"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 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. Sustainable Sierra Land Use Program Internship(s) The Sustainable Sierra Land Use program works to protect Sierra wildlife habitat, working landscapes and open space while preserving the historic, small-town character of Sierra communities. The program’s key strategies include promoting good county general plan policies, supporting efforts to fight environmentally unsound development proposals, improving understanding of regional trends through education and outreach, and building networks and collaborations between land use groups. Job Description:The Sierra Land Use Intern will learn about Sierra Land Use issues and grassroots environmental advocacy. 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 power point) and Donor Perfect. Key duties will 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 grant opportunities for the land use program and assist with the writing of grant proposals. Track the progress of recent climate change legislation with respect to the Sierra (especially bills AB 32, SB 375 and SB 732). Land Use Monthly Newsletter: Compile local, regional and statewide media articles and issue the Sierra land use electronic monthly newsletter. Develop communication materials: Develop and update communication materials such as fact sheets, action alerts, power point presentations, letters to the editor. General Support: Assist the land use program in other general duties such as database maintenance, community organizing efforts, representation of the Alliance at workshops and conferences, and other office duties. 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. Please call Patricia Hickson, Land Use Program Associate for more information. 530. 542. 4546 x. 313 or email patricia@sierranevadaalliance.org 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 Water & Climate Change Policy Intership The Sierra Water and Climate Change Campaign Intern works on different Alliance projects to protect and restore Sierra lands, water, wildlife and rural communities. The position assists the Water and Climate Change Program staff in achieving the four major goals of the campaign: Educating resource managers and the public on Sierra climate change and inspiring communities to incorporate climate change impacts and adaptation into local resource management plans; Representing Sierra interests in state water policy forums to adapt to climate change and protect Sierra resources; Promoting urban and rural water conservation and Sierra natural water storage for water reliability, flood management and natural resource preservation; Integrating regional water planning and encouraging equal protection of Sierra watershed health, water supply and water quality. In order to achieve these goals, the intern may participate in the any or all of the following activities: Track Sierra related state legislation. Write legislative updates. Help organize lobby days. Update Sierra conservation leaders through email alerts. Mobilize Sierra conservation groups to shape the California Water Plan to demonstrate the unique challenges and solutions in the Sierra Nevada. Ensure water conservation, climate change and meadow restoration are addressed in the State Water Plan. Track State efforts to address climate change (adaptation and mitigation). Research potential funding sources regarding climate change for Sierra resource managers. Organize and further develop the Alliance’s Climate Change Library. Research climate change adaptation models. Find useful resources on climate change for Sierra resource managers. Assist in scheduling Climate Change presentations to Sierra conservation groups, resource agencies and other community organizations. Issue alerts and other notices to the Alliance network regarding climate change. Write op-eds, press releases and help conduct media outreach as assigned by the Executive Director. Assist in organizing the meetings of the Sierra Environmental Water Caucus and Sierra Water Workgroup. Provide information for the Weekly, newsletter, and other Alliance materials. Assist with organizing the Sierra Nevada Alliance annual conference including securing auction items. Update the database. Other duties as assigned. Intern(s) may work on one or more the aforementioned activities depending on experience and interest. While no prior experience in water and climate change 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. Interpersonal communication, public speaking, telephone and writing skills. Flexibility in taking on new challenges. Positive attitude, personal integrity and sense of humor. Familiarity with a personal computer and the internet. This internship is unpaid. The intern for this program will work with Marion Gee, Water and Climate Change Program Associate and Robert Collier, AmeriCorps member and Water and Climate Change Program Assistant, both based in the South Lake Tahoe office. 10 hours per week minimum, flexible hours. 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 Water and Climate Change Program to marion@sierranevadaalliance.org To find out more, please contact Marion Gee, Water and Climate Change Program Associate by email: marion@sierranevadaalliance.org, by phone: 530-542-4546 ext. 320, or check out our website at http://www.sierranevadaalliance.org/ . Watersheds Program Internship(s) The Watershed Program works to ensure that Sierra watersheds have active, informed efforts to restore and protect their rivers, lakes and streams thereby protecting critical habitats and restoring watershed health. This program works to build the organizational capacity and technical abilities of watershed efforts. Love Your Rivers, Lakes and Streams: Help get the word out on how more people can get involved in restoring and protecting their local watersheds. Attend Earth day and other boothing events and assist in making presentations to local communities. Sierra Watershed Currents: Create a monthly electronic newsletter that will be disseminated to Watershed Councils, Agency staff, conservation efforts and other key stakeholders in the Sierra. Gather information on watershed specific grants, events, resources, and news articles that are relevant to the Sierra Nevada. Sierra bioregion invasive species guide: Help research and develop a guide to invasive plant and animal species affecting the range. Sierra bioregion riparian plant guide: Help research and develop a guide to the common riparian plants in different Sierra bioregions. General Support: Assist the Watershed Coordinator in other aspects such as event and meeting organizing, representing the Sierra Nevada Alliance at meetings, making phone calls and other office duties. 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. 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