"Going to the mountains is going home." John Muir

Upper Bear River Canyon, Amador County

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities

Since 1993 the Sierra Nevada Alliance has been protecting and restoring Sierra lands, water, wildlife and communities. Our mission is to protect and restore the natural resources of the Sierra Nevada for future generations while promoting sustainable communities. We are an alliance of conservation groups that are based or work in the Sierra Nevada region. There are over sixty member groups that span the entire 400-mile mountain range. The Sierra Nevada Alliance headquarters is located at 2489 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Suite 5. Interns work side-by-side with our dedicated staff to learn about the conservation issues affecting John Muir’s famed ‘Range of Light,’ while gaining valuable work experience in the non-profit sector. SNAP Media Outreach & Communications Internship Regional Sustainability Campaign Internship(s) Development/Marketing Internship Special Event Internship Communications Internship Conservation Internship(s) –general organizational work SNAP Media Outreach & Communications Internship The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Intern will work on different SNAP projects that will increase public awareness of the SNAP program. Internship opportunities include: Media Outreach: Help create media releases with AmeriCorps Members and sites to increase public knowledge of the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) accomplishments. Assist with media outreach. Web Design: Help design and create a new stand-alone SNAP website. Web Social Networking: Assist with the development of web social networking tools for the SNAP program to better network amongst current SNAP members, SNAP alumni, friends of the program, and for prospective applicants. Multi-media Outreach: Develop new forms of media outreach, including a YouTube channel and other forms of media to increase public information about the program and how to apply to the program. Newsletters: Assist with design and content of the quarterly newsletter and the annual alumni newsletter. SNAP Recruitment: Research and implement outreach methods to improve SNAP recruitment process. Trainings: Assist with trainings for AmeriCorps Members. Outreach Materials: Design SNAP media outreach materials such as info sheets, brochures, posters. Grant-Writing: Potentially assist with grant-writing opportunities. General Support: Assist the SNAP Program Director and Regional Coordinator in other general duties, representing SNAP at community events, and other office duties. Intern(s) may work on one or more of the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. Intern will work out of the Alliance headquarters in South Lake Tahoe. 5-10 hours per week minimum, flexible hours. This internship is unpaid. To apply, please submit your resume, contact info and cover letter expressing your interest in this position, what you hope to learn and what you will bring the SNAP Program to Do Lee, SNAP Program Director at do@sierranevadaalliance.org. Please feel free to call at 530.542.4546 or email for more information. Regional Sustainability Campaign Internship(s) Posted: December 18, 2009 ***Note: We are no longer accepting applications for summer internships at this time. If you are interested in a fall internship, please follow the application instruction below and submit your applications between June 1 and Sept. 1, 2010. Regional Sustainability Campaign: The Sierra Nevada is one of the fastest growing areas of California and sprawling development is threatening old growth forests, critical habitat and important watershed lands. In addition, climate change is affecting wildlife survival and migration, snow-pack and water management and the frequency and severity of fires. To address these challenges, the Sierra Nevada Alliance created the Sierra Regional Sustainability Program to protect Sierra lands, water, wildlife and rural quality of life by shaping county and regional resource plans that promote smart land use, incorporate sustainable water management practices, reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change. The Campaign builds the capacity of grassroots organizations to win strong conservation policies at the county and regional level. Capacity support includes trainings on planning campaigns, building diverse coalitions, recruiting and retaining volunteers, mobilizing mass public support, gaining media coverage, lobbying public officials, fundraising, submitting public comments, creating strong legal records, and other tactics to win local campaigns. The Regional Sustainability Campaign also networks grassroots groups around the Sierra, links groups to needed technical and financial resources, develops campaign resources, and provides on-going consultation. The campaign also advocates for sound statewide and national policies and resources to support smart growth and sustainability efforts in the Sierra. Position Description: This intern position offers a focus in the resource areas of Land Use and/or Water & Climate Change if desired. The intern will develop skills in policy research, written communication, community organizing, project management, and grant writing/fundraising. The intern will also be exposed to software programs including Microsoft Office (including Excel and PowerPoint) and the database managing software, Donor Perfect. The Intern will learn about Sierra land use, water and/or climate change issues, grassroots environmental advocacy and state and regional policy. Key duties may include: CEQA and NEPA exposure: Review requests for comments on Environmental Impact Statements (per the National Environmental Policy Act) or Environmental Impact Reports (per the California Environmental Quality Act), and other policy proposals from Alliance member groups. Draft responses to inform government agencies and to be a voice for a healthy Sierra environment. Policy research and analysis: Track the progress of recent land use and climate change legislation with respect to the Sierra (especially bills AB 32, SB 375 and SB 732). Track water and climate change state and national legislation and policy. Write summaries and circulate alerts. Mobilize Sierra conservation groups to take action on certain key issues. Research potential resources and funding sources for climate change work for Sierra communities and resource managers. Foundation outreach: Track grant opportunities for the Regional Sustainability Campaign and assist with the writing of grant proposals. Develop communication materials: Develop and update communication materials such as fact sheets, action alerts, power point presentations, letters to the editor. Help write and distribute the Climate Change monthly e-newsletter and Climate Change Case Studies Quarterly. Help research, write and publish the Third Edition Sierra Climate Change Toolkit. Compile local, regional and statewide media articles and issue the Sierra land use electronic monthly newsletter. Outreach: Arrange the logistics for meetings, briefings and workshops. General Support: Assist the Regional Sustainability Campaign in other general duties such as database maintenance, community organizing efforts, representation of the Alliance at workshops and conferences, and other projects as assigned. Intern(s) may work on one or more the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. Intern will work out of the Alliance headquarters in South Lake Tahoe. 10 hours per week minimum, flexible hours. This internship is unpaid. While no prior experience in these issues or policy is required, we are looking for interns with the following qualities: Passion for the Sierra and its unique issues. Ability to work with a diverse group of people. Strong writing and verbal communication (including telephone) skills. Flexibility in taking on new challenges. Positive attitude, personal integrity and sense of humor. Familiarity with a personal computer and the internet. To apply, please submit your resume, contact info and cover letter expressing your interest in this position, what you hope to learn and what you will bring to the Regional Sustainability Campaign to marion@sierranevadaalliance.org To find out more about specific projects and duties you could be working on as an intern, please contact Marion Gee, marion@sierranevadaalliance.org , 530-542-4546 ext. 320 or Patricia Hickson, patricia@sierranevadaalliance.org, 530-542-4546 ext. 313. Development/Marketing Internship Internship opportunities include: Membership Outreach: Create communication pieces to donors to increase knowledge of Alliance programs and accomplishments through Direct Mail, Email, invitations, special events or brochures. Event Marketing: Organize and promote fundraising and educational events, including House Parties, Major Donor events and Annual Auction. Target Market Research: Plan a campaign for greater collaboration and opportunities with businesses and companies. General Support: Assist the Development Director in other general duties such as making phone calls, database organization, representing the Sierra Nevada Alliance at meetings or community events, and other office duties. Intern(s) may work on one or more of the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. Intern will work out of the Alliance headquarters in South Lake Tahoe. 5-10 hours per week minimum, flexible hours. Please call Kay Ogden, Development Director for more information. 530. 542. 4546 or email kay@sierranevadaalliance.org Special Event Internship Internship opportunities include: Responsible for supporting the planning, coordinating, and implementing of special events, including Annual Conference and Auction, Film Festival, Major Donor events and community outreach. Assists with the design, production, distribution and maintaining of correspondence related to events Assists with the accurate tracking and reporting event budget expenses adhering to event budgets Assists with sponsorship solicitations follow-up Assists with fielding inquiries pertaining to special events Coordinate publicity and the creation of related materials for events Maintain the events’ files Assist the Development Director in other general duties such as making phone calls, database management, representing the Sierra Nevada Alliance at meetings or community events, and other office duties. Intern(s) may work on one or more of the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. We are looking for an intern to work 10-20 hours a week in our South Lake Tahoe office. Start/end dates and hours are flexible. This intern position is unpaid. Application instructions: To apply, please submit your resume, contact info and cover letter expressing your interest in this position, what you hope to learn and what you will bring the Sierra Nevada Alliance to Kay Ogden, Development Director at kay@sierranevadaalliance.org. Please feel free to call at 530.542.4546 ext. 304 or email for more information. Communications Internship Internship opportunities include: Web Design: Develop white paper on best practices for updating the Alliance’s current website, email and e-newsletters. Research and non-profit websites using updated technology such as RSS feeds, widgets, video & sound. Web Social Networking: Assist with the development of web social networking tools. Newsletters: Assist with design and content of quarterly newsletter and monthly e-newsletters. Outreach Materials: Design outreach materials such as flyers, posters, invitations. Media Outreach: Assist with media outreach. Help create media releases to increase public knowledge of the Sierra Nevada Alliance accomplishments, events and workshops. General Support: Assist the Development Director in other general duties such as making phone calls, database management, representing the Sierra Nevada Alliance at meetings or community events, and other office duties. Intern(s) may work on one or more of the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. We are looking for an intern to work 10-20 hours a week in our South Lake Tahoe office. Start/end dates and hours are flexible. This intern position is unpaid. Application instructions: To apply, please submit your resume, contact info and cover letter expressing your interest in this position, what you hope to learn and what you will bring the Sierra Nevada Alliance to Kay Ogden, Development Director at kay@sierranevadaalliance.org. Please feel free to call at 530.542.4546 ext. 304 or email for more information. Conservation Internship(s) –general organizational work Sierra Research Intern: Research issues for upcoming reports such as climate change impacts, water pollution in the Sierra, and water policies. Interns work out of the Alliance headquarters in South Lake Tahoe. Sierra Policy Intern: Track Sierra related state legislation, write legislative updates, and help organize lobby days. Review requests for comments on Environmental Impact Statements, Timber Harvest Plans, and other policy proposals. Draft responses to inform government agencies and be a voice for a healthy Sierra environment. Location negotiable. Sierra News Clipper: The Alliance issues a weekly update of articles, events and other announcements related to Sierra conservation. Read your local paper and email to the Alliance any conservation stories relevant to conservation efforts in the Sierra. Intern(s) may work on one or more the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. Intern will work out of the Alliance headquarters in South Lake Tahoe. 5-10 hours per week minimum, flexible hours. To Apply: To apply for any of our internships, please call 530.542.4546. Internship Program Sierra Nevada Alliance PO Box 7989 South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150