Sierra Club Internships: Requirements and Opportunities
The Sierra Club offers various internship programs designed to engage students and community members in environmental activism and conservation efforts. These internships provide valuable experience in areas such as community organizing, campaign strategy, and digital communication, while contributing to the Sierra Club's mission of protecting the environment and promoting social justice. The Sierra Club is committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice. They envision a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature.
Core Values and Principles
At the Sierra Club, interdependence is valued. The organization recognizes that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will either advance our collective humanity or oppress it. The Sierra Club's hiring practices keep on evolving so they will better align with the club's principles.
The Sierra Club is also a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of its employees. They value the expertise and talents of foreign nationals and may sponsor both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas based on immigration laws and organizational needs.
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.
Commitment to Evolution and Growth
Interns are expected to be:
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- Committed to evolution: Continuously deepening and evolving their understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility.
- Uplifting and additive: Seeing mistakes as opportunities for growth and problems as catalysts for solutions.
Internship Programs
EPIC Fellows Program
The EPIC (Experiential Public Interest Center) Fellows Program, in partnership with Stanford University, offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in full-time public service experiences.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Stanford undergraduates from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience.
- Students must be enrolled for winter and spring quarters of this year and be in good academic standing to be eligible for a fellowship.
- Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors, and Co-terms are eligible.
- Graduating seniors cannot apply for the February deadline, and are ineligible for additional financial aid beyond the base stipend. Graduating seniors may apply if there is a Round 2 deadline in the spring quarter.
- All students, including co-term students, must be in the undergraduate billing group in spring quarter (this is important!).
- Student athletes should confirm the impact of any awarded stipend on their athletic eligibility by contacting the Compliance Services Office before submitting their application.
- Students are only eligible for one Stanford-funded full-time experiential learning opportunity during the summer and are not permitted to engage in another full-time internship, job, coursework, or volunteer opportunity.
- Violations of Undergraduate Fellowships program policies are violations of the Fundamental Standard and may be referred to the Office of Community Standards.
- Students who fail to abide by the policies set forth by the Undergraduate Fellowships Program, the Haas Center for Public Service, and Stanford University will have low/no priority for future Haas Center funding opportunities and programs.
Program Details:
- EPIC fellows are required to work full-time (37.5 hours per week) for 10 weeks over the summer.
- Fellows will receive a stipend of $8,000 - $9,500, depending on financial need.
Focus Areas:
- The Land Conservation campaign focuses on protecting lands as a climate solution. This internship will assist with the Campaign Strategy staff with analytics and fundraising.
Skills Required:
- Attention to detail.
- Strong communication skills.
- Ability to write for different audiences and platforms to optimize outreach and education efforts.
Rio Hondo Group Internship
This internship focuses on supporting the establishment of a campus Sierra Club group in the Rio Hondo Group area, which spans Northern Orange County and part of Eastern LA County.
Responsibilities:
- Helping support and coordinate a Campus organizing effort to start a campus Sierra Club student group.
- The intern will help start a campus Sierra Club group and develop at least 5 volunteer leaders to join the campus group’s leadership structure in 2024.
Skills Developed:
- Campus organizing.
- Outreach.
- Digital communication.
- Facilitating environmental initiatives.
- Training volunteers.
Skills Required:
- Strong Communication skills.
- Able to ask clarifying questions to gather necessary information and context.
- Self-awareness.
- Keen on time management, limitations, and capacity.
Beyond Coal Organizing Internship
This internship supports the Beyond Coal campaign in Northwest Arkansas, focusing on transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy.
Location: Fayetteville or Northwest Arkansas
Duration: 15 hours per week for 24 weeks
Read also: Sierra College Resources
Responsibilities:
- Assisting with public outreach and education efforts.
- Organizing on campus and recruiting fellow students to the Sierra Club, building local student power in the fight for a clean energy transition.
- Working with the Sierra Club Campaign Organizer to educate community members on the harm of fossil fuels.
- Training and working with community partners to effectively influence the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Southwestern Electric Power Company.
- Assisting with planning, recruitment, set up, and facilitation of community meetings and events.
- Collecting petition signatures (requires the ability to travel locally).
- Completing administrative tasks such as note taking and agenda creation.
Skills Required:
- Familiar with community organizing or have volunteered on at least one grassroots mobilization project.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to interact positively with community residents, volunteers, staff, and the public.
- Demonstrated interest in the environment or related public interest issues.
- Ability to clearly explain complex issues and effectively communicate them to community residents.
- Proficient with social media and Google Docs.
- Familiar with Zoom.
Compensation: The hourly rate for this position is $20/hour.
General Requirements and Expectations
Regardless of the specific internship program, certain general requirements and expectations apply to all Sierra Club interns:
- Commitment to the Sierra Club's Mission: A strong commitment to the Sierra Club's mission of protecting the environment and promoting social justice. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future.
- Interpersonal Skills: The ability to interact positively with community residents, volunteers, staff, and the public.
- Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly explain complex issues.
- Initiative and Self-Motivation: The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing priorities and work assignments.
- Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with basic computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite or Google Docs.
How to Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. To apply for an internship, interested individuals should visit the Sierra Club's career website and search for available internship positions. The application process typically involves submitting a resume, cover letter, and any other required materials.
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