‘Barrio-Supported Agriculture’ Feeds the Latino Community | Civil Eats

About the internship:

Flowers and Bullets initiated and completed a Barrio Supported Agriculture (BSA) Pilot program early this summer. A BSA program is where subscribers (community members) of this program are able to get a weekly bag of produce that is harvested at the Midtown Farm. During the pilot program we limited the subscription to only 10 families to create capacity and be intentional and debrief on what went well with the program and what needs to change to become more efficient and accessible to the community. We are currently paused to wait for the summer crops to be ready for harvest, and are aiming to restart the program in the middle of August. This season we want to open the BSA program to the entire neighborhood. The interns will help us come up with a system that is a more efficient way to organize subscribers, subscribers who are being sponsored, payment, pick-up, all while using the information F+B learned with the pilot program. The interns will also provide a weekly list to the farm managers on the number of bags that need to be filled so they know how much produce is needed to be harvested from the farm. Additional duties may include harvesting and preparing vegetables for distribution, general farm maintenance tasks, and meetings with other collective members.

Required qualifications:

• Knowledge using excel or other database programs, Knowledge using social media tools  like canva, linktree etc.
• Organizational skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, writing skills.
• Knowledge on transformative or restorative justice.
• Ability to work as a team/collective while still having the ability to be independent.

Preferred qualifications:

• 2nd language fluency
• Skills or knowledge in finance, gardening, or food justice.

Internship location: Midtown Farm, 3538 E. Ellington Pl

Internship hours:

15-20 hrs/week, including some early morning and weekend hours. Weekly team meetings are Mondays 9:00-10:30am

Mentor: Silvia Valdillez, Program Coordinator/Administrator

About the organization:

The IRC’s New Roots program and Literacy Garden site supports recent refugees to Tucson in growing culturally appropriate food and generating revenue through farmers’ markets. The program grows from the strong farming and food cultures of refugees, developing gardens, urban farms, and marketplaces that produce food, leaders, livelihoods, and connected, resilient communities.

Website: https://www.rescue.org/announcement/program-spotlight-new-roots 

About the internship:

The New Roots program at IRC is an initiative to support gardening, food security, nutrition, enterprise, and production within the US network of IRC offices. New Roots Tucson supports refugee food security and aids in their transition to the community through gardening, nutrition education, local food access initiatives and small business farming. We are looking for committed, creative, hard-working, and enthusiastic individuals with interests in organic farming and community empowerment. The position works alongside a New Roots staff member on site in the gardens as well as planning in the office to increase the capacity of New Roots programming at IRC in Tucson. In the gardens, interns assist with garden maintenance tasks such as fixing irrigation leaks, weeding and turning compost. Interns may also assist in garden building projects, such as a produce wash station, children's play area or greenhouse. Interns interact with garden and farm participants in the gardens and through regular check-in conversations. Interns also conduct annual participant surveys to support program development. The New Roots team works together with interns to develop long-term projects that fits their skills and interests. Past projects include a landscape design plan, a focus on social media engagement and a compost system overhaul. Possible future projects could include garden improvement builds, passive water harvesting plans, or curriculum development and facilitation.

Required qualifications:

• Experience or demonstrated interest in food issues, gardening, garden design, or food security issues, preferably in a multicultural context.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively as a team member in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness to work outside in variable weather conditions.
• Contingent on successfully passing background and criminal history checks and obtaining fingerprint clearance card (see details here), as required by IRC policy (associated costs covered by Earth Grant program)

Preferred qualifications:

• 2nd language fluency (especially in Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, French or Spanish)
• Agricultural knowledge

Internship location:

In-person work would happen at the Literacy Garden, 200 E. Yavapai Road, Tucson, and potentially at the IRC Office, 1011 N. Craycroft Road, Suite 404, Tucson. Additional virtual work could be done from any location.

Internship hours:

10-20 hrs/week, primarily during the week with one Saturday morning volunteer day per month. Intern would ideally be available for in-person work at the garden on Wednesday and/or Friday mornings.

Mentor: Carla Vargas-Frank, New Roots Education and Outreach Specialist

About the organization:

ima County Natural Resources Division manages 250,000 acres of open space conservation land throughout Pima County, including more than 100 natural resource parks and 14 working ranches, in addition to operating a native plant nursery. Our work includes protecting important biological and cultural resources in accordance with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and Multi-Species Conservation Plan, providing public environmental education and outdoor recreation opportunities, and preserving diverse traditional and cultural values of the region.

Website: https://webcms.pima.gov/government/natural_resources_parks_and_recreation/

About the internship:

Pima County developed the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) to help ensure the long-term survival of plants and animals native to the region. One element of the SDCP is land stewardship of over 250,000 acres of conservation lands, including ranches. Most of these conservation lands are managed by the NRPR department. The intern will assist NRPR staff in management and monitoring of key resources within this vast conservation network. This internship will provide opportunities to work in several programs within the Natural Resources Division, including restoration, invasive species, native plant nursery, and range. The intern may also have opportunities to participate in collaborative work with partner organizations, including the Pima County Office of Sustainability and Conservation. Field work will be an important part of the intern's experience, and may include rangeland monitoring, ecological restoration projects, conservation lands monitoring, creek monitoring, plant salvaging, and invasive species management. There may also be opportunities to work with staff to develop and implement public environmental education events. The intern may also assist with essential native plant nursery operations to include but not limited to; watering, planting, seed collection, seed cleaning, irrigation work, native plant salvaging, and propagation. The intern will have access to industry experts employed at the nursery and through a collaboration with the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society.

Required qualifications: 

• Interest in learning more about native plants and habitat conservation from professionals
• Interest in horticulture, gardening or restoration of land
• Basic knowledge of plant anatomy terms
• At least one year of coursework in an accredited college program
• At least 18 years old
• Basic computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Good listening skills
• Observant regarding field safety and computer security rules
• Attention to detail, ability to stay focused
• Ability to commute to 3500 N. River Rd
• Willingness to follow-through on commitments
• Willingness to follow Pima County COVID-19 requirements
• Positive and proactive attitude
• Willingness to converse with ranchers and other land managers.

Preferred qualifications: 

• Advanced plant identification skills or knowledge of local species
• Working toward a degree in one of the natural (or environmental) sciences or policy
• Experience with field plant or animal inventory or monitoring
• Written communication skills, especially technical writing skills
• Familiarity with Excel spreadsheets
• Experience with outreach and/or science or technical communication
• Familiarity with communicating via Zoom or Microsoft Teams
• Experience with field work! Eager and able to be on rough terrain in new territory
• Willing to endure heat, cold, wind, rain in order to learn and see new things
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Comfortable working near livestock
• Comfortable working with and around spiny and thorny vegetation

Internship location:

Some in-person work would happen at the Pima County Native Plant Nursery, 3500 W River Rd, Tucson. Other field work would happen at various locations. Office work could be virtual.

Internship hours:

5-20 hrs/week, flexible based on student schedule, weekdays only

Mentor: Kelsey Landreville, Restoration Section Program Manager

About the organization:

As part of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP), Pima County has a long-standing effort to ensure the long-term survival of plants and animals native to the region.  Pima County’s Office of Sustainability and Conservation houses an ecological monitoring program that is tasked with tracking the health of the County’s more than 250,000 acres of open space lands, and this effort involves data analyses, field work, and inter-departmental collaboration, as well as cooperation with external partners.

Website: https://webcms.pima.gov/government/sustainability_and_conservation/

About the internship:

Pima County's Ecological Monitoring Program, housed within the Office of Sustainability and Conservation, is an important component of the County's conservation and stewardship of its more than 250,000 acres of open space lands.  The Ecological Monitoring Program is a collaborative effort, working with many County staff in different departments, as well as a variety of local, state, and federal partners.  The monitoring program is tasked with tracking the health of the County's open space lands and is an important part of the County's compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act through its Section 10 permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The intern will work with a variety of staff in the field as well as in the office.  Office-based work will include working towards developing a digital photo management system to effectively store, organize, and tag large numbers of images related to the monitoring program (images of resources, places, species, etc.).  Field work will be an important and regular part of the intern's experience and will target monitoring plants and animals on the County's lands.  In particular, there will be opportunities to contribute meaningfully towards creation and implementation of monitoring protocols for rare wetland plants, as well as an endangered cactus species.

Required qualifications: 

• Interest in learning more about native plants and habitat conservation from professionals
• Ability to conduct regular field work (i.e. 1-2 days per week), in sometimes inclement and strenuous conditions
• Basic knowledge of plant anatomy terms
• At least one year of coursework in an accredited college program
• At least 18 years old
• Basic computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Good listening skills
• Observant regarding field safety and computer security rules
• Attention to detail, ability to stay focused
• Ability to commute to 201 N. Stone Ave
• Willingness to follow-through on commitments

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge of local plant and animal species and desert ecology
• Working toward a degree in one of the natural (or environmental) sciences or policy
• Experience with field plant or animal inventory or monitoring
• Written communication skills, especially technical writing skills
• Familiarity with Excel spreadsheet
• Familiarity with communicating via Zoom or MS Teams
• Experience with field work and ability to navigate sometimes rough terrain and conditions
• Willing to endure heat, wind, rain in order to learn and see new things
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds

Internship location:

Some virtual work and some onsite work at 201 N. Stone Avenue. Field monitoring work at various locations in Pima County

Internship hours:

5-20 hrs/week, depending on student schedule. In-person work happens during the work week M-F. Being available for 1-2 field days per week (departing early in the morning) is preferable.

Mentor: Ian Murray, Ecological Monitoring Program Manager

About the organization and program:

The Sierra Club takes a strong stance against policies that promote environmental degradation. We are seeking to restore and protect the borderlands that have been damaged by failed border policies. Along with allies in Congress and in frontline communities, we are seeking the reinstatement of the rule of law in the borderlands, so that resources and residents can depend on the same protections, such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, that most Americans take for granted. We work to directly protect and benefit the plant, animal, and human communities in the borderlands that are affected by the ongoing militarization of the border.

Our main area of work is Arizona but we collaborate with other states and support their efforts, we engage with frontline communities and elevate their voices and support their struggles defending their land and the environment.

Website: www.sierraclub.org/borderlands

About the internship: The intern will work closely with the Borderlands program coordinator to support organizing, education, and advocacy events (virtual and in-person) with different groups. Depending on the interest of the intern, tasks could include developing educational materials, leading or co-leading educational talks, supporting educational site visits to the border, creating social media content, communication and coordination with borderlands stakeholder groups, and additional program support tasks.

Required qualifications:

Good communication skills, interest to learn about the borderlands and the effects of militarization on human and non-human communities

Preferred qualifications:

Bilingual Spanish/English preferred, ability to travel to Nogales and other border towns

Internship location:

ome work in the office at 300 E. University Blvd., some virtual work

Internship hours:

5-10hrs/week, days and times are flexible. May include some evening presentations, and longer days if travelling to Nogales and other border towns

Mentor: Erick Meza, Borderlands Coordinator

About the organization:

Tucson ICO (Inspiring Connections Outdoors) provides outdoor opportunities for underserved youth and adults of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to explore, enjoy and protect the natural world.

Website: www.sierraclub.org/arizona/tucson-ico

About the internship:

Tucson Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) is a community outreach program that provides opportunities for urban youth and adults to explore, enjoy and protect the natural world. ICO is dedicated to providing outdoor opportunities to people that would not otherwise have them, including low-income youth of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. ICO is made up entirely of volunteer leaders who organize a variety of outdoor adventures, including hiking, camping, kayaking, mountain biking, caving, horseback riding and service learning for people of all ages and abilities. Through these outings, participants are introduced to the wilderness, the Sierra Club and its values, and how to tread lightly by using Leave No Trace ethics. ICO volunteers work through partnerships with selected elementary, middle, and high schools as well as refugee organizations, youth groups and Native American communities to serve youth in the Tucson area. Our youth range in age from 8 to 20, and represent diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. ICO provides food, transportation and leaders trained in first-aid, CPR, environmental education and youth leadership.

The Intern will be focused on the following project throughout the year:

• Marketing and Recruitment:
  • Design recruiting and marketing materials for teacher partners and new volunteers
  • Assist with marketing strategies and presentations to schools and agencies

In addition, The Intern will assist with the following activities:

• Technology and Social Media support:
  • Manage ICO’s Facebook and Instagram page (updating trip pictures and information)
  • Manage ICO’s website
  • Manage trip outing schedule (Sept to May)
• Club administrative support:
  • Assist/Coordinate/Lead day hikes as a volunteer or leader
  • Attend monthly meetings and assist with transcribing meeting sessions
  • Help manage equipment and gear inventory
  • Help develop educational components for outings such as local ecology and environmental issues
  • Assist in grant writing and researching grant opportunities for ICO
  • Assist ICO chair with other club administrative duties.

Qualifications:

• Essential Skills:
  • web design and web maintenance skills
  • Fingerprint clearance card
  • Good communication skills with agencies, volunteers, program leaders and youth
  • Ability to transcribe monthly meeting notes
• Preferred Skills:
  • Transportation
  • Propensity for being outside

Internship location:

Some virtual and some in-person work. Location depends on where outings are located and where monthly meetings are being held. Typically, monthly meetings are being held at the UA Library or the UA College of Education Building.

Internship hours:

5-10 hrs/week, some weekend events

Mentor: Alexander Bellavia, Chairperson

About the organization:

Southwest Decision Resources (SDR) is a Tucson-based organization that works with a variety of partners to collaboratively address conservation and community challenges throughout Arizona and the Southwest. We support our partners in designing and implementing collaborative natural resource management and community development efforts. Our mission is to achieve broad participation and inclusiveness, higher quality outcomes, and more lasting solutions.

One of SDR’s most important initiatives is the Arizona Cross Watershed Network, which will be the program of focus for the Earth Grant internship. The Arizona Cross-Watershed Network (AZ XWN) is a network of watershed partnerships, organizations, agencies, universities and other local and statewide partners who are working to improve the health of watersheds and watershed communities in Arizona.  The mission of AZ XWN is to create a more resilient, adaptive and interconnected community of watershed practitioners across the state to foster collaboration and increase collective impact, by:

• Fostering peer-to-peer learning, information exchange and collaborative problem solving
• Collaborating to address critical cross-cutting challenges, gaps, needs, and opportunities
• Coordinating, aligning and leveraging partners and resources

Website:  swdresources.com

About the internship:

The Arizona Cross-Watershed Network Intern will support the steering committee of the AZ XWN.  This includes providing key planning support for the 2nd annual AZ XWN Summit, which will focus on watershed management and climate adaptation..

Duties will include (final set will be based on the intern’s interests and evolving needs of the network):

• Work closely with the SDR facilitation team for AZ XWN (see mentors below)
• Support the summit planning committee
• Conduct a watershed practitioner survey and interviews
• Help to organize the AZ XWN monthly educational webinar series on topics of interests to practitioners across the state (e.g., citizen science, invasive species, water)
• Participate in field-based watershed site visits
• Create a practitioner database
• Help design a youth engagement and outreach plan
• Organize a set of virtual discussions on key issues for watershed practitioners
• Help develop the AZ XWN website, social media presence, and communications plan

Benefits to the intern:

• Inclusion as a member of SDR's dynamic team of facilitation and collaboration professionals, with apprentice opportunities alongside senior facilitators working on collaborative planning and decision making projects across the Southwest (TBD based on the intern’s interests)
• Participation in SDR’s annual Facilitation Training (at no cost)
• Develop constructive relationships with a diverse set of agency, organization, university and other key partners in the AZ XWN
• Learn about a variety of watershed management, climate and related issues

Required qualifications:

• Passionate about conservation and natural resources management
• Desire to learn more about collaboration - how to bring people together to find common ground and address shared challenges, including a commitment to more equitable and just decision making processes
• Comfort working both virtually and in-person
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Website, social media and/or database design and maintenance
• Flexibility with workload and scheduling
• Strong personal commitment to effective teamwork and collaboration

Internship location: Virtual, with some in-person meetings in Tucson

Internship hours: 5-10 hrs/week, depending on student schedule

Mentors: Tahnee Robertson, Director, and Colleen Whitaker, Senior Program Associate

About the organization:

Sonoran Institute works throughout the West and northern Mexico to connect people with the natural resources that nourish and sustain them. The Santa Cruz River program works directly with residents and the environment in southern Arizona and northern Sonora to create a healthy, flowing Santa Cruz River from Mexico to Marana.

Website: www.sonoraninstitute.org

About the internship:

This position will lead field research for an ongoing study of trash in the Santa Cruz River, and contribute to and maintain the study’s database.

Primary duties include:

1. Lead scientific research to categorize and enumerate trash in the Santa Cruz River: - This will include field surveys of litter in the riverbed, along recreational trails, and litter source locations. - Intern will not be required to collect and dispose of litter.
2. Record data and expand existing database in Excel. - This will include but is not limited to the following data: vegetation, geospatial coordinates, river dimensions, and litter categories.
3. Compile and develop organized set of files/folders of datasets and reports.
4. Complete other tasks as needed associated with the development and release of the Living River report and associated datasets.

Required qualifications:

• Conceptual:
  • ecological field methods, data compilation, database development.
• Hardware:
  • Computer capable of data compilation, database development, and analysis
• Software:
  • Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel for database management and analysis
• Transport:
  • reliable transportation to points along the Santa Cruz River in Pima County.

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish

Internship location:

Fieldwork is throughout the Santa Cruz River watershed, primarily in Tucson and northern Pima County. Office work can be done remotely.

Internship hours:

10-15hrs/week, days and times are flexible. Partner river cleanup events typically occur on Saturday mornings. This is an ideal opportunity to conduct research but is not essential.

Mentor: Luke Cole, Associate Director

About the organization:

ucson Audubon is an organization that inspires people to enjoy and protect birds through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration of the environment upon which we all depend. We work throughout southeast Arizona to identify threats to birds and wildlife and their habitats, research the most effective approaches to reducing or eliminating those threats, and finally we take action to implement solutions – whether those be through ecosystem restoration, species-specific habitat restoration, litigation, or civic engagement. We educate our members and community on the regional and worldwide problems and empower them to make an impact by providing concrete actions that they can take in response.

Website: https://tucsonaudubon.org/

About the internship:

As part of this internship, a student would have the opportunity to work on a variety of projects aimed at conserving threatened bird species in southern Arizona. Current projects include: assessing the distribution and habitat use of Chestnut-collared longspurs and other birds that winter in desert grasslands, studying the nesting ecology of Purple Martins (a swallow that nests in saguaro cavities), and coordinating with people in and near Tucson to collect data on bird populations in urban areas. Regardless of which project(s) the intern focuses on, the position would likely include a mix of fieldwork and office work. An intern would help conduct bird surveys and collect other environmental data, assist with project planning and data management, and communicate progress and findings to Tucson Audubon members and the general public. There may also be opportunities to build and deploy nestboxes to help conserve cavity-nesting birds, process video and/or sound recordings, or create educational material about conservation projects for social media or other outlets. A mentor will work with the intern to develop a specific workplan within the first 1-2 months as they become familiar with Audubon projects and programs.

Required qualifications:

• Interest in environmental conservation and/or wildlife ecology
• Strong interpersonal skills (will need to interface with Tucson Audubon staff and volunteers).
• Ability to work outside in variable weather conditions and hike on uneven ground, carrying at least 10 pounds.

Preferred qualifications:

• Having a personal vehicle is not a requirement, but there could be more opportunities to participate in fieldwork if the student has their own transportation.

Internship location:

Field-based work will occur at various locations throughout southeastern Arizona, with much of the work occurring in the Tucson Valley (within 45 minutes of central Tucson). Other activities will take place at Tucson Audubon offices (the Historic Y, located at University Blvd and 5th Ave or the Mason Center on the NW side of Tucson), with the potential to do some of the work remotely.

Internship hours:

Approximately 10hrs/week. Fieldwork is likely to start early in the morning. Office work will occur during normal business hours with the potential to do some of the work remotely.

Mentor: Erin Zylstra, Community Science Program Manager

About the organization:

Tucson Audubon is an organization that inspires people to enjoy and protect birds through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration of the environment upon which we all depend. We work throughout southeast Arizona to identify threats to birds and wildlife and their habitats, research the most effective approaches to reducing or eliminating those threats, and finally we take action to implement solutions – whether those be through ecosystem restoration, species-specific habitat restoration, litigation, or civic engagement. We educate our members and community on the regional and worldwide problems and empower them to make an impact by providing concrete actions that they can take in response.

Website: https://tucsonaudubon.org/

About the internship:

This position would be associated with a newly funded project at Tucson Audubon exploring conservation strategies for saguaros and the many species that depend on them, including cavity-nesting birds. Saguaros are under threat from climate change, nonnative plants, and fire. This project aims to conserve and restore areas where saguaros currently exist (by reducing nonnative plants that increase the frequency and severity of fire), to explore whether saguaros can be established in areas that will be suitable in the future under climate change, and to increase nesting opportunities for birds that nest in saguaro cavities. The internship would likely include a mix of fieldwork and office work. Specific responsibilities would depend on the intern’s interests and project needs, but could include: helping with GIS mapping and site prioritization, planting headstarted saguaros in burned areas or regions that may become more suitable under climate change, working with restoration crews to eradicate nonnative plants (e.g., buffelgrass, stinknet), and/or helping to design and test prototype nestboxes that mimic natural saguaro cavities. There will also be opportunities to communicate progress and findings and create educational material about the saguaro project for social media or other outlets. A mentor will work with the intern to develop a specific workplan within the first 1-2 months as they become familiar with the project and other Audubon programs.

Required qualifications:

• Interest in environmental conservation and restoration work
• Strong interpersonal skills (will need to interface with Tucson Audubon staff and volunteers).
• Ability to work outside in variable weather conditions and hike on uneven ground, carrying at least 10 pounds.

Preferred qualifications:

• Having a personal vehicle is not a requirement, but there could be more opportunities to participate in fieldwork if the student has their own transportation.

Internship location:

Field-based work will occur at various locations throughout southeastern Arizona, with much of the work occurring in the Tucson Valley (within 45 minutes of central Tucson). Other activities will take place at Tucson Audubon offices (the Historic Y, located at University Blvd and 5th Ave or the Mason Center on the NW side of Tucson), with the potential to do some work remotely.

Internship hours:

Approximately 10hrs/week. Fieldwork is likely to start early in the morning. Office work will occur during normal business hours with the potential to do some work remotely.

Mentor: Erin Zylstra, Community Science Program Manager

About the lab:

Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta is a community-engaged environmental health scientist and associate professor of Environmental Science with joint appointments in the College of Public Health and Global Change-Graduate Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Arizona. Ramírez-Andreotta’s laboratory uses an environmental justice framework to investigate the fate and transport of pollutants in environmental systems, exposure pathways, cultural models of communication, and methods to improve environmental health literacy. As such, she is often found listening to and training communities and hosting community gatherings and data sharing events. 

Website: https://ramirez-andreotta.faculty.arizona.edu/

About the internship:

Environmental justice communities in Arizona suffer real health consequences due to environmental contamination, which is often under-communicated and under-regulated. This position supports the overall goal of informing communities of their health risks and measures to mitigate them, in ways that involve and respect community members. Join our diverse research team to improve environmental health education in underserved rural and urban communities. Our team conducts environmental contamination research with historically underrepresented populations that will be impacted by climate change, water scarcity, and food insecurity more than others. University of Arizona researchers are working alongside community health workers and families living near sources of pollution (urban and rural) in order to monitor their harvested water, soil, and plant quality. This position will be encouraged to propose their own project, within the scope of current work, to further understanding of environmental contamination or further community education and understanding of environmental health. Other undergraduate research assistant duties include: Assist with the development of research activities and conduct research including experimental design, data collection, and analysis; Present research at local and national meetings; Perform administrative work in support of project; Work as a team with other undergraduate and graduate research assistants

Required qualifications:

• General understanding of environmental contaminant fate and transport
• Good teamwork skills
• Good communication skills (verbal and written)
• Cultural understanding of rural Arizona communities

Preferred qualifications:

• Advanced understanding of environmental contaminant fate and transport
• Experience working in a science laboratory
• Experience working with diverse community members

Internship location:

On main campus in Saguaro Hall, with some work in rural AZ communities. Student does not need to have a car.

Internship hours:

5-20 hrs/week, flexible, occasional evenings and weekends required for events

Mentor: Dr. Monica Ramirez-Andreotta, Assistant Professor

About the organization:

Watershed Management Group (WMG) provides people with the knowledge, skills, and resources for sustainable livelihoods in order to ensure the long-term prosperity of the people and health of the environment. We serve individuals, families, homeowners, businesses, schools, neighborhoods, the Tucson Community. This includes BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and underserved communities.

Website: https://watershedmg.org/

About the internship:

The Bilingual Conservation Ecology intern will be part of the team working on WMG’s Beaver Restoration Initiative and Release the Beavers Campaign. Our goal is to restore the ecological and cultural role of beaver in the binational San Pedro and Santa Cruz Basins in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The intern will play an integral role in updating the methodology and implementing a binational beaver survey in the fall of 2022. They will help WMG expand its work to engage a diverse public, collaborate with other non-profit organizations, public agencies and private landowners, including partners in Mexico. The Bilingual Conservation Ecology intern will be part of the team working on WMG’s Beaver Restoration Initiative and Release the Beavers Campaign. Our goal is to restore the ecological and cultural role of beaver in the binational San Pedro and Santa Cruz Basins in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The intern will play an integral role in updating the methodology and implementing a binational beaver survey in the fall of 2022. They will help WMG expand its work to engage a diverse public, collaborate with other non-profit organizations, public agencies and private landowners, including partners in Mexico.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Update beaver survey methodology based on lessons learned from the 2021 survey and train survey participants in using Survey123 to collect data – either in English or Spanish
• Assist with organizing community science field trips to conduct surveys in the fall of 2022 in both Arizona and Sonora, Mexico
• Update and maintain a database of individuals, organizations, companies & agencies involved in beaver-related work, including those that trap and relocate or euthanize beavers as well as private property owners willing to accept relocated beavers
• Organize data from the annual beaver population survey of the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers and help present and share back the results in a report in Spring 2023
• Research and document possible historical cultural connections and cultural ecology of beaver in the desert southwest
• Co-organize a restoration practitioners training on beaver-based restoration efforts, for Spring 2023
• Assist with community education events related to the Release the Beavers campaign
• Assist with partner networking to build support of Release the Beavers campaign.

Required qualifications:

• Bilingual speaker and writer, fluent in English and Spanish.
• Ability to translate English materials into Spanish and vice versa.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Proficient in Google Docs and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with natural resources-based field work.
• Ability to conduct field surveys.

Preferred qualifications: 

• GIS and Survey123 experience / knowledge helpful.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Promptness and sound organizational skills.

Internship location:

1137 N Dodge Blvd, Tucson, and other community event locations

Internship hours:

10 hrs/week, some evenings and weekends required for events

Mentor: Christian Aguilar Murrieta, Communications and Outreach Specialist

About the organization:

Watershed Management Group (WMG) provides people with the knowledge, skills, and resources for sustainable livelihoods in order to ensure the long-term prosperity of the people and health of the environment. We serve individuals, families, homeowners, businesses, schools, neighborhoods, the Tucson Community. This includes BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and underserved communities.

Website: https://watershedmg.org/

About the internship:

The Bilingual Outreach and Communications Intern will help engage Tucson’s Latinx communities in projects to create cooler, greener neighborhoods and steward our rivers and groundwater. They will assist a team of WMG staff, including bilingual and Latinx educators, with creating bilingual community events and Spanish communications to support those events. This position includes: translating webpages, e-bulletins, event flyers, social media posts, and educational resources from English into Spanish, as well as making communications culturally appropriate and relevant; engaging community members in bilingual community events and environmental justice projects in Latinx neighborhoods across Tucson and South Tucson; and providing photo and video coverage at WMG events. The ideal candidate is excited about directly engaging with Latinx and other culturally diverse families in their neighborhoods and helping connect people to planting native shade trees, building affordable water harvesting techniques, and stewarding Tucson’s rivers and green spaces in culturally-relevant ways. The intern will take a lead role in engaging with Latinx community members by co-leading bilingual events, including creek walks, river cleanups, and rain garden workshops. The creek walks and river cleanups will help connect community members to their closest arroyos, creeks, and rivers. The rain garden workshops will teach community members how to harvest rainwater and plant trees, and then provide free kits with native trees, shrubs, and mulch for participants to create their own rain gardens at their homes or community spaces. In a co-lead role, the intern will help design events, plan events with community partners, market events, and help welcome and engage participants at events. The intern will also play a key role in helping make WMG’s annual Desert Living Home Tour event more relevant to Latinx community members by highlighting homes in Latinx neighborhoods and offering materials in Spanish.

Required qualifications:

• Passion for engaging with the public at community events
• Fluency in Spanish
• Proficiency in social media (knowledgeable of trending apps, tools, ideas to educate our audience and keep them engaged)
• Communication skills
• Writing and translation skills

Preferred qualifications:

• Knowledge about tree planting, water harvesting, the Sonoran Desert, and rivers
• Photography and videography experience
• Community event planning experience

Internship location:

1137 N Dodge Blvd, Tucson, and other community event locations

Internship hours:

10 hrs/week, some evenings and weekends required for events

Mentor: Christian Aguilar Murrieta, Communications and Outreach Specialist