About the organization:
The Forest Health program for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) provides staff, professional foresters, private landowners, and other stakeholders information, education, technical assistance, and integrated pest management strategies to prevent insect and disease outbreaks, and achieve healthy forest and woodland stand conditions. Overall, the AZ DFFM helps manage the health and well- being of our vast forests as well as urban forest landscapes.
Website: www.dffm.az.gov
About the internship:
DFFM is reporting that Aleppo Pine Blight disease is affecting mature Aleppo pines in low elevation desert communities in Arizona. The main cause of the disease is unknown and a monitoring program has been created to help determine the cause and in turn help guide management strategies. Intern will attend bi weekly check-in meetings with supervising staff members and log hours/time worked on the AZ DFFM Time log.
Assist in the long-term monitoring of trees impacted by Aleppo Pine Blight.
Gather and analyze data to determine possible causal agents of the Aleppo Pine Blight.
Inventory Aleppo Pine trees in select locations in Tucson.
Organize existing data in a meaningful way.
Sample trees for presence of blight symptoms.
Capture disease signs, symptoms, and progression through photographs.
Provide information and resources to the public and tree care professionals.
Required qualifications:
Communication and writing skills
Public engagement and participation
Ability to work in a team environment with volunteers and DFFM Staff
Initiative and organizational skills to do self-paced work
Desire to work outdoors in addition to work on the computer
Preferred qualifications:
Ability to work with Google Spreadsheets and Documents
Experience using Survey 123 app
Student Benefits:
Explore a unique career path in forestry and natural resource management
Gain hands-on experience practicing real world skills in forest measurement and data collection techniques. Achieve fieldwork proficiency by increasing the comfort level of working outdoors and sometimes challenging environmental conditions.
Gain technical skills by learning to use forestry equipment and technologies to collect and analyze data.
Deepen ecological understanding and knowledge of tree species identification and learn about forest health issues related to southern Arizona.
Internship location: Mostly virtual with occasional field work in Tucson parks. As well as optional in-person opportunities to shadow members of the Forest Health, Invasive Plant, and Urban Forestry teams at DFFM.
Internship hours: 5-8 hours a week
Mentor: Viri Quinonez, Forest Health Specialist
Number of positions available: 1
About the program:
The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) sponsors the Arizona
Magnificent Tree Program designed to recognize trees that are the largest of their species
(Champion); trees having a cultural significance (Heritage Trees); and trees proven in place
since Arizona became a state in 1912 (Witness Trees). This program is tied to the American
Forests Champion Tree Program, which is a national award program for Champion Trees.
About the internship:
Interns will assist with a series of tasks including, but not limited to, Magnificent Tree database
management and troubleshooting, tree measuring, development of outreach materials and
program content for trainings, editing a google map of publicly accessible trees, and photo and
submission management. We’ve got a database full of magnificent trees that have been
nominated over the last 22 years, as well as some trees that need to be reverified. Depending
upon your interests, you can help us with one or more of the following: (1) Creation of the
Annual Report of newly nominated trees using a Canva template; (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) Measurement of trees
located in various locations across the state; (5) Scanning of historical documents from
nominations received prior to 2017; (6) GIS/Google Map of publicly accessible nominated trees
for sharing with the community; (7) Assisting with or participating in tree measurement
workshops in two separate locations, one in the Northern and one in the Southern part of the
state (Date and specific location TBD).
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Attend bi weekly check-in meeting with supervising staff member
Attend monthly all-staff Specialized Forestry Program meetings as pertinent
Identify at least one project of focus from the Intern list of tasks; develop a work plan and create an action plan for completing tasks related to the plan
Communicate regularly with supervising staff member, checking email and/or chats at least daily and responding within 24-48 hours
Read and review pertinent documentation including, but not limited to, the DFFM Volunteer Handbook, Magnificent Tree Program Guidance Manual, DFFM Website, and other relevant materials provided by supervising staff
Prepare final deliverables in time for agreed upon deadlines
Log hours/time worked on the DFFM Time log
Provide feedback on your experience to the supervising staff member
Required qualifications:
Communication and writing skills
Public engagement and participation
Ability to work in a team environment with volunteers and Dept of Forestry Staff
Initiative to pursue projects of interest and organization skills to do self-paced work
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
Desire to travel to measure trees, sometimes beyond Tucson/Pima County
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: Mostly virtual work, occasional in-person work at various locations in
Tucson and Arizona (optional)
Internship hours: 5-10 hours/week. Potential to be involved in two workshops on Saturdays and potential evening presentations via zoom. Otherwise the schedule is flexible.
Mentor: Alison Faller, Urban Forestry Specialist
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Forest Health program for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) provides staff, professional foresters, private landowners, and other stakeholders information, education, technical assistance, and integrated management strategies to prevent insect and disease outbreaks, and achieve healthy forest and woodland stand conditions. Overall, the AZ DFFM helps manage the health and well- being of our vast forests as well as urban forest landscapes.
Website: www.dffm.az.gov
About the internship:
Urban forestry specialists in Arizona have been monitoring a non-native bark beetle that has made its way to Arizona. The Mediterranean pine engraver beetle (MPE) (Orthotomicus erosus) was found in Phoenix in 2018. Since its discovery, an expanded trapping program has recently discovered MPE populations spreading in Arizona. DFFM’s goal is to analyze trapping data to discover potential biological and or environmental trends that could help guide management strategies for this invasive bark beetle species. The intern will attend bi weekly check-in meetings with supervising staff members and log hours/time worked on the AZ DFFM Time log.
Analyze and interpret biological data to identify trends
Ability to communicate complex data through effective infographics.
Provide information and resources to the public and tree care professionals.
Required qualifications:
Ability to analyze biological data in a meaningful way
Strong data visualization skills
Ability to work with Google Spreadsheets and Documents
Initiative and organizational skills to do self-paced work
Communication and writing skills
Ability to work in a team environment with volunteers and DFFM Staff
Preferred qualifications:
Attention to detail
Strong problem solving and analytical skills
Student Benefits:
Explore a unique career path in forestry and natural resource management
Gain hands-on experience practicing real world skills in natural resource management
Gain technical skills by learning to use forestry technologies to analyze data.
Deepen ecological understanding and knowledge of forest health issues in Arizona.
Internship location: Mostly virtual as well as optional in-person opportunities to shadow members of the Forest Health, Invasive Plant, and Urban Forestry teams at DFFM.
Internship hours: 5 hours a week
Mentor: Viri Quinonez, Forest Health Specialist
Number positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition (Coalition) is comprised of five tribes—Hopi, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray, and Zuni Tribe—that successfully advocated for the creation of the Bears Ears National Monument and were also tasked with collaborative management of the Monument. Resources Legacy Fund acts as fiscal sponsor for the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Project (“Project”); the Project operates for the benefit of the Coalition.
The Coalition’s greater mission is served by several goals which include: (1) protecting and safeguarding cultural and natural resources in the region, (2) legitimizing Traditional Indigenous and Ecological Knowledge (TIK/TEK) as equally valid scientific evidence for land stewardship practices, (3) reconnecting and healing communities by fostering connection to and appreciation of ancestral homelands and; (4) building capacity by cultivating opportunities and spaces for intergenerational knowledge and culture sharing.
About the internship:
The Land Management Intern is responsible for providing research, analysis, and general support to Coalition Leadership and staff, as well as support with collaborative management documentation and retention of information. The position requires coordination with the Co-Director (Land Management and Intergovernmental Relations) and the Land Team as they develop and implement stewardship practices to collaboratively manage the Tribally recognized 1.9 million-acre Bears Ears Landscape. This will include assisting Coalition staff with the creation and transmitting of information to ensure that Traditional Indigenous Knowledge and Tribal expertise are incorporated into land management practices for the Bears Ears National Monument. The position will also include supporting community outreach with the Tribal Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator.
Required qualifications:
Knowledge of and familiarity with any one of the following areas: indigenous rights, tribal sovereignty, conservation, environmental protection, and social justice.
Strong verbal communication skills, including conveying messages clearly and concisely, paraphrasing, selecting language appropriate for the audience, encouraging others to share input, and exercising cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Strong writing skills. Ability to synthesize factual information from multiple sources into a lucid, cohesive written product. With an understanding of tone and style, produce a written work product that effectively communicates the desired message to the intended audience(s).
Ability to work effectively and in collaboration with diverse groups.
Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage extensive documentation and written information.
Ability to adhere to numerous deadlines, conflicting priorities and handle multiple tasks efficiently. Ability to receive, balance, and handle direction and input from multiple colleagues.
Preferred qualifications:
Strong data visualization skills. Ability to communicate complex information through effective infographics.
Ability to resolve conflicts professionally and maintain patience, grace, and humor under pressure.
Technological abilities to ensure compliance with confidentiality policies and procedures necessary for the protection of RLF data, and to efficiently complete tasks.
Ability to perform tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, as well as anticipate informational needs as situations and projects develop.
Strong editing skills. Critical eye for grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Commitment to the highest quality written product.
Ability to process and input data efficiently and effectively.
Student Benefits:
Values-based Indigenous-led organization that prioritizes leadership development (internship opportunities) as one of its core functions.
Opportunity to meaningfully contribute to organizational priorities and projects based on a hands-on approach.
Direct interaction with elected Tribal officials, a key opportunity for any candidate interested in Tribal administration, intergovernmental affairs, and intertribal collaboration.
Holistic approach to organizational leadership and practices based on Indigenous values.
Extensive networking and relationship building opportunities through individual staff connections or intersectional organizational connections.
Tenured staff invested in your development and wellbeing as an aspiring professional.
Internship location: This internship is 100% remote with several opportunities to travel if the student’s schedule permits.
Internship hours: The ideal candidate should expect to work 10-15 hours per week, but no more than 29 hours per week. The Coalition has considerable flexibility regarding the intern’s schedule, and ultimately prioritizes academic opportunities that permits a manageable schedule that balances academic and internship responsibilities based on the student’s needs. The ideal candidate will be available on Tuesday and/or Friday mornings between the hours of 10am-12pm MST, but unavailability during those times should not deter potential candidates from applying.
Mentor: The intern’s primary mentor is Hillary Hoffmann, Co-Director (Land Management and Intergovernmental Relations) but will also work closely with Michael Garlid (Operations Manager) who serves as the coordinator of the Native American Leadership Program (internship program). The intern should expect regular interactions with Lauren Henson (Collaborative Management and Tribal Support Specialist) and Harrenson Gorman (Tribal Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator).
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP) is a grassroots organization that protects the biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona through science-based advocacy, education, and collaboration. We work to protect natural open spaces and advocate for improved ecosystem health and a reconnected landscape (for example, with the wildlife bridge on Oracle Road). We use policy and planning tools, community science, and grassroots campaigns to make a long-lasting impact in the Sonoran Desert.
Our team is small — three in Tucson, and one in Flagstaff — but we’ve built our success through strong working relationships with local government, planners, developers, and state and federal agencies, and our community.
We have a busy year ahead! We are beginning a long-term advocacy and planning project for new wildlife crossings, particularly across I-10, and we are wrapping up the region’s longest-running community science wildlife camera program (in Oro Valley). It’s also a critical time for us in our fight against the proposed Interstate 11 West Option next to Saguaro National Park. As part of our work on both I-10 and I-11, we are re-launching our roadkill surveys that help us understand wildlife movement and animal-collision hot spots. Many local jurisdictions are also refreshing critical 10, 20 and 30 year planning documents in 2025, on which we are providing our expertise. These programs are critical to our vision of a Sonoran Desert that is healthy, protected and valued.
In this work, we believe that our biodiversity is best protected by a diverse community, and we are committed to cultivating a culture that values difference and fosters inclusion. Our volunteer, internship, and employment positions are open to all.
We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on traditionally Native lands, including those belonging to the O’odham, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yaqui.
Website: http://www.sonorandesert.org/
About the internship:
The Wildlife Data Intern will work directly with our Conservation Science Director to maintain CSDP’s wildlife camera photo database and help translate community science into tangible conservation outcomes. The Wildlife Data Intern will be integral to the research for and drafting of a final report on our Oro Valley camera monitoring study, which ran for 13 years and officially ends in 2025.
As part of this project, our intern will gain knowledge in wildlife camera research, photo database management, image analysis software, and wildlife species identification through image analysis. They will also gain experience in data entry and basic analysis for wildlife research projects. Interns will work on a variety of habitat connectivity research projects focusing on wildlife movement and wildlife-highway interactions in Pima County, with field work as an optional component.
Required qualifications:
Interest in landscape and wildlife conservation
Detail oriented
Curiosity and willingness to ask questions
Ability to work independently
Experience with independent research projects in an academic setting
Experience with large amounts of data
Open to learning new technologies
Preferred qualifications:
Familiarity using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, or other database experience (basic training provided)
Sonoran Desert wildlife species identification (training provided)
Experience with remote wildlife cameras (training provided)
A sense of humor! Finding find fun and joy in our work is one of our core value
Student benefits:
Contribute to meaningful conservation initiatives that protect wildlife and open spaces
Work directly alongside the CSDP team and be exposed to many elements of running an environmental nonprofit
Meet valuable mentors and make connections within our network of nonprofits and environmental leaders
Flexible work environment and hours
Internship location: This position offers a hybrid in-office and remote work-from-home model, as well as flexible hours. The CSDP office is located within the Historic Y building at 738 N. 5th Ave, a short walk from the university and accessible by the Sun Link.
Internship hours: Five to eight hours/week. These hours can be worked as needed over the course of the week. We do have a regular check-in meeting each week with our students, and students are also invited to join our weekly staff meetings on Monday mornings.
Mentor: Jessica Moreno, Conservation Science Director
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection (CSDP) is a grassroots organization that protects the biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona through science-based advocacy, education, and collaboration. We work to protect natural open spaces and advocate for improved ecosystem health and a reconnected landscape (for example, with the wildlife bridge on Oracle Road). We use policy and planning tools, community science, and grassroots campaigns to make a long-lasting impact in the Sonoran Desert.
Our team is small — three in Tucson, and one in Flagstaff — but we’ve built our success through strong working relationships with local government, planners, developers, and state and federal agencies, and our community.
We have a busy year ahead! We are beginning a long-term advocacy and planning project for new wildlife crossings, particularly across I-10, and we are wrapping up the region’s longest-running community science wildlife camera program (in Oro Valley). It’s also a critical time for us in our fight against the proposed Interstate 11 West Option next to Saguaro National Park. As part of our work on both I-10 and I-11, we are re-launching our roadkill surveys that help us understand wildlife movement and animal-collision hot spots. Many local jurisdictions are also refreshing critical 10, 20 and 30 year planning documents in 2025, on which we are providing our expertise. These programs are critical to our vision of a Sonoran Desert that is healthy, protected and valued.
In this work, we believe that our biodiversity is best protected by a diverse community, and we are committed to cultivating a culture that values difference and fosters inclusion. Our volunteer, internship, and employment positions are open to all.
We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on traditionally Native lands, including those belonging to the O’odham, Tohono O’odham, and Pascua Yaqui.
Website: http://www.sonorandesert.org/
About the internship: The Conservation Planning Intern will work directly with our Co-Executive
Director to monitor and research the region’s planning tools and help spot areas where we can advocate for strengthened, and tangible, conservation outcomes. The intern will identify opportunities in draft plans and code that relate to our environment (including land and water resources), pollution (such as the outdoor lighting code), landscape standards, transportation planning, parks and recreation and climate action.
The intern will gain knowledge in regional conservation policy, planning, and code tools and the history of these tools. The Conservation Planning Intern will also gain experience in public participation and will have the opportunity to engage directly with conservation experts, regional planners, and developers, alongside the Co-Executive Director. The intern will be responsible for an internal public participation calendar, learning to identify and track many different opportunities to engage with our local jurisdictions. The intern will also draft and review comments and memos, working with our Co-Executive Director. Through working with CSDP staff, the intern will also learn about landscape connectivity best practice and be exposed to community science and educational outreach projects focusing on wildlife movement and wildlife-highway interactions in Pima County. Field work and opportunities to visit our project areas are an optional component.
Required qualifications:
Interest in landscape conservation
Interest in urban or rural planning, or environmental policy
Organization skills
Curiosity and willingness to ask questions
Ability to work independently and on a team
Strong reading and writing skills
Preferred qualifications:
Familiarity with planning processes
Familiarity with environmental policy
Experience with public participation in the planning process (for example, attending meetings or submitting public comments)
Experience in map-reading and GIS
A sense of humor! Finding fun and joy in our work is one of our core values
Student benefits:
Contribute to meaningful conservation initiatives that protect wildlife and open spaces
Work directly alongside the CSDP team and be exposed to many elements of running an environmental nonprofit
Meet valuable mentors and make connections within our network of nonprofits and environmental leaders
Flexible work environment and hours
Internship location: This position offers a hybrid in-office and remote work-from-home model, as well as flexible hours. The CSDP office is located within the Historic Y building at 738 N. 5th Ave, a short walk from the university and is accessible from the Sun Link.
Internship hours: Five to eight hours/week. These hours can be worked as needed over the course of the week. We do have a regular check-in meeting each week with our interns, and interns are invited to join our weekly staff meetings on Monday mornings.
Mentor: Kate Hotten, Co-Executive Director
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Abundant Harvest Cooperative operates under the Community Food Bank of Southern
Arizona stiving to build a resilient network of backyard gardeners and small farmers working
together to strengthen our local food systems by creating economic and educational
opportunities. Participating in AHC is a way small growers and backyard gardeners can
aggregate their agricultural products, access a wide consumer base, and earn extra revenue in a low-risk way. Through the steady presence and diversity of AHC products, community members have greater access to local, healthy food. The Community Food Bank is committed to
addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including climate change, systemic forms of
discrimination, and inequitable access to resources through food distribution, food and
gardening education, and community development programs.
About the internship:
UA Earth Grant Intern will work with the Community Foods Coordinator and Local Food
Pathways Team to support with the day-to-day operations of AHC, deepen relationships among
growers, and build capacity for members to take on leadership roles within the Cooperative.
This includes working directly with growers of diverse backgrounds, deepening grower
engagement through seasonal grower meetings, workshops, and socials, and sharing AHC’s
purpose and practices through related Social Media content (recipes, food preservation, grower highlights, etc). Projects can range from but are not limited to collaborating with growers to
develop workshops, coordinating grower site visits, analyzing market sales data, and creating
grower-led educational materials for further Cooperative development.
The intern will be able to deepen their knowledge and understanding of work within the local
food system, understand the importance of access and education around fresh foods in low-
income communities, as well as support disinvested growers, farmers, and entrepreneurs to
better connect them to normally disinvested communities.
Required qualifications:
In person and remote work (Transportation, Internet Access)
Ability to work in a warehouse, office and outside during all seasons
Ability to lift up-to 40 pounds
Ability to work and communicate respectfully with people from diverse social backgrounds including race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances
Preferred qualifications:
Bilingual (Opportunity to work with English, Spanish, Kirundi, and Swahili speakers)
Experience/ interest working in organic agriculture, sustainable food systems, and/or farmer’s markets
Experience/interest working in community education and development, particularly in low-income and culturally diverse communities
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, Canva, Newsletter communications, and social media
Student benefits:
Hone communication skills by engaging with customers at market, answer questions and share information in a fast-paced environment.
Gain hands-on experience in community engagement, learning how to build relationships and foster positive change within a local food system
Develop practical skills in inventory management, food supply and warehouse safety and efficient market setup and breakdown
Build valuable connections and gain firsthand insights into the local food system by collaborating with dedicated growers, farmers, and aggregators/distributors.
Gain a deep understanding of the unique regional food system, and the challenges and opportunities specific to the region.
Develop a strong understanding of how public assistance programs interact with local food systems, and the crucial role they play in food access.
Internship location:
In person and virtual
Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (3003 S. Country Club Rd, Tucson, AZ)
Santa Cruz River Farmers Market (267 S. Avenida del Convento, Tucson, AZ)
Remote work location flexible
Internship hours: Intern is expected to contribute approximately 10-15 hours per week. Grower Check-In on Wednesdays (10am-2pm) is generally expected to be an in-person commitment each week. Supporting with market on Thursdays and remote work on other projects and team check-ins are flexible and can be discussed on a weekly or monthly basis as needed.
Mentors: Alex Bencomo, Community Foods Coordinator; Amrita Khalsa, Farmers Market Network and Advocacy Coordinator; Emmanuel Morales, Community Development Manager
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (CFBSA) moves our region towards the vision of a healthy, hunger-free community addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including
climate change, systemic forms of discrimination, and inequitable access to resources. As a
program of the CFBSA the Santa Cruz River Farmers Market strives to increase access to local
nutrient dense foods by supporting local agriculture, building vibrant community spaces and
fostering economic opportunity. Our market team collaborates weekly with small local
businesses and growers to bring access to fresh local produce to low-income communities who
utilize food benefit programs including SNAP, Double Up and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
About the internship:
The UA Earth Grant Intern will work with the Farmers’ Market Network and Advocacy
Coordinator to support the weekly planning and program coordination of the Thursday Market.
This includes support with weekly Social Media posts and listserv newsletter, planning and
coordinating seasonal and monthly market programming and events, including but not limited to an engaging children's activity table, fresh local food education and food demos, and being on site for the weekly market.
In working with our Local Food Pathways team, the intern will be able to harness their time
management, communication, teamwork, event programming, and social media skills. They will learn what goes into running a weekly farmers market, including finance transparency and
reconciliation, engaging with local small business vendors and farmers, and community members as stakeholders of the market running over 15 years. They will learn and work with the food benefit programs including SNAP, Double Up, Pascua Yaqui Coupons, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons. The intern will be able to deepen their knowledge and
understanding of food systems change work, the importance of more access and education
about fresh foods in low-income communities, as well as supporting disinvested entrepreneurs
and the importance of growing our local economy around local produce.
Required qualifications:
Interest in learning about local food systems, small local farmers and businesses and engaging in thriving safe community spaces
In person and remote office work
Outdoors setting up tents and customer interaction at Thursday farmers’ market
Ability to lift up-to 40 pounds
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, Canva
Ability to work and communicate respectfully with people from diverse social backgrounds including race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance
Preferred qualifications:
Bilingual with Spanish
Interest in or knowledge of food systems, systems change, food access
Social media, Newsletters
Student benefits:
Deepen your knowledge and understanding of food benefit programs like SNAP, Double Up and the Farmers Marker Nutrition Program
Understand food systems work, and the importance of the local food supply chain
Gain experience customer service working and speaking with community members from diverse backgrounds and languages
Learn and understand market accounting processes
Engage with customers using food programs Pascua Yaqui Coupons, SNAP, Double Up, Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons
Develop skills in outreach including weekly social media posts and newsletters
Internship location: In person and remote. At the food bank office at 3003 S Country Club Rd and Thursdays for the farmers market MSA Annex 267 S Avenida del Convento. We can work with your schedule.
Internship hours: Weekdays, 10-20 hours a week, we can work with your student schedule. The market is Thursdays Oct-April 3-6pm, May-September 4:30-7:30pm
Mentor: Amrita Khalsa, Farmers Market Network and Advocacy Coordinator
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Community Gardens of Tucson's mission is to build community gardens where Tucsonans
grow food, work and learn together, and nurture well-being in our communities. Our
community gardening programs empower people of all ages, income levels, and abilities by
connecting them with their local food system, the environment and each other.
Website: www.communitygardensoftucson.org
About the internship:
We are seeking a motivated Community Outreach & Events Intern to join our team and
collaborate on community development needs at the Community Gardens of Tucson. As an
Outreach & Events Intern, you will play a crucial role in coordinating events, developing
outreach initiatives, and engaging volunteers.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Outreach
Identify garden needs for outreach and recruitment
Develop strategies to recruit volunteers and new gardeners.
Attend and support the Outreach and Fundraising Committee
Event Coordination
Be an ambassador for Community Gardens of Tucson and positively engage with the community during outreach events and garden activities.
Provide support for Garden Party Fundraisers as needed.
Organize and coordinate volunteers to represent the Community Gardens at community events, such as resource fairs and plant fairs.
Garden Operations Support
Garden supplies, education materials, and resources evaluation and distribution
Hands-on support with garden project development and execution
Help coordinating and leading garden education and volunteer workdays
Required qualifications:
Passion for sustainable practices and community development.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Proficiency in Word, Excel, Database, Outlook and internet-based communication
Ability to multitask and work collaboratively within a team.
Access to a reliable source of transportation to travel between garden locations
Ability to work effectively with little supervision
Preferred qualifications:
Experience in professional writing
Comfortable with public speaking
Experience in marketing and/or community development
Student benefits:
Free garden plot at available garden
Internship location: The Community Gardens of Tucson has over 20 garden locations. This
position requires on-site work in the various gardens and some remote work.
Internship hours: 10-15 hours per week
Mentor: Brittany Guerrero, Executive Director
Number of positions available: 2
About the organization:
Compost Cats is a student-focused and community-based program of the University of
Arizona’s Office of Sustainability concentrating on organic waste reduction and
diversion, community outreach and engagement, public education, and research
facilitation. The mission of Compost Cats is to create a quality soil amendment while
mitigating climate change, increasing food security, and empowering the community
through experiential education, innovation, and environmental advocacy.
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 Coordinators, 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 U of A 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
Must be available to work in-person
Must graduate in May 2026 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 and environmental conservation/management
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
Student benefits:
Experiential, hands on learning to help with career development.
Learning about composting practices and teaching these skills to others.
Enhance communication skills by leading meetings, projects, and working in a team environment.
Enhance public speaking skills while talking to community members.
Project management skill development
Internship location: In person and virtual work. In-person: Office is in ENR2, travel to various locations in Tucson
Internship hours: 10-20 hrs a week. Includes some early morning, evening, and weekend work.
Mentor: Kenzie Jackson, Campus & Community Outreach Coordinator
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Compost Cats is a student-focused and community-based program of the University of
Arizona’s Office of Sustainability concentrating on organic waste reduction and
diversion, community outreach and engagement, public education, and research
facilitation. The mission of Compost Cats is to create a quality soil amendment while
mitigating climate change, increasing food security, and empowering the community
through experiential education, innovation, and environmental advocacy.
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 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 U of A 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 4+ hours in an outdoor setting
Must be available to work in-person early mornings and weekends
Must graduate in May 2026 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 and environmental conservation/management
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
Student benefits:
Experiential, hands on learning to help with career development.
Learning about composting practices and teaching these skills to others.
Enhance communication skills by leading meetings, projects, and working in a team environment.
Enhance public speaking skills while talking to community members and K-12 students.
Learning about Arizona education standards in STEM and working with professional outdoor educators
Internship location: In person and virtual work. In-person: Office is in ENR2, travel to
various locations in Tucson
Internship hours: 10-20 hrs a week. Includes some early morning, evening, and
weekend work.
Mentor: Kenzie Jackson, Campus & Community Outreach Coordinator
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Flowers & Bullets (F&B) started in early 2012 by two childhood friends, Tito Romero and Jacob
Robles, 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 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.
Mission: We reclaim our cultural roots and amplify them through sustainability, art, and rebellion to heal and empower our neighborhood.
Neighborhood Vision: An equitable, healthy, empowered, and engaged Barrio Centro
Website: www.flowersandbullets.com
About the internship:
This position will be working closely with our farm team, core team, and our neighbors/community. For 2025 you can expect major commitments to these areas:
1. Physical site improvements- F&B will continue to renovate and remodel the existing structures as well as build new ones as we phase into this next year.
2. Land-based practices- This year we are continuing to take care of our desert resources
(precious earth, monsoon rains and abundant sunshine) by planting more native vegetation, adapting our seed each year, collecting as much water, etc. Our maiz project has been expanding over the years and this year we’re focusing on soil health and planting.
3. Community education- every effort, every event, every action is an opportunity to learn
and to organize! This year F&B will continue to invest in community education through
hands-on workdays, community speakers, all-age workshops, etc.
In addition to our land stewardship and community programming, F&B will continue to resource internally. Flowers and Bullets is committed to the ongoing development of our organization through a new active board, fundraising and improvements to the space and programs.
This year we are committed to honing in on our internal processes and institutionalizing some of our practices and procedures. With the support of this intern, we will be editing and revisiting some key internal documents and updating them, as well as developing best practices for our administrative team to streamline communication.
This position will be working closely with the folks leading F&B’s planning and strategy, and our
development team.
Our hope is that our marketing material, website, narrative, and any other identity content be
updated and cohesive for stronger messaging (internally and externally). Our goal is to have
these all be useful when we make decisions and apply for grants. These efforts will help move our organization towards our vision of healthy, safe and strong communities where every neighbor is included.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Support our team with the administrative side of organizing
Outreach support: social media posts, creation and distribution of outreach materials
Execute the organization/development of internal documents
Required qualifications:
Support our team with the administrative side of organizing
Outreach support: social media posts, creation and distribution of outreach materials
Execute the organization/development of internal documents
Proficiency of Google Suite
Critical thinking skills
Able to work as a team
Able to work independently, self-motivate
Preferred qualifications:
Knowledge using Excel or other database programs.
Able to utilize Canva, Linktree, etc
Organizational skills, critical thinking skills, communication skills, writing skills.
2nd language fluency, preferably Spanish
Able to translate written materials if needed (i.e. outreach materials)
Transformative Justice, Restorative Justice outlook
Skills or knowledge in finance, gardening, or food justice
Student benefits:
Learn about nonprofit and grassroots organizing and leadership
Gain experience with community organizing
Working in and with community
Contributing to the vision of an urban green space
Making a positive difference in the community
Internship location: Hybrid
Internship hours: 5-20 hrs/week, including some early morning and weekend hours. Weekly
staff meetings (optional) are Tuesdays 9-11am
Mentor: Rachel Lipscomb, Development Director
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Flowers & Bullets (F&B) started in early 2012 by two childhood friends, Tito Romero and Jacob
Robles, 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 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.
Mission: We reclaim our cultural roots and amplify them through sustainability, art, and rebellion to heal and empower our neighborhood.
Neighborhood Vision: An equitable, healthy, empowered, and engaged Barrio Centro
Website: www.flowersandbullets.com
About the internship:
This last year has been absolutely pivotal for the next stage of our collective. We have grown in many ways including re-engaging our community with our programs since the start of the pandemic, purchased the 9.5 acre property (+ building), kicked off our biggest fundraising campaign, and so much more.
This position will be working closely with our farm team, core team, and our neighbors/community. For 2025 you can expect major commitments to these areas:
1. Physical site improvements- F&B will continue to renovate and remodel the existing structures as well as build new ones as we phase into this next year. The compost area and water harvesting infrastructure will also continue to expand.
2. Land-based practices- This year we are continuing to take care of our desert resources
(precious earth, monsoon rains and abundant sunshine) by planting more native vegetation, adapting our seed each year, collecting as much water, etc. Our maiz project has been expanding over the years and this year we’re focusing on our soil health and planting.
3. Community education- every effort, every event, every action is an opportunity to learn and to organize! This year F&B will continue to invest in community education through hands-on workdays, community speakers, all-age workshops, etc.
These efforts will help move our organization towards our vision of healthy, safe and strong
communities where every neighbor is included.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Be land stewards of the 10 acre farm space.
Maintain irrigation, operations, milpas, weeds, and take care of the animals
Connect with community members through workdays, including Saturday Workdays
Continue in development of the space
Required qualifications:
Ability to lift 50lbs or more
Able to be outside working for a few hours at a time
Able to work as a team
Able to work independently
Critical thinking skills
Basic computer skills
Comfortable with tools or willing to learn about: shovels, picks, rakes
Preferred qualifications:
Experience planting, farming
Working with plants, soil
Bilingual
Comfortable with or willing to to learn heavy equipment: trencher, tiller, tractor, etc
Student benefits:
Working in community and with animals
Learn about regenerative farming practices, water harvesting, animal caretaking
Being outdoors
Making a positive difference in the community
Acquiring versatile hands on skills
Get connected to the land
Internship location: In person, sometimes from home.
Internship hours: 15-20 hrs/week, including some early morning and weekend hours.
Mentor(s): Tito Romero, Farm Manager and Rachel Lipscomb, Development Director
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The Garden Kitchen offers whole health seed-to-table education in the areas of gardening,
cooking, nutrition, and physical activity. We work with community members as well as
organizations and governments to deliver programming throughout Pima County.
As a whole health program, our aim is to increase health equity for residents of Pima County,
recognizing that wellness includes mind, body, and spirit. We do this through assessing
community need and strengths, while working to increase families’ food security, increasing the availability of fresh foods where people live, work, and play, supporting opportunities for free
physical activity, and facilitating opportunities for connection through mindfulness practices,
community engagement, and storytelling activities.
Website: https://thegardenkitchen.org/
About the internship:
Are you passionate about working directly with the community? Excited to learn more about
resilient local food systems, food access, and nutrition education? Thinking of a career in
nutrition, human services, health services, or agriculture?
The intern will provide critical assistance with the PLAZA Mobile Market– learning about food
access interventions and promoting the local food economy. Our approach to food system
resilience addresses the whole food system. Produce from local farmers is bought at prices set
by farmers, and sold affordably, supporting food access for local low-income residents. The
intern will support operation of PLAZA Mobile Market one to two times a week. This will
include engaging with customers about the produce at the market and important resources,
setting up and tearing-down the market, and networking with partners. Other duties may
include supporting with inventory, feedback surveys, and other business practices. This
internship will include outreach and marketing for PLAZA Mobile Market – supporting with
social media, flyer distribution, and developing innovative ways of spreading the word.
Required qualifications:
Passionate about community programming
Enjoys interacting with diverse community members
Flexible and able to adapt to the unexpected
Ability to carry up to 25lbs and stand for 2+ hours
Spanish speaker
Preferred qualifications:
Knowledge of cooking with produce and/or nutrition information
Knowledge of or experience with growing local produce
Interested in food justice and resilient food systems
Experience with the Sunnyside neighborhood
Student benefits:
Student will experience the high-energy, supportive, innovative and fun PLAZA Mobile Market every week.
Student will learn about food access issues and solutions in Tucson
Student will learn about local food systems, including Tucson’s farmers and local food markets
Student will connect with Garden Kitchen team, which includes people working across ages, sites, and intervention types (direct education, train-the-trainer, policy, etc.
Internship location: This position will be hybrid. They will mostly work out of the Garden
Kitchen (2205 S. 4th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85713), but will also be running PLAZA Mobile Market at
Valencia Library (202 W Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706), and a soon to be announced location
around the City of South Tucson. They may occasionally be asked to work from the Pima County Cooperative Extension building (4210 N Campbell, Tucson AZ 85719).
Internship hours: This internship would be 15 hours/week – 8:30am-4pm on Wednesday and Thursday. If a student isn’t available both days but is really excited about the position, please
still reach out, we may have some flexibility. No weekend time will be required.
Mentor(s): Jenn Parlin, Assistant Agent, The Garden Kitchen, and Meredith Glaubach, Local Food System Coordinator.
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
The International Rescue Committee provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities.
The New Roots (NR) program at IRC is an initiative to support gardening, food security, nutrition, enterprise, and production within the US network of IRC offices. NR collaborates with refugee and immigrant participants and a strong network of partners to build community resilience and food security through strengthening the local food system. NR Tucson supports its participants in building food security and aids in their transition to the community through sustainable gardening, local food access initiatives, and small business farming. Our gardens provide safe, outdoor green spaces for participants to reconnect with and pass down agricultural traditions, build relationships, and use their expertise to make supplemental income for their families. In order to better serve our clients, we are looking for an Agriculture intern who is committed, creative, hard-working, and enthusiastic individuals with interests in organic farming and community empowerment. The position works alongside an NR staff member on site in the gardens as well as planning virtually and in the office. This role would provide much needed support to increase the capacity of NR's programming at IRC in Tucson.
About the internship:
The New Roots team works together with interns to develop long-term projects that fit their skills and interests. Past projects have included a landscape design plan, a focus on social media engagement and a compost system overhaul. Possible future projects could include garden improvement builds and curriculum development and facilitation. The NR Agriculture Intern will:
Collaborate on sustainable infrastructure projects to benefit the refugee garden sites (compost systems, greenhouse, permaculture infrastructures, murals, accessible infrastructure, post-harvest wash station improvements, etc.)
Assist with preparation and presentation of farm and garden workshops with a focus on sustainability and climate adaptation.
Help staff with ongoing garden projects at 3+ garden sites (e.g. planting, cleaning, weeding, general site maintenance).
Communicate with farm and garden participants about upcoming events and share relevant gardening and farming information.
Assist in securing donations of materials and technical advice to support community gardeners.
Track inventory of seeds, tools, and materials for the program.
Required qualifications:
Experience or demonstrated interest in food security, sustainable gardening, garden design, or innovative solutions to environmental challenges—especially in multicultural settings.
Ability to self-direct, as well as communicate and work effectively as a team member in a multicultural environment.
Willingness to work outside in variable weather conditions.
Ability to meet at garden sites, primarily in central Tucson.
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding client information.
Strong verbal and written skills in English.
Punctual and reliable.
Additional policy details will be discussed during orientation and training.
All offers are contingent on successfully passing background and criminal history checks as required by federal and state law or by IRC policy. Additionally, all interns are required to obtain a Level-One AZDES Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC).
Preferred qualifications:
2nd language fluency (especially in Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kiswahili, Arabic, Dari, French or Spanish)
Agricultural knowledge
Student Benefits:
Hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture techniques
Experience working with a diverse set of cultures, languages, and people groups
Access to IRC’s extensive collection of virtual training materials on wide-ranging topics related to humanitarian aid, refugee resettlement and food security
Internship location: Hybrid virtual and in person; in person locations include the IRC office (2916 E Broadway Blvd) and garden locations throughout central Tucson.
Internship hours: 15-20 hours/week. Primary hours will be on weekdays between 9-5 with optional once monthly Saturday morning volunteer day participation. We would prefer an intern to be available during at least one of the following mornings: Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday.
Mentor: Eli Young, New Roots Farm & Garden Specialist
Number of positions available: 1
About the lab:
The McNew Lab of Disease Ecology seeks undergrads who are interested in studying the ecology and evolution of disease in wild birds. Our group is headed by Dr. Sabrina McNew, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona. The lab includes graduate students, postdocs, and undergrads who conduct research using a variety of molecular and field methods. Our goals are to understand the effects of parasites on hosts, to investigate how hosts defend themselves against infection, and to research the processes that drive the emergence of disease in wildlife and human populations.
Website: www.mcnewlab.com
About the internship:
Student interns in our lab assist in laboratory and field projects centered on interactions between birds and their parasites and pathogens. Students are paired with a direct mentor (typically a graduate student or postdoc) who will help them build both hard and soft scientific skills. Interns focused on laboratory projects may learn techniques including DNA extraction, PCR and qPCR quantification, microscopy, and gel electrophoresis. Interns interested in field ecology are involved in the capture, handling, and sampling of wild birds, as well as arthropod sampling and ecological field methods. Interns will be supported in developing their own research projects and carrying through a project from hypothesis-building through data analysis and presentation. We support students presenting their work at local and national conferences.
Required qualifications:
Intro Biology (ECOL 182) and/or AP Bio score of 4+.
Interest in birds, parasites, and/or disease.
Ability to commit to a set schedule of approximately 8-10 hours of work per week.
For interns interested in conducting avian field work: must be available at least one day per work week (M-F) from ~5:00 AM until 2:00 PM during January – April.
Preferred qualifications:
ECOL 302.
Experience conducting field work or working with birds.
Passion for parasites.
Familiarity with data management software like Excel.
Student Benefits:
Hands-on training in essential Ecology and Evolutionary Biology field and lab skills.
Get to know the amazing birds of the Sonoran Desert!
Collaborative and supportive lab environment.
Support with graduate school and professional school applications.
Opportunities to network with local non-profits (Tucson Audubon, Nature Conservancy)
Internship location: Primarily University of Arizona campus as well as field sites in SE Arizona; some possibility of asynchronous work from home is possible.
Internship hours: 8-10 hours per week. We expect students to follow a set schedule, especially during the first couple of months “training period.” After that, there may be flexibility and independence in the schedule depending on whether the student ends up in a lab-based project (more flexibility) or field-based project (less flexibility).
Mentor: Sabrina McNew (with support from graduate students and postdocs).
Number of positions available: 1-2
About the organization:
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading citizen advocacy
voice of the National Park System for over 100 years. NPCA works as a non-profit organization
to protect and enhance our national park sites across the country. The Arizona Program of
NPCA has been leading park and public lands protection work for 15 years, supporting all 22 of
Arizona’s National Park Service (NPS) units and surrounding landscapes, from the Grand Canyon
to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. NPCA is involved in several coalitions in the state
focused on protecting critical public landscapes and cultural resources
Website: https://www.npca.org/
About the internship:
Do you love National Parks? Learn how to advocate for them! National Parks are currently
under threat and now it is more important than ever to become a park advocate. This
internship will help you do just that. You will support the NPCA Arizona Program Manager in
their duties in leading work for the state’s national parks with a specific focus on strategic
advocacy and community engagement. The intern will help with tasks related to executing a
campaign plan through communications, the development of educational materials, and event
planning. The intern’s focus will be for park units primarily in southern Arizona, including
Saguaro National Park. This can include helping with outreach to experts for information
gathering, brainstorming campaign ideas and strategies, logistical planning of events, researching key issues and stakeholders, and creating materials to inform the public. Activities
will focus on existing campaign efforts, with a focus on wildlife connectivity in Saguaro National
Park. The intern may also contribute to efforts around public support for initiatives at smaller
parks units in Southern Arizona, including Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Coronado National Memorial.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Executive campaign plan with focus on wildlife issues around Saguaro National Park
Conduct research related to wildlife connectivity issues and solutions
Work with NPCA’s AZ Program Manager and National Park Service staff to understand and use existing data on wildlife issues in Saguaro
Reach out to community partners to learn more about issues
Develop resources and educational materials to inform the public on these wildlife issues
Build base of community awareness on wildlife issues in Saguaro National Park
Help plan events and activities that engage the surrounding communities
Supporting NPCA’s Arizona Program Manager with tasks related to Southern Arizona Parks
Help with research and planning around several issues at other AZ parks as they emerge
Provide logistical support of NPCA’s Arizona Program events and strategies
Writing and communicating about NPCA’s work in Southern Arizona to various audiences
Author E-Field Notes newsletter for NPCA’s Southwest Region (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico)
Required qualifications:
Student currently in or interested in natural or cultural resources, conservation biology, biology, ecology, climate science, environmental sciences/policy, environmental studies, education, social sciences, human dimensions of conservation, science communication, or other related fields.
Self-motivated, independent worker
Strong writing skills
Experience in communication, education, or outreach
Strong time management skills
Ability to juggle multiple projects/priorities at once
Preferred qualifications:
Interest or experience in campaign planning and strategy
Interest or experience in environmental policy
Strong collaboration skills
Experience with or knowledge of the National Park Service and/or federal land management agencies
Commitment to the idea that national parks are for everyone
Interest in or experience working with Indigenous communities
Student benefits:
Gain advocacy and campaign experience, transferable across fields
Have role in national non-profit organization
Learn familiarity with federal agencies and non-profit processes
Learn about important environmental policy and congressional affairs
Build connections with broad national network (NPCA works 11 regions across the US, including Alaska)
Professional opportunity to work with local Arizona partners, including the National Park Service
Internship location: Remote/Virtual with a few in-person field outings, events, and meetings
with partners.
Internship hours: 10 hours per week. Supervising will happen with a weekly check-in on weekdays during business hours although the intern is free to work independently on weekends or evenings. Engagement and meetings with external or internal partners, including NPCA staff and the National Park Service, will happen on weekdays during business hours.
Mentor: Sanober Mirza, Arizona Program Manager
Number of positions available: 1
About the lab:
Dr. 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.
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 dependent on student schedule. Primarily M-F work with occasional evenings and weekends required for events.
Mentor: William Borkan, Research Professional, Dr. Monica Ramirez-Andreotta, Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources Department (CLR) is a relatively new Department that combined the Natural Resources Division of the Natural Resources Parks & Recreation Department with the Pima County Office of Sustainability and Conservation. CLR manages over240,000 acres of conservation land throughout Pima County, including mountain parks, natural preserves, open space lands, and 14 working ranches, in addition to operating a native plant nursery. Our work includes protecting important natural and cultural resources in accordance with the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and Multi-Species Conservation Plan, preserving diverse traditional and cultural values of the region, and providing habitat conservation, environmental education and outreach, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
About the internship:
The intern will assist various CLR staff in several different program areas including Restoration & Invasive Species, Ecological Monitoring, Environmental Education, and Rangeland & Agriculture, with potential opportunities to collaborate with the Native Plant Nursery, Park Managers, and Trails programs. This internship will provide various opportunities in Sonoran Desert conservation including but not limited to:
Ecological restoration projects, such as vegetation establishment, seed collection, and building small rock structures for erosion control.
Invasive species management, including surveying and mapping infestations in remote locations, performing some manual treatments with hand tools, working alongside volunteers, and contributing to invasive species outreach efforts.
Ecological monitoring of Pima pineapple cactus, native fish, plantings of significant species, and wet/dry conditions of significant waterways.
Environmental education program development and delivery that explores the diverse ecosystem and unique history of the Santa Cruz River, including K-12 science field trips and adult outdoor educational events, and development of creative outreach content such as social media posts, newsletters, and video media.
Rangeland conservation: rangeland fall vegetation monitoring, property and wildlife drinker inspections, and Ranch Education Program event preparation and participation.
Participate in collaborative work with partner organizations.
May include assisting with cactus salvage operations, property monitoring, geocache removal, writing reports, collecting and analyzing GIS data, and more
Required qualifications:
Must have a class schedule that allows the intern to participate in half and full days of field work, primarily occurring on weekdays but sometimes on weekends, at least 1-2 days per week.
Enthusiasm in learning more about native plants, wildlife, soils, hydrology, cultural resources, habitat conservation, and rangeland conservation from professionals.
Enthusiasm for field work. Ability to hike and work on rough terrain in new territory for field work tasks, often around spiny and thorny vegetation and in remote locations.
Willingness to endure heat, cold, wind, and rain in order to learn and see new things.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and perform light to moderate manual labor with and without hand tools.
Ability to follow field safety and computer security rules.
Basic knowledge of Sonoran Desert plants and animals and basic plant anatomy terms.
Be at least 18 years old by the start of the internship.
Comfort speaking in front of small groups and comfort working with youth.
Comfortable working in rangelands with the possibility of working near livestock.
Willingness to communicate with ranchers and other land managers.
Basic computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Attention to detail, ability to stay focused, positive and proactive attitude, and willingness to follow through on commitments.
Good oral and written communication skills and good listening skills.
Ability to commute to the CLR main office at 201 N. Stone Ave, 6th floor, Tucson, AZ 85701, and the Environmental Education office at 3572 E. River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718.
Preferred qualifications:
Ability to commute in a non-County vehicle for independent work at field sites.
Experience performing field work in the Sonoran Desert, especially involving plant or animal inventory or monitoring.
Advanced plant identification skills or knowledge of local species and cultural history.
Working toward a degree in one of the natural (or environmental) sciences or policy.
Experience with outreach and/or science or technical communication.
Familiarity with communicating via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Familiarity with GIS tools such as ArcGIS FieldMaps, Survey123, and ArcGIS Online.
Student benefits:
Learn about and contribute to local conservation efforts and the management of Pima County’s conservation lands.
Gain a deeper understanding of the County’s Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP) and Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) including the 44 MSCP-covered species.
Learn about threats to conservation land and how to manage them, such as invasive species, climate change, unlawful human activities, adjacent land use change, and more.
Gain a deep understanding of the ecology, wildlife, and human history of the Sonoran Desert, and especially of the Santa Cruz River watershed.
Develop skills in environmental interpretation, program coordination, public speaking, and other forms of community outreach.
Build professional relationships with a network of local environmental non-profits, government groups, and collectives.
Learn about sustainable agriculture practices.
See and experience beautiful natural spaces in the Sonoran Desert that not many modern people have been to
Internship location: In-person and remote. Field work will occur at various locations throughout Pima County. Environmental educational programming will occur at various sites along the Santa Cruz River watershed. Some in-person office work would happen at the CLR main office in downtown Tucson (with parking validation) or the Environmental Education office (free parking). Carpooling from both office locations for field work is an available option. Office work can be remote, and attendance at meetings can be virtual.
Internship hours: 10-25 hours/week, somewhat flexible based on the intern’s class schedule, and primarily weekdays but may include some weekend days. Ability to spend at least 1 weekday per week for most weeks participating in a full day of field work, and sometimes half days of field work.
Mentor: Kelsey Landreville (she/her), Restoration & Invasive Species Program Manager
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Productive Patches is an ecology based landscaping company in Tucson, Arizona, focused on the restoration and stewardship of our desert landscapes.
Our goal is to adapt to the needs of our future, and look for ways to bring more abundance into our local environment, designing and installing regenerative landscapes to better utilize water, create shade, food, medicine, wildlife habitat, and beauty.
Website: www.productivepatches.com
About the internship:
This internship will educate and train folks how to identify water harvesting opportunities within residential landscapes and communicate those opportunities to potential clients. This internship will also educate interns about city rebates available for water harvesting in the hopes they can communicate these benefits to potential clients.
Initial work would include shadowing at current projects to better understand the work we do. Once trained, interns would be asked to interface with potential clients and offer basic water harvesting designs that maximize rebate opportunities and limit costs to customers for water harvesting installations.
Required qualifications:
Interns should have some exposure to water harvesting and the ability to use design software to create landscape plans.
Interns should be passionate about enhancing climate resilience in the urban setting and curious about the Sonoran Desert ecosystem.
Interns will need to have reliable transportation or a willingness to use public transit to arrive at the jobsite or office on time. The office is located near the Swan and Broadway cross streets and would be a hub for carpooling to other jobsite locations.
Preferred qualifications:
Previous experience working with a landscape company would be preferred but isn’t necessary.
Previous exposure to, and understanding of permaculture design principles would be beneficial.
Student Benefits:
Students will gain a greater understanding of water harvesting and permaculture principles, and how they are applied in a real world setting to help reduce residential water use and increase biodiversity and shade canopy in an urban setting.
Students will gain real world experience interfacing with a community to advocate for improving our climate resilience.
Students will gain real world design experience, creating water harvesting plans.
Students will gain experience and an understanding of how to educate and inform the public about conservation within the urban environment.
Internship location: Internship would be a majority outside, at projects within the Tucson area, with some hours each week being virtual to discuss principles of water harvesting and design for projects.
Internship hours: Internship hours are flexible and anywhere from 6-20 hours would be available each week. Weekdays would be preferred for the majority of field work, with some individual work or special event time available on weekends. Schedule would be tailored around students with an understanding that folks have unique and varying schedules.
Mentor: Interns would work directly with the owner and operator of Productive Patches, Andy (Andrew) Pieper. Interns may split off during the work day to learn from other practitioners within the company, but the majority of time would be spent with Andy.
Number of positions available: 2
About the organization:
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, we are seeking the reinstatement of the rule of law, so that borderlands 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.
Walls and barriers have already been constructed across more than 650 miles of the U.S.-
Mexico border. These barriers block wildlife migration, cause flooding and damage pristine wild lands, including wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and national forests. Sierra Club Borderlands
advocates for real solutions, such as comprehensive immigration reform with a path to
citizenship, that address the root causes of complex border problems
About the internship:
This intern would work closely with the Borderlands Program Coordinator to support with borderlands community education and organizing via events, social media and communications, and educational presentations to different groups.
Required qualifications:
Good communication skills, both speaking and writing
Self-motivated, able to work independently
Preferred qualifications:
Spanish language skills
Internship location: Mostly virtual work, with some in-person work at 300 E. University Blvd,
within one mile from campus. Transportation can be provided for occasional trips to border communities.
Internship hours: 5-10 hours/week, somewhat flexible to adjust to student schedule. Some
evening presentations and weekend trips to Nogales and other border communities.
Mentor: Erick Meza, Borderlands Program Coordinator
Number of positions available: 1
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: http://www.sonoraninstitute.org/
About the internship:
This internship will support the development of the Sonoran Institute’s Living River reports,
which assess water quality, habitat conditions, and human impact on the Santa Cruz River.
Interns will assist with field research, data analysis, scientific writing, and community outreach
to help communicate findings to the public and stakeholders.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Field Research
Conduct water quality sampling and ecological assessments along the Santa Cruz River.
Identify vegetation, wildlife, and human impact indicators in different river segments.
Perform litter categorization surveys and analyze trends in pollution sources
Data Analysis & Report Development
Manage and analyze environmental datasets for trends in river health.
Utilize GIS mapping to visualize ecological and hydrological changes.
Create tables, figures, and infographics for Living River reports.
Contribute to the writing and editing of scientific findings for public reports
Community Outreach & Public Engagement
Support river cleanup events and engage with local volunteers.
Assist with presentations and outreach materials to communicate key findings.
Work with local organizations, schools, and partners to promote river stewardship.
Required qualifications:
Understanding of ecological field methods, environmental science, or hydrology.
Strong data entry and analysis skills (Excel).
Ability to write and communicate scientific findings clearly.
Comfortable working outdoors in varying conditions for fieldwork.
Access to reliable transportation for field visits
Preferred qualifications:
Bilingual (English/Spanish) for community engagement.
Experience with R or ArcGIS for statistical and spatial analysis.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite for designing outreach materials.
Interest in environmental communication & policy.
Student benefits:
Gain hands-on experience in field research and environmental data management.
Contribute to scientific reports that inform conservation and policy decisions.
Develop technical skills in GIS mapping, statistical analysis, and scientific writing.
Work closely with environmental professionals and community partners.
Build experience in public engagement and science communication
Internship location: Fieldwork throughout the Santa Cruz River watershed (Tucson & Pima County, possibly Santa Cruz County). Office work can be done remotely.
Internship hours: 10–15 hours per week (flexible scheduling). Occasional Saturday mornings for river cleanup events.
Mentor(s): Luke Cole, Director of Santa Cruz River Program; Claire Zugmeyer, Ecologist of the Santa Cruz River Program
Number of positions available: 1
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: http://www.sonoraninstitute.org/
About the internship:
The Database Specialist intern will work with the existing Sonoran Institute Trash Study (SITS)
database to improve usability, enhance analytical capacity, and automate data visualization.
This work will directly contribute to the Sonoran Institute’s Living River reports, which assess
water quality, habitat conditions, and human impact on the Santa Cruz River.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Database Development & Data Management
Design simplified data entry methods with quality assurance measures.
Improve the database to enable efficient data queries and trend analysis.
Develop a user-friendly interface for accessing and summarizing datasets.
Implement automated table and figure generation to support research reports.
GIS & Data Visualization
Utilize GIS mapping tools to visualize ecological and hydrological changes.
Generate heat maps and spatial analysis reports of trash accumulation.
Public Engagement through Survey123 Development
Develop a demo version of a Survey123-based mobile app for public use in collecting geospatial and categorical data on trash.
Design an intuitive survey interface to collect key environmental indicators.
Test and refine the tool to ensure usability and data accuracy.
Collaborate with community partners to pilot the app in field events.
Required qualifications:
Strong data management and database development skills (Excel, SQL, or Google Sheets).
Understanding of ecological field methods, environmental science, or hydrology.
Experience or familiarity with Survey123 or similar GIS-based data collection tools.
Ability to write and communicate scientific findings clearly.
Preferred qualifications:
Bilingual (English/Spanish) for community engagement.
Experience with R, Python, or ArcGIS for statistical and spatial analysis.
Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite for report design and outreach materials.
Interest in environmental communication, policy, and data visualization.
Student benefits:
Gain hands-on experience in database management, data analysis, and GIS mapping.
Develop a Survey123-based data collection tool with real-world applications.
Work on real-world environmental research with direct conservation impact.
Contribute to scientific reports that inform policy and restoration efforts.
Develop technical skills in automating data processing and report generation.
Collaborate with environmental professionals and community organizations.
Internship location: Office work can be done remotely.
Internship hours: 10–15 hours per week (flexible scheduling). Occasional Saturday mornings for river cleanup events.
Mentor(s): Luke Cole, Director of Santa Cruz River Program; Claire Zugmeyer, Ecologist of the Santa Cruz River Program
Number of positions available: 1
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: http://www.sonoraninstitute.org/
About the internship:
This position will support Sonoran Institute’s Development and Marketing team. This team
produces content that is shared internally and to our 10,000+ social media followers.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Primary duties include:
1. Creation of new marketing content, including flyers, stickers, banners, blog
writing/editing, website editing
2. Support in social media: maintaining SI brand through content creation, analytics, and
tracking
3. Support SI’s in-person events: tabling, distributing collateral materials (e.g., flyers), and
as-needed support during SI-sponsored events
4. Complete other tasks as needed, associated with the development and marketing team.
Required qualifications:
Conceptual:
Creative and artistic eye for design, brand awareness
Hardware:
Computer capable of content creation, image editing, audio/video editing
Software:
SI can provide: Adobe Creative Suite, CANVA, Wordpress, and Microsoft Suite
Transport:
Reliable transportation to points within southern Arizona (Bike and carpool acceptable)
Social Media Savvy
Experienced social media user for popular platforms; IG, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok
Preferred qualifications:
Bilingual English/Spanish
Internship location: Primarily in Tucson and Pima County. Office work will be a component, but
can be done remotely.
Internship hours: 8-15 hrs/week, days and times are flexible. Occasional events typically occur
over the weekends.
Mentor: Kashja Iler, Marketing Coordinator
Number of positions available: 1-2
About the organization:
The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (SW CASC) is a collaborative federal-university partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and seven academic institutions from across the U.S. Southwest – the University of Arizona (the host institution); Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California - San Diego; University of California – Davis; University of California - Los Angeles; Utah State University; Northern Arizona University; and the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.
The SW CASC is one of nine regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers under the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) managed by the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC).
The mission of the SW CASC is to develop actionable science and implementable climate adaptation solutions in partnership with natural and cultural resource managers, policy makers, Native Nations, and researchers across the Southwest. The SW CASC is committed to ensuring that all management perspectives are represented and strives to incorporate Indigenous Knowledges into key management practices.
Website: https://www.swcasc.arizona.edu/
About the internship:
The internship will support the SW CASC in communicating its science to a broader audience, including non-scientists. During this current climate crisis, it has become imperative to tell stories about how science is making a difference in people’s lives. This internship will generally assist the SW CASC with its storytelling efforts, to raise awareness and visibility of the SW CASC, its team, research, tools and products. The Communications and Video Assistant will utilize a variety of platforms, materials and strategies to create and disseminate engaging content – with a focus on video production and video editing.
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Support the SW CASC Communications Team in a range of activities, particularly video production and editing. This position may also assist with social media content creation, event promotion, copywriting, webinar administration and other priority communications tasks as assigned.
May assist in measuring and reporting on SW CASC audience engagement, growth, and social media analytics.
Required qualifications:
Video experience filming short-form and/or social media video content (e.g. for Instagram, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, etc.) This experience can be with a smartphone, DSLR camera, 4K camcorder, or similar. *We recognize that applicants may have had limited access to digital cameras/camcorders, so phone experience is fine.
Basic video editing experience (for example, in Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or similar free or paid software.)
Experience in creating written and visual content for social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) Knowledge of graphic design programs such as Canva or Adobe Illustrator/InDesign/Express or similar is helpful but not required.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Able to work both as part of a team and independently.
Preferred qualifications:
Familiarity with how to use video lighting and lighting equipment appropriately (ring lights, lighting kits, etc.) and audio equipment (lavalier and shotgun mics, etc.).
Digital photography and photo editing experience is a plus (experience in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or similar free or paid software.)
Understanding of virtual meeting software (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
Familiarity with Google Suite and/or Box.
Strong writing skills.
Background/interest in sustainability and environmental topics.
Student Benefits:
Opportunity to build your professional portfolio of videography, communications/marketing, social media and other outreach work.
Develop interpersonal, project management and communications skills by working in a university-federal consortium communications team environment.
Engage directly with federal staff, academic researchers, and other organizations in a dynamic office, offering a unique chance to build relationships that can open doors to future opportunities.
Internship location: Flexible/hybrid work schedule and location. We request that a portion of your shifts are in person at the SW CASC offices in the ENR2 Building on UA Main Campus. The remaining shifts can be virtual, with the expectation that interns are reachable and responsive via Teams/Zoom/email and similar methods during their shifts that fall on weekdays during regular business hours.
Internship hours: 10-15 hrs/week, approximate (and negotiable). A portion of shifts will take place during normal business hours on weekdays to allow for coordination and collaboration with SW CASC staff. Otherwise, some weekend and evening work is fine.
Mentor: Lauren White, Communications Specialist for the SW CASC.
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Southwest Decision Resources (SDR) is a Tucson-based professional facilitation organization
that works with a wide variety of governmental and non-governmental partners to
collaboratively address conservation and community issues throughout Arizona and the
Southwest. Our work focuses on the design and facilitation of collaborative planning and
decision-making efforts, with a goal of achieving broad participation and inclusiveness, higher
quality outcomes, and more lasting solutions for our landscapes and communities.
Website: https://swdresources.com/
About the internship:
Southwest Decision Resources works on a variety of projects related to natural resources and
community development, with the benefit of customizing internship projects to the interests of the intern. When the internship starts, we will provide an orientation with the intern about the work and approach of SDR, the suite of our current projects, and specific projects with potential internship roles. We’ll learn more about the interests of the intern, and based on this, decide together which projects would be the best fit. In the projects listed below, the intern would be a full part of that project team, meaning they would receive training and exposure to situation/stakeholder assessment, agenda and process design, meeting facilitation, documentation, communications, report writing and other aspects of this work. The intern would focus on aspects of these projects that best align with their interest and skills and the needs of the project. 2025-2026 project options include:
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 across 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.
Trail and outdoor recreation planning: SDR is working on collaborative trails and outdoor recreation planning efforts. The intern would help with aspects of the project of most interest, which could include map making/GIS, supporting engagement of underrepresented stakeholders, graphics/materials development, meeting facilitation support, data analysis and participating in the project team.
Place-based collaboratives: SDR organizes and facilitates collaboratives of diverse partners including agencies, local government, community organizations and other stakeholders in various locations across the Southwest.
Numerous other projects including transportation planning, equitable housing, collaborative conservation, among others
Expectations, Responsibilities, and Duties:
Working closely with SDR teams on 2-3 projects
Participate in, learn from, and contribute to our project-based facilitation teams
Duties could include: designing communication materials and innovative outreach approaches, facilitating and notetaking in small group discussions (as part of larger workshops), documenting workshop output, conducting qualitative data analysis, participating in stakeholder interviews and helping design and analyze surveys, leading an independent project co-designed with SDR staff, etc.
Required qualifications:
Passionate about conservation, natural resources management and/or community/urban issues
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 inclusive planning and decision-making processes
Comfort working both virtually and in-person
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, with a strong personal commitment to effective teamwork and collaboration
Strong interpersonal, communication and writing skills
Preferred qualifications:
Flexibility with workload and scheduling
Organized and attentive to detail
Student benefits:
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
Skill building - participation in SDR’s annual Facilitation Training (at no cost)
Learn about a variety of issues that SDR works on – watershed and ecosystem management, climate, urban planning, outdoor recreation, community visioning, etc.
Develop professional relationships with a diverse set of agency, organization, university and other key partners
Internship location: Virtual, with some in-person meetings in or near Tucson
Internship hours: ~10 hours/week, depending on student schedule. Weekdays for virtual team and project meetings. Independent work time whenever suits the intern. Participate in SDR full team virtual meetings Mondays 9-10am (if student has a class at that time, we can work around that)
Mentor(s): Tahnee Robertson, Director and Senior Facilitator, and Colleen Whitaker, Senior Facilitator
Number of positions available: 1-2
About the organization:
Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon) inspires people to enjoy and protect birds
through recreation, education, conservation, advocacy, and restoration of the environment
upon which we all depend. We work for a future in which the people of southeast Arizona are
connected to their natural world through birds, and they protect and use our natural resources
in a responsible and sustainable manner. 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 take action to implement solutions, whether through ecosystem restoration, species-specific habitat restoration, litigation, or civic engagement. We
educate our members and community on local, regional, state-wide, national, and worldwide
problems affecting southeast Arizona’s birds and wildlife, ecosystems, and people, and
empower them to make an impact by providing concrete, strategic actions to take in response.
Website: https://tucsonaudubon.org/
About the internship:
TBA’s Conservation team conducts research project on local bird population and develops
conservation plans to aid them. From studying birds in greatest conservation need to engaging
our community in hazard reduction practices, the team’s suite of projects and programs seeks
to enhance the environment for birds, other wildlife, and people.
The Bird Conservation Intern will assist with one or more of the following projects, depending
on interest, need, and experience:
Hazard reduction projects: mapping and capping death pipes, bird-safe building programming and installations;
Monitoring and data collection: nestbox monitoring and bird surveys;
Assisting with resource development and engagement for Tucson Bird Alliance’s public outreach programs
Required qualifications:
Interest in conservation and habitat restoration;
Strong interpersonal skills (intern will interface with Tucson Bird Alliance staff);
Ability, with supervision and support, to work independently on research-based projects.
Ability to work outside in variable weather conditions and hike on uneven terrain, 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
Student benefits:
Networking with conservation professionals across different agencies and organizations.
Identification of birds and nests of SE Arizona.
Understanding of industry-standard instruments and processes for wayfinding and data collection.
Understanding of tools and processes involved in habitat restoration (native plants, nestboxes etc).
Understanding of scientific research processes.
Leadership skills and public outreach.
Internship location: Field-based work will occur at various locations throughout southeastern
Arizona within 1-1.5 hrs of Tucson (carpooling). Other activities will take place at Tucson Bird
Alliance offices (the Historic Y, located at University Blvd and 5th Ave or the Mason Center on
the NW side of Tucson), with the option to also work remotely as needed.
Internship hours: Approximately 4-10 hrs/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: Olya Weekley, Applied Conservation Program Manager
Number of positions available: 1
About the organization:
Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon) inspires people to enjoy and protect birds
through recreation, education, conservation, advocacy, and restoration of the environment
upon which we all depend. We work for a future in which the people of southeast Arizona are
connected to their natural world through birds, and they protect and use our natural resources
in a responsible and sustainable manner. 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 take action to implement solutions, whether through ecosystem restoration, species-specific habitat restoration, litigation, or civic engagement. We
educate our members and community on local, regional, state-wide, national, and worldwide
problems affecting southeast Arizona’s birds and wildlife, ecosystems, and people, and
empower them to make an impact by providing concrete, strategic actions to take in response.
Website: https://tucsonaudubon.org/
About the internship:
Invasive plants, especially stinknet and buffelgrass, represent a threat not only to native plants
and the wildlife who depend on them but also to health and human safety due to the fires they
convey. Removing invasive plants safely and effectively requires a deep knowledge of various
techniques and processes. Our crews bring cutting-edge digital mapping and precision
treatment in an ecologically sensitive fashion to our clients, including options for web-based
infestation condition documentation and treatment progress.
The Invasive Plant Program Intern will assist with one or more of the following projects, depending on interest, need, and experience:
Creating plant collections for invasive species and natives for educational purposes
Mapping invasive plant infestations all around the Tucson area to increase community awareness and to aid us with grant/project applications
Developing training materials for the general public and for plant-curious people
Required qualifications:
Interest in environmental conservation and restoration work.
Strong interpersonal skills (will need to interface with Tucson Bird Alliance staff and volunteers).
Ability to work outside in variable weather conditions and hike on uneven ground, carrying at least 30 pounds.
Having a personal vehicle (car or bicycle) is required in order to facilitate transportation to mapping areas.
Preferred qualifications:
Plant-curious individuals are preferred! Previous experience or coursework is not a requirement, but we prefer interns who are enthusiastic about learning to identify plants
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 Bird Alliance 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: Tony Figueroa, Invasive Plant – Senior Program Manager,
Number of positions available: 1